Posted on Tue, Jan 17, 2012 : 9:20 p.m.
University of Michigan students recorded porn videos in dorms for website
By Kellie Woodhouse
University of Michigan students are featured in a porn website that primarily shows videos of college students having sex in their on-campus residence halls, WDIV TV reported today.
DareDorm.com claims that students featured on their website attend U-M and had videotaped sex in on-campus dormitories. If true, it violates university guidelines.
WDIV-TV reports that the website continues to solicit U-M students to participate in new videos, whether as actors or videographers. The television station also reported that university officials were unfamiliar with the site when contacted by a reporter.
Read the full report here
Comments
Ron Granger
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 8:23 p.m.
Oh my. College students having sex in dorms? Is that really allowed? Can't they prohibit that? And making money filming it, without the university getting their cut of the CASH? Oh, the humanity!
rusty shackelford
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 7:06 p.m.
Pics or it didn't happen
Dog Guy
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 6:46 p.m.
U of M is predictably concerned about not getting its percentage.
Trouble
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 4:50 p.m.
Great Men and Women need Great Educations! Nuff Said!
cinnabar7071
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 4:04 p.m.
I guess these students aren't worried about how this will effect their job prospects. I've been asked more then once while being interviewed if I've done anything that might embarrass myself or the company that was interviewing me.
grye
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 2:16 p.m.
Take a guess as to whether these students would these be business majors or liberal arts majors.
A2James
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 2:14 p.m.
We live in a world where people will be filmed on reality shows or game shows for minimal amounts of money, but are willing to look ridiculous for 15 minutes of fame and a little extra money. Now, I don't think the students being filmed are looking to get an AVN award, but it is a shame what people will do just for a little extra money. As for the Girls Gone Wild film crew, I have personally witnessed them walking around campus events offering $50 bills to any woman who showed off her "top", and $100 bills to any woman who showed "it all". And quite a few women took them up on it, even some who were completely sober...
A2lover
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 2:04 p.m.
Better than waiting tables, better money too, plus the enjoyment of sex. The only thing really pornographic on campus is the vast salaries the U of M pays upper level management and the spurious decisions the President, Regents and Provosts make.
justcurious
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 1:20 p.m.
Sorry, don't buy the student as victim scenario.
zanzerbar
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 10:50 a.m.
I've seen the" Girls Gone Wild" tour bus around town several times the past few years.
Halima
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 10 a.m.
The University is rather hypocritical on this one all around. Students are allowed to have sex in the dorms, but not to film it? In the US, people of 18 years or over are allowed to film their sex acts. Does the U crack down on everyone's YouTube or blog footage of them playing saxophone or video games? Personally, I find the idea of being filmed for sex disgusting, but I gotta tell you, I didn't know about the existence of this rule when I was a University student, and would have only refused for my personal beliefs, not because I understood that it was a University policy. The students in question, now that they know about the rule, should move off campus for their filming, but the book should not be thrown at them for the past violations. Maybe a small fine, but no suspension or dismissal or anything.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 1:18 p.m.
The only thing that make the web site "unique" is that it was done in the dorms, so the whole co-ed thing has some wheels. If they move off campus for filming, then it's just a couple of random skanks getting it on in a dumpy apartment. So it is a bit of a catch-22.
ArthGuinness
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 5:41 a.m.
Well, we could argue all day about whether porn should be legal, but it currently is. There are just some restrictions on its distribution, so the students didn't do anything illegal. It's possible that they violated some University guidelines, although I question whether the U has much say over what happens inside a room that has been effectively rented for private use. Finally, the idea that they have to 'approve' filming in this modern age where every little device has a camera is actually kind of bizarre if you think about it.
shutthefrtdoor
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 6:28 p.m.
Good post...and the last time I opined about this "school" I was rudely reminded that it IS taxpayer funded...NOT private. I would expect this from a "Saint" school...but not a school that allows professors to take risque photo's with students under the "arts" moniker... hypocrite's
Butter nuts
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 4:22 a.m.
Go Blue
Joe_Citizen
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 4:21 a.m.
That's not funny you guys!
halflight
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 4:03 a.m.
Stupid. I hope the University follows through and sues the porn producer for illegally producing video in the dorms, and gets a restraining order prohibiting publication and distribution. The dormitories are state-supported institutions, not private residents that students can use to make porn. If they want to do that, rent a house.
halflight
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 4:29 a.m.
When was the last time you heard of an obscenity investigation by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office? I haven't-- ever.
Roadman
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 4:15 a.m.
Yeah, if it was filmed at a off-campus student residence, Dorm dare need not worry about getting U-M official approval - but might have to be concerned about a possible obscenity investigation by law enforcement.
Roadman
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 3:51 a.m.
