Students filed into the Cox Auditorium last night to learn moreabout a topic that is not discussed in most classrooms –pornography.
“The Porn Factor,” a presentation about pornography sponsored bythe Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Campus Crusade for Christ andRefuge, covered topics from the pornography industry to thenegative effects porn has on people.
“We’ve been talking about it for a couple years,” said KevinMcKee, a teaching pastor at the Chapel on the Campus.
McKee said they began working on the presentation four monthsago.
“We made videos over the summer, and we started working hard inAugust,” he said.
The event, which was scheduled for Sept. 15 but was postponedbecause of Hurricane Ivan, opened with a video clip from thetelevision show “Friends,” where two of the characters are watchingpornography on their television set.
There were other video clips shown during the presentation,including a segment from ABC News about pornography’s negativeeffects, and a video by the sponsors which interviewed studentsaround campus and in other Baton Rouge locations.
“We live in a society where we’re constantly hit with thesepictures,” said Josh LaRavia, director of college ministry forRefuge. “We want to take a healthy look and discussion ofpornography. We believe its effects are devastating.”
The program, which consisted mostly of McKee speaking aboutpornography, attracted students for different reasons.
“I was running and I saw a sign for it,” said April Shaeffer, acivil engineering junior. “It’s something I’ve always been against.I don’t know that much about it. That’s why I’m here.”
But Josh Renard, a civil engineering senior, who attended theevent with Shaeffer had different reasons for going.
“I’m coming because she’s coming,” he said of Shaeffer. “I don’twant to be here. I’m not strongly against or for porn.”
McKee’s speech included a short history of the porn industry,statistics about how much pornography is viewed on the Internet,comments from a former pornography actress and director, and whatcould result from people viewing pornography.
“There’s a desensitization that goes on,” McKee said. “The worstpart is men begin to act out [what they see]. It makes men only seewomen in nude context. That’s all they think about.”
McKee also spoke about how pornography portrays women.
“Women become objects to be won, to be captured,” he said. “Andit constantly degrades women.”
McKee said porn promotes the idea that kids should have sex,illegal sex is fun, prostitution is glamorous and leads people tobelieve women want to be raped.
“It is ruining our ability to have meaningful relationships,” hesaid.
McKee concluded the presentation by answering questions whichmembers of the audience wrote on cards at the start of theprogram.
LaRavia said some people may have been turned off by theChristian message the presentation conveyed.
“Sure, some people were turned off by the Christian message,” hesaid. “But no matter the problem, we believe Jesus Christ is thesolution.”
However, LaRavia was happy with the turnout.
“I was very satisfied with who came tonight,” he said. “Out of200 to 300 who attended, there were 100-plus new faces we had theopportunity to meet, and I think that’s just incredible.”
Amanda Bosarge, a graphic design junior and member of Refuge,enjoyed the presentation.
“I think it was very informative of what pornography does topeople and how it affects people,” she said. “Although it was abiased point of view, it was well presented.”
Tables set up near the auditorium provided information,including Web sites for further reading and a contact number forChristian counseling, for people who felt they needed help.
There will be a follow-up discussion in the Union Red River Roomfrom 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today.