Another free-speech controversy at universities

This one is at the University of Maryland, where some students screened a portion of a pornographic film in the student union, despite threats from a state legislator that he would seek to withhold construction funds until the school develops an "acceptable" policy on pornography on campus, according to this Washington Post story. The university says that it could not block the screening but insisted on an academic component. Professors discussed the issue of pornography and free-speech at the screening. Here's an excerpt from the Post article: (I'd be curious to hear your opinion on the incident.)

About half an hour of the 2 1/2 -hour film was shown. The point was the principle, not the porn, several student leaders said. Besides, the NCAA championship game was starting about 9. "That was crazy. I don't know what they were thinking, to put that in a public viewing, especially on a college campus," said Idara Inokon, 19. "It's just not appropriate." But Dmytro Berkout, a 19-year-old student from Ukraine, said the controversy was a lot of fuss -- by both sides -- over nothing. State Sen. Andrew P. Harris (R-Baltimore County) last week threatened to block the university's $424 million share of state operating funds over plans to show the film at a theater in the student union.