According to the WDIV article the production company, Dorm Dare, will pay up to $10,000 for participants and are seeking to hire crew members as well. University of Michigan says that several departments, including the DPS, would have to approve the filming if it occurred in any dorm areas. When we have police and other university officials approving or disapproving filming, we again see the issue of content-based restrictions which implicate possible Free Speech Clause issues under the First Amendment. If the prospective filming is not deemed obscene, but has literary or aesthetic value, I would have a hard time arguing the U-M officials have any business exercising censorship. If the filming to be had is as a matter of law, obscene - then censorship is constitutional.
YpsiLivin
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 1:31 p.m.
SMC, Drinking by minors is already prohibited by state law so the "dorm rule" against it is/was immaterial, except that the University can use it as a means to rescind the lease agreement if a minor is caught. The University could cover its bases by saying that any illegal activity - regardless of its nature - on the part of the student inside the dormitory is grounds for removal.
justcurious
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.
Oh please, what a rediculous take on this.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 1:15 p.m.
It never ceases to amaze me the stuff people spout as "facts" that are flat out wrong: <a href="http://housing.umich.edu/faq" rel='nofollow'>http://housing.umich.edu/faq</a> Are students required to live on campus? Students are not required to live on campus -- although about 97 percent of first-year students choose to live in university housing for the community, convenience and security. Living on campus is a big advantage in making the transition to university life Regardless, you CHOOSE to go there, they get to make the rules. Sorry, that's life. It gets worse when you get a JOB.
SMC
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 5:48 a.m.
Not quite, johnnya2. When I lived in the dorms at another school in Michigan, the same rules as you mentioned applied regarding dorm fees and class requirements (freshmen had to live on campus), but the residence halls had other rules as well, including prohibition of underage drinking, and possession of firearms. If the U decides their facilities will not be used to produce pornography, that's that.
johnnya2
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 5:02 a.m.
"Your house, your rules. UM gets to say and if the kids don't like it, nobody is making them stay." Not quite. 1. The U accept money and actually has leases. They are a landlord 2. The U REQUIRES many students to live on campus.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 4:16 a.m.
Your house, your rules. UM gets to say and if the kids don't like it, nobody is making them stay.
Dayne White Bull The Terrible.
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 3:48 a.m.
Ah, entrepreneurship at its finest.
Thomas
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 1:39 p.m.
you took the words out of my mouth. what's wrong with a little entrepreneurship?
Mr. Ed
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 3:36 a.m.
Makes me want to go back to college.
Bertha Venation
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 5:52 p.m.
heh. ya.... no kiddin'
Maxwell
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 3:24 a.m.
This is only news if you're last name is Nelson or Cleaver. This story reminds me of a headline the old AA News did maybe a dozen years ago "Ann Arbor Massage Parlors Alleged Front for Prostitution" - Really? Imagine that!
quetzalcoatl
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 3:17 a.m.
The Supreme Court has been famously unable to define pornography. I wonder how the University managed to do it for its guidelines?
Roadman
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 3:25 a.m.
I am sure the ACLU would like to "pipe in" about First Amendment rights here and defend the student's conduct. But they are likely too busy at this point prosecuting the Blaine Coleman case against the AATA in federal court.
Roadman
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 3:14 a.m.
There is absolutely no excuse for this type of behavior. You would think U-M students would have more intelligence than this. I am sure that with all of the publicity, however, by the media this will go viral and garner several million hits on YouTube once uploaded. And if the Office of County Prosecutor gets ahold of these tapes, you can bet dollars to doughnuts we may see obscenity charges authorized by someone at Brian Mackie's office. They are likey licking their collective chops for a shot at such a case.
rinmem10
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 5:02 p.m.
LOL. I have to admit that's true about people checking things out. I never heard of the site, but now I'll be checking. Who was it that said, "There's no such thing as bad publicity?"
johnnya2
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 5:04 a.m.
No excuse for college kids having sex? How horrible of them. I suppose it is more important to worry about students doing something LEGAL versus worrying about how many instances of underage alcohol is consumed in the dorms. As for it being posted on YOUTUBE, you obviously are unaware that they do not allow porn on YOUTUBE. If we are lucky, it will be shown for free on XTUBE
quetzalcoatl
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 3:18 a.m.
They are doing WHAT at Brian Mackie's office, Roadman?
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 3:07 a.m.
Looks like those film incentive took hold.
Arborcomment
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 2:39 a.m.
Extra income needed due to high tuition.
Roadman
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 : 3:16 a.m.
Don't laugh. A U-M law student was charged with soliciting not to long ago and sid her motivation was due to the high cost of tuition. She was beaten up by a customer and the police learned about it when she reported the incident of assault. The story was covered in the Michigan Daily and the customer was a professor.