Senator Harris Questions University of Maryland Film Policy - Movie Cancelled 4/09

While driving from his home in Baltimore County to attend the morning legislative session of the Maryland Senate, Senator Andrew Harris, R - Baltimore & Harford Counties, heard a WBAL Radio news report that a hard-core pornographic film was scheduled as a student activity at the University of Maryland, College Park.

In response, he offered an amendment to the third reader vote on the state budget to prohibit such films as student entertainment in the University system.  The amendment generated an extensive discussion about campus sexual harassment policies and sensitivity training for students and administrators.  The debate also focused upon mental health addictions from pornographic films and the demeaning of women through that segment of the film industry.

The debate was periodically stopped by the Senate President because the galleries were sporadically filled with elementary school students who happened to be visiting Annapolis today.

Prior to a final vote on the issue, representatives of the University of Maryland cancelled the plans for the viewing of the film at campus facilities.

To review the coverage in the Baltimore Sun on this issue, click here