Joe Gow, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse

Summary

Joe Gow is the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. On November 1, 2018, Gow invited adult film actress and sex educator Nina Hartley to deliver a lecture on campus entitled “Fantasy vs. Reality: A critical view of adult media.” Gow used funds from his office’s discretionary fund, rather than state tax dollars, to pay for the event. Nevertheless, the event landed Gow in hot water with UW System President Ray Cross, who told the chancellor that he will call for a four-year, retroactive audit of the sources and uses of Gow’s office discretionary fund, accusing Gow of “lack of responsible oversight with respect to the use of state funds.”

Defending her appearance at the school, Hartley penned a guest opinion piece for the La Crosse Tribune, while Gow also wrote an opinion piece for the local paper explaining his thinking. UW System Regent Bob Atwell’s guest opinion piece pointedly criticized Gow’s judgment and took a shot at Hartley: “Rebranding herself as a paid advocate for sexual health isn’t going to restore her surrendered dignity.”