Key Facts
The university’s Board of Trustees unanimously decided to expel Joe from his position as advisor in a closed meeting, after the university learned of “specific behavior by Dr. Joe that has caused substantial reputational harm to the university,” according to university president Jay Rothman in a statement.
Main Details
While the university has not publicly disclosed the specific behavior that led to Joe’s dismissal, Joe and his wife, Carmen Wilson, confirmed to the media that the dismissal was due to the adult videos they produced and appeared in.
Joe and Wilson were not very discreet about their adult activities, which include videos, books, and a Twitter and YouTube account titled “Healthy and Tempting Cooking,” where they cook meals with invited guests that sometimes include adult film stars, and promote “explicit scenes” on their LoyalFans and OnlyFans accounts.
However, they assert that they did not mention the university or Joe’s role at the university in any of their content, noting that Joe was not invited to the session, did not have the opportunity to present his case, and was not informed of any specific policy he violated.
Joe told the Associated Press that he is considering filing a lawsuit, claiming that the Board of Trustees “is overreacting” and “is not upholding its own obligations of personal freedom or the First Amendment” by punishing him for his and his wife’s personal activities.
Important Quote
“I would like to say that anything my wife and I do, we do as citizens of the United States, who enjoy the First Amendment rights in the Constitution, to create and publish books and videos exploring consensual adult sexuality,” Joe told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, noting that he does not regret the videos.
Key Critics
Rothman, the president of the universities, described Joe’s behavior as “disgraceful,” stating to the Associated Press that Joe is mistaken in believing that the First Amendment grants him a “free pass to say or do whatever he wants.” Karen Walsh, chair of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Trustees, said that “the outrage over his behavior is evident from the unanimous vote of the University of Wisconsin Board of Trustees to terminate his role as advisor.” She added, “We are appalled and disgusted by his actions, which were completely inconsistent with his role as an advisor.”
What to Watch For
As a veteran faculty member, Joe remains an employee of the university but will no longer serve as an advisor. Rothman, the president of the universities, stated that Joe will be placed on administrative leave while transitioning to a faculty role. However, he pointed out that a complaint has been submitted by Joe to the new interim chancellor Betsy Morgan regarding his employment status. He also noted that an external law firm is investigating the matter. Joe told the Associated Press that he had already planned to retire from the advisorship at the end of the spring 2024 semester with the intention of moving to teach communication courses.
Key Background
This is not the first time Joe has faced a public confrontation regarding free speech with university officials over pornography. In 2018, he was penalized by the school system and denied a pay raise because he invited adult film star Nina Hartley to speak on campus. He argued at the time that it was a matter of free speech and that Hartley had a legitimate message to share with students about the risks of pornography. If Joe decides to sue, he may face difficulties, as noted by other media due to legal precedent. In 2004, the Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit brought by a San Diego police officer based on the First Amendment after he was fired for selling adult video of himself.
Further Reading
For more information, you can read the following articles:
– “University of Wisconsin agrees to freeze diversity and inclusion expansion in deal with Republicans blocking increases” by James Farrell
–
“Claudine is coming under fire from Harvard University: Now billionaire Blavatnik stops the donation” by Brian Bushard
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