A former chancellor who was fired after regents learned he was producing pornography is suing the University of Wisconsin.

Former University of Wisconsin-La Crosse chancellor Joe Gow launched a lawsuit against the UW System seeking the reinstatement of his faculty position and compensatory damages.

"I think this is an important moment for free speech and I'd like to think this will result in a court saying you can't fire someone for what they do on the internet on their own time," Gow, 64, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Former University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow wants his tenured teaching back, and he's suing to that end. Gow was fired from his chancellorship in December 2023 after pornographic videos he had made with his wife came to light.