Identity of Speakers
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Joe Gow
Faculty/Staff
OtherFormer Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Lawsuit
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
University investigation issuing in sanctions
Faculty sanctioned
Litigation
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Incident Status:
In litigation Federal District Court
- Did not involve Speech Codes
Summary
Joe Gow, a Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, came under intense scrutiny and public controversy after it was revealed in December 2023 that he and his wife, Carmen Wilson, had been producing and distributing adult content. The adult content, which occurred outside of university time and resources, led to Gow’s dismissal from his chancellor position due to concerns about ethical conduct and the university’s reputation. However, Gow retained his status as a tenured professor immediately following his removal as chancellor.
In September 2024, the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents took the significant step of revoking Gow’s tenure, effectively terminating his employment with the university altogether. The Regents cited ongoing ethical concerns and reputational harm as justification for the revocation. T
In January 2025, Gow responded by filing a federal lawsuit alleging that his termination violated his First Amendment rights. He argues that his adult content work was conducted entirely on personal time, without any use of university resources or involvement of students or colleagues, and therefore his dismissal infringes on his rights to free speech and academic freedom. The lawsuit seeks his reinstatement as a tenured professor, compensation for lost wages, and damages.
