UI cancels Bijou plan to show 'pornographic' film

University of Iowa officials today said they canceled plans by the on-campus Bijou Theater to show a pornographic film this weekend.

Tom Rocklin, interim vice president for student services, said in an e-mail this afternoon that after being notified the student-run theater planned to show a pornographic film, "I informed the student directors of the Bijou Theater to cancel their plans to show the movie in question. It is clearly not in the public interest for a public facility at a public institution to be showing a film of this nature."

If showing the film were essential to an educational objective, Rocklin said  the situation would be different. But, he noted, the intent in this case was to provide entertainment.

The Bijou Web site advertised "3D Porn: Disco Dolls in Hot Skin" to be shown Friday and Saturday at midnight for $7 per ticket. The Web site said:  Come celebrate Valentine's Day in all three dimensions! For two nights only, the Bijou presents the erotic camp classic, HOT SKIN, in 3D! See 1970s porn the way it is supposed to be seen at the Bijou, midnight on Friday and Saturday, February 12 and 13. There will be big hair. There will be obnoxious mustaches. There will not be a coherent plot. (Tickets go on sale February 1. 3D glasses will be provided)