Tomorrow night, a porn star will grace the stage of Blackman Auditorium.
The Council for University Programs (CUP) will welcome legendary porn star Ron Jeremy to the stage to debate Craig Gross, head of the XXX Church, an anti-pornography church.
CUP Lectures Chair Caitlin Lowell said the event is highly anticipated.
“We wanted to show both ends of the spectrum on a topic that affects college students,” Lowell said.
Jeremy debates on behalf of freedom of speech, citing pornography as a form of expression, she said. Gross has spent his life helping recovering porn addicts and spreading information about the dangers of Internet pornography and sex addiction. Jeremy and Gross have met several times, but have never debated. Both have expressed an interest in debating each other.
The XXX Church Web site, www.xxxchurch.com, has a motto that “every time you masturbate, God kills a kitten” and the site has a “Killing Kitties” song and a video demonstrating how to “Save the Kittens.” A list of “Porn Facts” on the Web site reveals statistics, like a 1986 Women’s Day survey of 6,000 readers, which found that 21 percent of women who were sexually abused knew the person who abused them was heavily interested in pornography.
Cindy Bregman, a sophomore political science major, said although she is not personally interested in pornography, it should be an individual decision.
“It’s an interesting thing to bring to campus,” Bregman said. “But CUP should focus on more important events, such as Springfest.”
Rebecca Torcia, a freshman psychology major, said the event is a good idea that is relevant to a college audience.
“I think they are trying to get students involved, and this is something students would probably go to, because almost every guy I know watches [pornography],” Torcia said.
Although Torcia said she doesn’t have a moral objection to pornography, she said there should be more protection for children.
“I do think it’s creepy that it’s on TV, because little kids can stumble on it,” Torcia said.
Lowell said CUP does not have a position on the debate.
“We’re not taking a side. We just wanted to show both sides of this issue,” Lowell said.
Questions will be prepared and delivered by a moderator, but CUP members hope audience members bring up questions and issues. After the debate, both Gross and Jeremy will head to afterHOURS and will be available for pictures and autographs.
The event is free to all Northeastern students and seating availability is on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 7 p.m. tomorrow.
– Staff writer Megan Jicha contributed to this report.
