It’s always amazed me how close some conservatives and women’s groups are when it comes to issues like this. The problem is, of course, that the media rarely admits that most of the stifling of free speech and anti-sex propaganda on today’s college campuses does in fact come from left-wing feminist groups.

Garbage is garbage and filth is filth. Of couse the Aclu applauds such. I would expect nothing more from them.
I am embarrassed for the University of Maryland.

one must remember that it just is not Harris or left wing women's groups. They are also many college students that think this is disgusting. One thing one must remember is that freedom of speech is not an absolute. If these students wanted to watch this in a frat house is one thing but it is on my college campus and it offends me. Where is my freedom of speech. My taxes pay for this university.

I can see where Andy Harris is coming from, but threatening to cut funding over it is ridiculous. At the end of the day, he comes across as the guy who wants to cut funding to a public university over a difference in opinion. I don't know if there's really anything else he could do as a state senator to condemn the university, but proudly denying funding to your state's flagship university, under any circumstances, cannot bode well when seeking higher office. Bold move Harris, but I think it's going to backfire.

I am sure that many students and staff of that university do not agree with this situation. I don't know what kind of freedom are we talking about. It is sending a message that people can do anything... with the money that we pay in taxes... It is DISGUSTING!!!

Repeat after me:

No tax dollars are used for The Hoff.
No tax dollars are used for The Hoff.

The Hoff (the UMCP movie theater) is funded by part of tuition called a "Student activities fee" and door receipts. It receives no tax-based funding.

As far as the rest of you geniuses, I'm astonished that you're incapable of acknowledging that despite the fact you don't like porn, it is well within someone else's rights to watch it. The First Amendment is fundamental to our country.

Especially you, Kathy- you have no right guaranteeing you won't be offended.

I would argue that Harris didn't lose the election only because he ran as Mr. Conservative. There was an awful lot of dirty campaigning and misquoting his rival that frankly disgusted a number of people who would have otherwise voted for him.

I have mixed feelings about the public showing of pornography (whether at a college or anywhere) but, I feel significantly better about the film being provided free by the company. I think pushing for a clearly defined policy about pornography is probably the best outcome for this situation instead of the 'knee jerk' cut funding reaction we saw last week.

This wasn't a matter of pornography. Senator Harris was grandstanding to try to pick up some political capitol. His amendment was unconstitutional in at least four different ways. The state budget isn't a bully pulpit through which a single senator can threaten the educations and livelihoods of 45,000 students and faculty on a moral crusade. If he has such strong opinions on the showing there were any number of more reasonable and constitutionally supported avenues he could have taken.

When I joined the military I took an oath to defend the constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Until this incident I always thought that the "domestic" language in that oath was so unlikely as to almost be unnecessary. I have to thank Senator Harris for teaching me that sometimes, the most dangerous threats to our nation's ideals come from those who are empowered by the people to protect those very ideals.

NO TAX PAYER MONEY WAS USED FOR THIS EVENT! a group of college students wanted to show the movie to spark rhetoric involving both those for and against porn. why is this a bad thing? it doesn't matter on whether you agree with it and it doesn't matter if it's billed as entertainment. do you remember college? everything that goes on there is a learning experience, especially when discussion follows. and yes, i do mean everything.

Andy Harris should find something else to get all worked up about..He comes across as arrogant, and out of touch...why not work to solve some bigger issues

As an alum of Maryland, I will NEVER donate a single penny to the school. I'm all for free speech, but the school uses so much taxpayer funds for worthless causes when those resources could be utilized by important depts like biology, business, education, government & politics, etc.

Here are some some examples: a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Studies dept., a Jewish Studies dept. (UMD is a secular, public school). a Feminist Studies dept., classes that proclaim trash as "art," required diversity classes instead of relevant class like business classes (maybe the economy wouldn't be so bad if students knew more about business/investing instead of politically correct nonsense).

Students naive enough to think that the Hoff Theater (550 seat dolby surround sound) was renovated with ticket revenues are kidding themselves. Those of us around for the renovation remember the giant "State of Maryland" signs outside of Stamp behind the fences. Your student dollars fund the operation of the theater, not the construction. And by the way, your tickets cost don't even cover the full operation (read your university budget). The University picks up half the tab.

