Sharon, Pa- www.sharon-herald.com- To Grove City College, John Gechter was a bright young student majoring in molecular biology.

But to his online audience, he was Vincent DeSalvo, a baby-faced rising star in the gay pornography industry.

Both worlds unexpectedly crashed into each other two weeks ago after his online persona was discovered at GCC.

“A student on campus was browsing inappropriate content online and recognized me on a (pornography) Web site,” said the 22-year-old Philadelphia native. “He copied and pasted some images and sent an e-mail to some friends. GCC is a pretty small school, so the e-mail spread like wildfire.”

Gechter began his career in gay pornography late in his sophomore year, two years ago. During that time, Gechter successfully kept Vincent DeSalvo a secret from his life at GCC. No one knew about his off-campus job, not even his roommate at the Colonial Apartment complex.

That ended the night of April 23 when the first e-mail revealing his online identity was sent out. By the next morning, at least two-thirds of the student population had received the e-mail. So did school administration.

GCC officials have decided to indefinitely suspend Gechter for one year for his activities, pending his decision to appeal to the provost.

“I absolutely believe the college (has) violated my rights,” Gechter said. “They (suspended) me based on my occupation. I was not doing anything illegal.”

But according to GCC Communications Director Amy Clingensmith, Gechter’s involvement in the porn industry “exhibited behavior contrary to the values” of the college.

Ms. Clingensmith said the college’s main concern was for Gechter.

“Clearly something happened since he’s been here for four years that led him down this unfortunate path,” she said. “We want to get him out of that type of life.”

But according to Gechter, acting in porn helped him pay tuition at GCC.

“When I first came to Grove City, I was pressed for money and I worked four jobs trying to make ends meet,” he recalled. “Money was always an issue as I tried to keep my head above water. Then I started modeling, which earned me significant money.”

In 2007, Gechter signed with Midwest Model Management, based in Canton, Ohio. During a photo shoot about a year later, Gechter was approached by an agent who told him he had the perfect body for the porn industry, which paid much more than modeling.

Gechter immediately accepted the offer. He said he has filmed about 15 scenes since that time.

For the last two years, Gechter attended classes at GCC during the week before flying to Los Angeles, Miami or Chicago on the weekends to film scenes.

“I’d fly out on Friday, shoot, then fly back on Sunday,” Gechter said. “I’ve traveled all over the country.”

“I’ve paid my entire way through school and, truth is, if I didn’t do porn, I wouldn’t be able to (attend) GCC,” he added.

But his college career is in jeopardy since GCC administrators discovered Gechter’s extracurricular activities on April 24. He met with college officials that day and, according to Ms. Clingensmith, “during this meeting the student confirmed he is, and has been, under contract, and in fact was performing in the adult entertainment industry.”

“He also indicated he chose to participate in this behavior knowing it was incongruent with the policies, mission and values of Grove City College,” Ms. Clingensmith wrote in an e-mail.

During a subsequent April 27 meeting, Larry Hardesty, GCC vice president for student life and learning, informed Gechter that he would be suspended indefinitely for one year.

Gechter would be able to return to GCC in the fall of 2010 to finish his degree, “provided he exhibited proof that he turned his life around and is out of (the porn) industry,” Ms. Clingensmith explained. “The student was also notified he was not to be on college property during this suspension and informed a return to the college would involve the approval of (Hardesty) and a probationary status.”

Gechter was charged with three sanctions: sexual misconduct; participating in a public display of pornography; and having been engaged in conduct that is contrary to the mission and values of Grove City College;and likely to bring dishonor to the college and acting in a way inconsistent with college values, according to a letter sent to Gechter from Hardesty.

GCC’s student handbook, the Crimson, outlines the college’s stance on premarital sex under its sexual misconduct policy, Ms. Clingensmith said.

“Premarital sex, heterosexual or homosexual, or any other such conduct that violates historical Christian standards” is subject to disciplinary action, she noted.

Gechter appealed the sanctions and his hearing was held Monday.

The appeals board, composed of faculty and students, voted to sustain the sanctions imposed by the Office of Student Life and Learning, according to a letter sent to Gechter from Mary A. Skidmore and Dr. James Bibza, co-chairs of the appeals board.