The images on screen weren’t the only long things on Thursday night’s screening of Pirates II: Stagnetti’s Revenge. Lines to get into the triple X-rated pornographic film extended around the Chemistry 194 building, making it hard to get in.
ASUCD’s Entertainment Council brought the biggest adult production, a $10 million sequel to 2005‘s Pirates, to campus last Thursday evening for free, garnering excited responses from students.
“It promotes sexuality so you don’t have to condemn sex,” said Jenny Kelpe, a sophomore design major who attended the film. “The openness makes people more free to talk about their experiences, so that they can know what they’re doing is right or wrong. It makes for a more sexually open campus.”
Members of the Gender and Sexuality Commission were also present prior to the screening to give a presentation about the aspect of rape fantasy and consent.
“Sometimes in porn consent is not really featured, and that can manifest itself in rape,“ said Sarah Raridon, a GASC commissioner. “We want to make that distinction very clear between fantasy and real life.“
EC was able to put on the screening at no cost, after securing the rights to the film and the lecture hall for free. The Department of Student Affairs paid for three to four Cal Aggie Hosts to be present at approximately $80 each.
“We justify that [the money] wasn’t going toward the movie itself but toward the protection of the students,“ said Golda Criddle, EC’s cinema coordinator. “We felt that it was necessary to bring them in since media was involved.”
Kelpe and her friends waited in line for an hour to get into the lecture hall. All three had never seen either of the Pirates films. Other students that had seen the film said they were there for the experience.
“I thought it was pretty good for a porn, it’s decent quality, unlike some of the other porno’s you see,” said Kelsy Waters, who owns both Pirates films. “We’re excited to see it on the big screen and to see everyone else’s reactions to it. How many times in your life do you get the chance to watch something like this with this many other people?”
Despite the long line, not everyone on campus was excited about the event. Two protesters from Davis Christian Fellowship held a sign reading, “Don’t show porn on our campus, it’s not good for you,” outside the lecture hall.
“A lot of people don’t want this to happen on our campus,” said Peter Ludden, senior biological sciences major and protester. “We’re allowed to say, ‘Hey, don’t do this.‘ We’re not condemning people who watch porn, we’re condemning porn itself.”
EC did not promote the event other than on Facebook, with more than 800 students confirmed to attend. Only 440 were allowed inside the lecture hall, turning down a couple hundred more that were waiting outside.
“I feel like we’re all mature enough that we go to Davis, and I doubt they’re going to be pulling out penises everywhere,” said Rachel Gatanis, sophomore psychology major. “I think people will look at this more comically.”
Indeed, reactions inside the theater from the audience demonstrated that students did in fact take the screening lightly. Laughing and jeering was common, as were shouts of “I’m so horny!”
“It’s a light-hearted event for students to enjoy,” said Thongxy Phansopha, EC director.
EC members say, however, that after the large amount of media attention they received from this showing, they are not sure they will screen pornography in the future.
ANGELA RUGGIERO can be reached at campus@theaggie.org.
