Campus Files Podcast Summary: "Hot for Chancellor - Part 1"
Episode Overview "Hot for Chancellor - Part 1," an episode of the Audacy original podcast Campus Files, delves into the intriguing and controversial story of Joe Gao, the former Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. This episode uncovers the events leading to Gao's downfall, exploring themes of free speech, personal conduct, and institutional integrity within American higher education. Through interviews, firsthand accounts, and detailed reporting, the episode provides a comprehensive look at how personal actions can intersect disastrously with professional responsibilities.
1. Setting the Stage: Celebrations and Free Speech on Campuses
The episode begins by highlighting various American traditions that often go unnoticed, such as Shark Week, Banned Books Week, and Free Speech Week observed by college campuses. In 2018, during Free Speech Week, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Chancellor Joe Gao invited adult film star and sex educator Nina Hartley to speak, sparking significant controversy.
Notable Quote:
Josh Moody [02:19]: "You may admit to knowing Nina Hartley from her role as William H. Macy's wife in the 1997 movie Boogie Nights. Get out. Go sleep on the couch."
2. Introducing Joe Gao: From Student Musician to Chancellor
To understand the complexity of the scandal, the podcast provides a background on Joe Gao. Before his administrative career, Gao was an aspiring musician and a student at Penn State University, where he earned his PhD in 1989. Dr. Jerry Zoltan, a professor emeritus at Penn State, recounts Gao's early years, highlighting his passion for music and his leadership in campus bands.
Notable Quotes:
Dr. Jerry Zoltan [05:08]: "I met Joe Gao when I was already on the faculty in Communication Arts and Sciences, and he came here to earn a degree."
Joe Gao [07:18]: "He wasn't just doing cover versions of other people's music, he was writing some interesting stuff. You know, it held up at the time."
Gao's tenure as Chancellor began in 2007 at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he quickly became a beloved figure on campus, known for his live guitar performances and engaging presence.
3. The 2018 Nina Hartley Controversy
In 2018, Gao invited Nina Hartley to speak at the university, an event that was warmly received by students but met with disapproval from university officials. This decision led to public reprimand from the UW System president, resulting in Gao having to pay Hartley's $5,000 speaking fee from his own pocket after the Board of Regents denied him a raise and audited his expenses.
Notable Quotes:
Dr. Jerry Zoltan [03:08]: "That followed University of Wisconsin's chancellor Joe Gao under fire for hiring a porn star to give a speech."
Carmen Wilson [03:24]: "Nina Hartley, who's been in the studio, legendary. Very nice woman."
Gao's connection to Hartley extended beyond professional, laying the foundation for future controversies.
4. A Decade of Leadership and Preliminary Scrutiny
For ten years, Gao led the university without significant issues, with enrollment increasing by 5% during his tenure. His approachable style and active engagement on campus made him a popular figure among students. However, beneath the surface, tension brewed between Gao and the university's higher administration, particularly concerning governance and institutional reputation.
Notable Quote:
Joe Gao [09:30]: "I'll be showing you a little."
Despite his successes, the seeds of conflict were sown with the earlier incident involving Hartley, hinting at underlying challenges in Gao's administration.
5. The Emergence of the Adult Content Scandal
In late 2023, Chancellor Gao and his wife, Carmen Wilson, began producing and uploading adult content under the username "Sexy Happy Couple" on platforms like Pornhub and XHamster. Their activities included professionally shot videos, some of which featured collaborations with known adult film stars like Sophie Marie and Nina Hartley. These videos were initially unprotected by paywalls, allowing public access and leading to widespread shock upon discovery.
Notable Quotes:
Dr. Jerry Zoltan [14:04]: "They previously had an OnlyFans behind a paywall that no one really noticed."
Carmen Wilson [14:27]: "Are the sexy happy couple."
The content was highly professional, mirroring productions seen on mainstream networks, which added to the controversy given Gao's position as a tenured professor and chancellor.
6. Institutional Response and Immediate Fallout
Once the university became aware of Gao's activities, the Board of Regents took swift action, leading to his dismissal seven months before his planned retirement. The Board cited discomfort with Gao and his wife's production and participation in pornographic videos as the primary reason for termination.
