feminists debate the influence of porn on society

Those expecting a mud-wrestling match in the Granite State Room were in for a shock on Feb. 4 when the pornography debate took a different turn.

Two feminists—anti-porn activist Susan G. Cole and former porn star and supporter of the industry Nina Hartley—defended their viewpoints in the MUB-sponsored event. It was so crowded that 10 minutes before the guests came in to speak students were being turned away at the door.
Cole is the senior entertainment and books editor at NOW Magazine, Canada’s news and entertainment weekly. She is also an author and playwright.

Hartley started as an exotic dancer while attending nursing school and then moved into adult entertainment. While also a registered nurse, she has been in more than 600 erotic films with both men and women in the past 25 years, and is most well known for her role in “Boogie Nights.”
Cole said pornography isn’t about having the right to choose, as Hartley argued, but is demeaning to women. She said pornography instills ideas that violence and dominance toward women is OK.

“Porn creates a scenario that I’ll say no, but if you push me it means yes,” said Cole. “The material is teaching that women like force in sex.”
Hartley agrees that the presentation of porn influences people, although she doesn’t think it creates or encourages violence toward women.
“Evil people do evil things and don’t need others to show them how,” said Hartley.

Hartley went on to argue that pornography is fake and needs to be viewed like a cartoon.

“I’m a paid actress,” she said. “I do the orgasm I do at home—I just circumcise the time. It’s a performance as much as anything in Hollywood … It’s not designed to be realistic. That’s not its purpose or responsibility. You get realistic ideas talking to others and exploring.”

Cole said many people who watch porn don’t filter what they see and fail to make the distinction between reality and acting. Cole said these people think that what is seen in an adult film is what should actually be done in the bedroom, which can lead to violent acts toward women and higher expectations.

“Why would you want to teach women fake pleasure?” asked Cole.

Both, however, agree there is a desperate need for more sex education.

House’s stimulus package aims to ease cost of college

The U.S. Senate is looking at a bill that could potentially aid college students who need financial support by increasing the Pell Grant scholarship, establishing a new college tuition tax credit and creating innovative work-study opportunities.

As part of an $819 billion economic stimulus package approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 28, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act would help students and families across the country.

“It stimulates in two ways,” said Mel Dubnick, a professor of public administration at UNH. “Colleges are going to have a hard time because students will not have the money to pay tuition, so it helps them. And you also have the other point—that people going to college are not out on the labor market. It opens job opportunities and helps build an educated workforce.”

As approved by the House, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act would increase the Pell Grant scholarship by $500 per student. The increase would make the maximum reward $5,350 for next year’s students and $5,550 by 2010, potentially aiding up to 7 million students.
A partially refundable college tuition tax credit of $2,500 would also be established, helping around 4 million students.

The bill would also expand work-study and service opportunities, stabilize state budgets for higher education through the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, and modernize student quality of life with $6 billion to improve campus facilities.

As the Senate reviews the bill and prepares for a vote, changes to the package are almost inevitable, according to Dubnick. If the bill is altered, it will go to a conference committee and then back to the House.

Some students believe the legislation shouldn’t be altered.

“With the economic crisis, many families are struggling to pay college tuitions,” said Emily Pinch, a sophomore justice studies and sociology major. “It is important in today’s world to have a college degree. Not making this opportunity possible would not only ruin today’s economy, but the future of this country.”