Students and faculty filled Baker University Center Ballroom as adult film star Ron Jeremy and pastor Craig Gross debated the porn industry. While some left satisfied, others left wanting more.
The room was filled to capacity, waiting for the porn debate to begin. Gross, founder of www.xxxchurch.com, was the first to be introduced by moderator Gregory Janson from the College of Human and Consumer Sciences, followed by Jeremy, who has starred in over 1,800 adult films. Speakers were allowed 12 minutes for their opening arguments.
Both speakers stood their ground on topics including the objectivity of women in porn, children watching porn and the affect of porn on couples’ sex lives.
Gross said he started his Web site for people who do not want to see porn and want to get away from it.
“Rather than take away their right, I want to help those who don’t want to see it,” Gross said.
He said porn isn’t real and creates a fantasy, but he doesn’t want to censor or argue about it, he wants to help those who don’t want to watch it.
“Pornography is a fantasy,” Gross said.
Jeremy said porn is part of the wide world of entertainment, and nothing more, nothing less.
“It is a darn fantasy, that is the idea,” he said.
The Great Porn Debate was the third in the Sex, Drugs and Rock n’ Roll Hot Topic Debate Series, sponsored by Baker Programming.
After the debate, students swarmed around the speakers, asking additional questions and wanting signatures and pictures.
See the porn debate recap video in the multimedia section.
Reader Comments
I was surprised by how moderate the 2 debaters were- they both genuinely agreed on alot of topics. Unfortunately, I found that to be a bit of a double-edged-sword: there wasn't really that much that they disagreed about, so all questions just turned into the debaters arguing the same things over and over (mostly that Pastor Gross thought s&m/multiple penetration porn was the majority, and that Mr. Jeremy said that was a small niche and the majority of porn was mainstream). I think the Pastor was very good at dodging audience questions and steering them towards topics he addressed in his introduction, meanwhile Jeremy was just along for the ride and didn't try to steer back.
I heard tell that there was a girl that got boo'd for asking Mr. Jeremy to retract a statement he made. Anyone know what this was and how it transpired? I'm quite curious. (I would've gone, but I had to work. Meh.)
I think you're referring to the woman who thought porn objectifies women. I think she was trying to get Mr. Jeremy to agree with her on that statement. His response was that people like different porn, and that someone could find a fault with any porn made- his example: 1) If you made a porn where the guy demands sex, the woman initially says no, then the guy says "ohh come on, I've got a boner" and she relents and the sex happens; well then you have portrayed women as powerless and that rape is OK. 2) If you made a porn where the guy comes in demanding sex and the woman happily complies; then you have portrayed women as being too easy.
The woman started to press the issue (restating her question in different ways) and continued talking over Mr. Jeremy, the moderator, and eventually about half the audience who started booing, I think the Pastor started interjecting comments that egged the woman on. Then everyone ignored her and moved on to the next question.
I'm so bummed I missed it. I really wanted him to sign my dvd of Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger part 4
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