Jeremy-Cole Debate Effects of Porn

Missouri- Both speakers in the pornography debate Tuesday in Plaster Student Union Theater shared a small dressing room. The "green room" consisted of two chairs, a counter and a long mirror. As women's rights activist Susan Cole studied her notes, pornography star Ron Jeremy told me why he came to defend the pornography industry.

"I'm here to put a happy face on the industry, even though there are a lot prettier faces in the business," Jeremy said. "It deserves to be defended."

Jeremy cracked another joke that made Cole smile and look up from her notes.

"Ron thinks everything is okay, but my concern is that everyone is getting one sexuality and one sexuality only," Cole said. "It's the sexuality that treats women as objects, and I don't think that's okay."

Jeremy turned to Cole and asked about her parents and her daughter. They spoke back and forth about each other's lives like friends catching up on old times. Cole made a comment on how silly Jeremy's green rubber sandals looked, and he defended them on the grounds of comfort.

I turned to Jeremy and asked if he had any advice for students who are thinking of joining the pornography business.

Cole laughed and said, "He's not allowed to. He can sign breasts, but he can't recruit, and he can't sell pornography."

Apparently, Cole and Jeremy have made an agreement that forbids him from answering those types of questions. Cole said she would be participating in propagating the industry she is trying to tear down.

Moments later, Cole had left the room and Jeremy looked at me and said, "A single guy can't get a job anywhere; you have to bring a girl with you. Men are just the props."

Jeremy's advice was interrupted by a knock on the door by Josh Heeter, Student Activities Council coordinator. Heeter asked Jeremy if he had any questions for him before the event began. Jeremy pulled a small piece of cardboard, torn on three sides, out of his bag. It was a numbered list in black magic marker.

"Tell the moderator not to read what they gave him; I like this much better," Jeremy said as he handed Heeter the scrap of cardboard.

"I got some things to sell, if they want it." Jeremy said to the coordinator. "If I'm gonna sign 800 autographs, I ought to get something out of it."

Over the next few minutes, Heeter and Jeremy discussed limitations and set timetables. Jeremy said that he wouldn't let somebody stand in line and not get an autograph. "That would be mean."

I wished Jeremy luck in the green room and the same to Cole as I passed her in the hallway. Then I took my seat among the students.

Josh Heeter from SAC took to the stage and called this Pornography debate, "one of our biggest events ever."

Victor Matthews, professor of religious studies, took his position between the podiums as moderator of the event.

Matthews read a list of qualifications for Susan Cole:

"She is currently editor of NOW magazine. She has been part of the anti-pornography movement since the late 70s. Her first book, "Pornography and Sex Crimes" is required reading in many gender studies courses across the country. She received her bachelor's degree from Harvard University..."

Then, Matthews began reading from a tattered piece of cardboard:

"He has been on the 'Barbara Walters Show.' He can be seen on the 'Chappell Show.' He has a documentary on Showtime that is still available at Blockbuster. He has made 1,800 adult films. He has been on the 'Surreal Life.' He holds two bachelor's degrees in theatre and education and a masters in special education."

And with a thunderous applause, the two debaters took to the stage.

Cole began the debate by explaining that she is not anti-sex. "I am especially in favor of masturbation," she said.

Cole also said that she is not a "pro-censorship, Bible thumping, right-wing freak."

Cole said of her adversary, "Ron is smart, he's funny, he's thoughtful, and he's wrong."

She went on to describe the problem, as she saw it, in one of Jeremy's adult films. She described a scene in which a woman is making too much noise, and "Ron solves the problem by sticking his penis into her mouth."

The crowd followed her statement with laughter and applause. To which she replied, "That is the sound of contempt for women."

"That's why I'm here," Cole said, "I want you to look at pornography with different eyes."

Then Jeremy began his defense. He said that the scene that Cole described was made for the purpose of humor and it was taken out of context. He said there are many movies where the dominance is given to the woman, but there is simply a larger market for male fantasies.

"If you want to get scared, you can watch Alfred Hitchcock. If you want to get romantically, sexually excited, watch an adult movie," Jeremy said. "Its part of the wide world of entertainment-nothing more, nothing less."

"I won't defend some of the stuff on the internet," Jeremy said, "that's not part of my world."

After the opening arguments, the debtors fielded question from the crowd.

During one question, Cole said that Jeremy doesn't see the messages that pornography sends to children.

Jeremy rebutted by saying pornography has no message. "There's junk food and there's junk entertainment. I used to masturbate to 'Gilligan's Island.'"

Another student asked the panel for the difference between art and porn.

Jeremy said, "The difference between eroticism and pornography is the lighting. It's still a performance; it's still fun to watch."

Cole said that she would classify "sexually explicit paintings that were brilliantly painted by great artists," as pornographic.

Near the end of the debate, Jeremy asked Cole if there was any type of sexually explicit material that would be okay. Cole said that, "something that could possibly be empowering is to consider being in your own sexually explicit film, maybe."

Jeremy replied, "We agree on that, only I think you should be able to trade with the neighbors."

After the debate, Cole told me about a time when she and Jeremy had to be rushed away from a college campus by the police when protestors gathered outside the university.

However, Missouri State crowds outside the theater were not threatening. Cole and Jeremy stayed to sign autographs and meet students and faculty.

Heeter said the event was a great success.