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Former UW-La Crosse chancellor Gow suing in federal court to be reinstated, after porn scandal

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Former UW-La Crosse chancellor Joe Gow filed a federal lawsuit over his firing as a faculty member, after the Board of Regents learned he was creating pornographic videos online with his wife and affiliating with adult film stars.

Gow was fired as chancellor in December of 2023 by UW Regents. But, since he had tenure as a professor, he could not be immediately fired from faculty. A hearing was held in Onalaska last summer on whether Gow could continue on campus as a communications professor. A unanimous vote by the board for his dismissal happened in September.

In the suit, Gow seeks to be reinstated to that faculty position. He also wants compensation for lost wages and other damages. He argues that his firing from the faculty violated his free speech rights under the Constitution, and that the videos and books the couple produced were not obscene or illegal.

University officials contend that Gow’s actions were embarrassing to the La Crosse campus and the UW System, and also involved an unauthorized use of university equipment.

Gow said he did not use his public position to promote the videos or to encourage anyone to buy them.

The former chancellor told the Associated Press that he chose Monday as the day to file the lawsuit, because it was the first day of class for the spring semester at UW-L, and he should be teaching in the classroom.

There was no immediate comment on Gow’s lawsuit from the University System.

Gow had a backup position at UW-La Crosse as a tenured communications professor, but then-interim Chancellor Betsy Morgan placed him on paid leave after he was fired as chancellor, preventing him from taking that faculty role.

The regents formally terminated his professorship after university attorneys argued that Gow acted unethically, violated terms of his contract and damaged the school’s reputation.

Gow has never apologized for producing pornography and has made no promises that he won’t do it again, although he told The Associated Press that he and his wife haven’t produced their “Sexy Happy Couple ” cooking show on YouTube show since the summer of 2023.

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.

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8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. Don

    January 27, 2025 at 6:06 pm

    Why doesn’t this clown go away?, I just don’t see it as breaking news as one of local stations proclaims, if the press would just ignore this clown and not give him the attention he seeks he would finally disappear

  2. Bart

    January 27, 2025 at 6:57 pm

    Wow, a law suit! Bet a buddy that this was coming

  3. Mike Hochertz

    January 27, 2025 at 11:32 pm

    Funny when a person puts a lawsuit forward because we did acknowledge their pronouns, everyone sticks up for them. Joe is not teaching Minor children. He has a right to have a personal life. Should we fire people because they own a bar and are dead set against alcohol? If someone is engaged with LBTQ and you are opposed, should they be fired? What if they had personal religious beliefs and practices, should they be fired?

    • Roy

      January 28, 2025 at 8:07 am

      Joe made his personal life public, Mike. Hum the lyrics to “Behind Closed Doors”. It may enlighten you. And then there’s the donors. Alums frown on this sort of …..thing.
      Also, do you want your daughter sitting in the front row of Joe’s classes? Have her wear short skirts. Catching on?

  4. Come On Man

    January 28, 2025 at 8:31 am

    Mike is missing the point.
    When you are a Chancelor of a University, a CEO of a hospital, a police chief or a fire chief you are held to a higher standard. You are the face of the organization and are paid accordingly.
    In this case, parents place trust in you to provide a high level of education and to keep their children safe. A campus full of 18 to 24 year old female students may be seen as a conflict of interest considering the man at the helm enjoys making porn films. I have no problem with Mr. Gow making these films but, I think he should have made a choice. Enjoy teaching and making some serious money (Over $200K/ Yr) being Chancelor or pursue his hobby of film making. Why did he not just wait another year until he was retired to pursue his hobby?
    He signed a morals clause and used university equipment to produce his film.
    Actions have consequences and he broke the rules. This has nothing to do with his rights to do what he wants on his day off.

    • Mike Hochertz

      January 28, 2025 at 7:42 pm

      Oh Come on Man, he was just getting things straightened out between himself and his wife. No joke, true story, he promoted a keto diet as his channel had a lot of meat in it.

      In regard to the adults in classes, well he wasn’t sniffing their hair. And in the summer his hairy legs turned blonde.

      Hopefully Joey will be back

  5. Char

    January 28, 2025 at 11:14 am

    Yes, he was supposed to be held to a higher standard. Yes, he could make porn videos just not when he was supposed to teaching students and while he was heading a university. COME ON MAN is correct.
    Just what was his doctorate degree supposed to be in… Stupidity?

  6. Bart

    January 28, 2025 at 1:02 pm

    The top person at the top University in the state and country .
    He blew it! Stained the reputation of the University.
    Should self reflect , public apologize and move on .

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