"In the fall of 2002 the Theater once again opened its doors in the Stamp Student Union. This newly renovated theater now features a concession stand, Dolby Digital surround sound, and many other amenities found in most modern movie theaters. The new Hoff Theater yields a seating capacity of 550."
http://www.union.umd.edu/hoff/info.cfm

The university bans the 'f' Duke shirts, they ban hate speech, they ban fliers that aren't approved by resident life in dormitories, they ban post game celebrations that "may disrupt the community" and so forth. How about the "hey, you suck" that the band isn't allowed to play? If you think you're fooling anyone saying the university doesn't already restrict free speech/expression/assembly then guess again.

Don't use OUR state tax dollars to show a porn film. If you insist, open up your dorm room, open up your frat house or your apartment. Rent a local theater. But not with my tax dollars. That's all they ask

All University operations are subsidized by state tax dollars...do you really think a $29 fee per student covers the operating costs of the Hoff Theatre and the entire Student Union and all the other programs offered by the University?

Its simple math, Universities rely on a number of funding sources including:
Research Revenue (both direct and F&A)
Tuition Revenue
Student Fee Revenue
Tax Revenues
Development Revenues

The Hoff and all other activities are subsidized by tax dollars. And regardless of whether they are or not, potential development revenue is risked by engaging in short-sighted activities such as this. If that revenue decreases, then what will make up the difference? Your tax dollars.

I'm a Maryland graduate who wants what is best for the University in the long run, and allowing students to watch pornography on University grounds is not a good idea. If they would like to do this, they are more than welcome, but do it off-campus in a private facility. No one is questioning their right to watch it.

To the person who said no tax dollars were used in relation to this screen AND to the other person who said the Hoff does not use any tax dollars, you're both incredibly mistaken. Especially Jim, who pointed out it is funded by part of tuition called a "Student activities fee".

Step back and read that closely, Jim. "... funded by part of tuition...". Last time I checked, 80% of the students on campus receive grants from the state. Some receive partial or full-ride scholarships. What do you think funds grants and scholarships? OUR TAX MONEY.

Furthermore, if the Hoff were located off-campus, it would go belly up in a heartbeat, even with the 'student activity fees' it receives. I'm pretty sure UM doesn't charge them rent, donates and maintains the land it resides on and takes care of the BGE bill. Again, all tax payer responsibilities.

Bottom line is this... these students and the ACLU who are up in arms over free speech and whatever else are just ridiculous. It's a free country, sure. Wanna watch porn? The power to do that is right at everyone's fingertips when you're online, and for free at that. Students or anyone for that matter can watch porn in the privacy of their own home (or dorm), frat house, on private property they finance or can go to the block for some porn screenings.

But to do it on a campus that is publicly financed in part? And throw a free speech flag when the people who fund the campus don't agree to the screening? Andy Harris represents the people, and the majority of the people that finance these students education and campus in part don't like it.

If they're able to screen something like this at UM, I should be able to do it out in the middle of my street which is publicly financed.

If such a screening was to occur like this during a state house session, I'm sure a lot of people would be upset. Why? Because our elected officials are supposed to be doing something more important, like governing our state.

These students have something better to be doing at their publicly financed campus, like studying. And please, we don't need to hear how this is in anyway educational.

Wanna watch porn? Do it with your own private time in your dorm room, frat house or other off-campus location. Don't expect taxpayers to be honkey-dory with this.

For the record, I personally don't mind porn at all. But there's a time and a place for it. I'd be just as upset if they were planning to host a best jello-mold contest at the Hoff. Sound ridiculous? That's because it is, just like this porn fiasco.

I wonder if they screened 'Passion of the Christ' at the Hoff? The same groups and people in support of this porn thing would probably be up in arms about a screening like that. Something that is actually educational as much as it is controversial. There's nothing educational about porn (unless you wanna learn some new techniques for in the sack).

Hats off to those students who find this whole thing ridiculous. It's a shame that this is smearing everyone on that campus on the national spotlight.

It's a sad day for UM, and the state of Maryland.

First off, why is porn only degrading to women and only addictive to men? Oh and as far as Hitler I mean Harris is concerned-what's next Senator-a good old fashioned book burning?