Notable Quotes:
Gao [16:23]: "Gao says the board fired him because they were uncomfortable with him and his wife producing and appearing in pornographic videos."
Dr. Jerry Zoltan [16:31]: "And when it was brought to the attention of university officials, he was denounced by top administrators and the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents, who called his behavior abhorrent."
However, firing a tenured professor is a complex and rare occurrence, prompting a detailed investigation into Gao's conduct and the processes surrounding his dismissal.
7. The Legal Battle and Free Speech Debate
The podcast explores the legal implications of Gao's actions, particularly focusing on First Amendment rights versus institutional codes of conduct. First Amendment attorneys from the foundation Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) argued that Gao was being wrongfully terminated for his private speech. They contended that university professors are entitled to personal freedoms, even if their private actions become public.
Notable Quotes:
Dr. Jerry Zoltan [20:20]: "He’s being fired for his private speech. That university professors have First Amendment rights and they're allowed to have private lives, even if they do things like Joe Gao did."
Gao defended his actions by stating that his activities were personal, consensual, and not financially motivated, although evidence later contradicted his claims about the financial aspects.
8. Financial Aspects and Public Reaction
Contrary to Gao's assertions that his adult content ventures were non-profit hobbies, it emerged that he and his wife had invested approximately $80,000 into producing their adult videos, with minimal financial return from platforms like OnlyFans and Loyal Fans. The scandal attracted significant public attention, leading to both ridicule and sympathy. A local brewery even released a beer named "Hot for Chancellor," emblazoned with a playful depiction of Gao, which he humorously endorsed by picking up a four-pack.
Notable Quotes:
Margo Gray [23:02]: "All the public seems to view this with a lot of amusement. A local brewery released a beer in his honor called Hot for Chancellor with a rather creative label of him, basically in the nude."
Public opinion was divided, with some viewing the scandal as a humorous anecdote and others questioning the appropriateness of Gao's actions given his influential position.
9. The Formal Dismissal Process and Final Verdict
As a tenured professor, Gao faced an arduous process to secure his dismissal. The university organized a quasi-judicial public hearing before a committee of five faculty members. Both the university and Gao presented their cases, with the university citing unethical and potentially illegal conduct based on Gao's statements in his published books under pen names—which described real-life sexual activities—as proof of misconduct.
Notable Quotes:
Carmen Wilson [25:26]: "17 yes, zero, no. The motion passes. Thank you."
The Board of Regents ultimately voted unanimously to fire Gao, marking the end of his long-standing career at the university.
10. Aftermath and Continuing Controversy
Despite his dismissal, Gao and his wife continued to produce and promote adult content, maintaining their online presence and even agreeing to interviews with the Campus Files team. Their continued activity in the adult entertainment sphere keeps the conversation about the balance between personal freedom and professional responsibility alive.
Notable Quotes:
Sophie Marie [26:17]: "I've gotten a whole lot of attention because I was in the Chancellor job and it was a very high profile thing and fired."
Carmen Wilson [26:27]: "So I have found that sometimes things pile up in my freezer."
Conclusion: Looking Ahead
The episode concludes by setting the stage for the next installment of the series, promising to delve deeper into the personal and professional fallout from Gao's actions. It underscores the complexities institutions face when addressing misconduct that intertwines personal freedom with public responsibility.
Production Credits: The episode was written and reported by Elliot Adler, produced by Ian Mont Eliot Adler and Margo Gray, with executive producers Maddie Sprunkheiser and Lloyd Lockridge. Editing and mixing were handled by Chris Basel and Andy Jaskowicz, and music was composed by James Waterman and Davey Sumner.
Key Takeaways:
- Leadership and Personal Conduct: Gao's case illustrates the thin line between a leader's personal actions and their professional responsibilities.
- Free Speech vs. Institutional Integrity: The debate surrounds whether personal freedoms should be constrained by professional roles, especially in educational institutions.
- Tenure and Accountability: Firing a tenured professor poses significant challenges and requires substantial evidence of misconduct.
- Public Perception: Scandals can simultaneously attract ridicule and support, reflecting diverse societal views on morality and professionalism.
This comprehensive exploration in Campus Files not only narrates a captivating scandal but also invites listeners to ponder broader questions about ethics, freedom, and the role of personal behavior in public service.