Potomac News Online | Marshall talk
Confronted with a student television show featuring fake orgasms, sex-position charades with sex-toy prizes, the commonwealth was treated to another eruption of Mount Marshall this week.
We’re talking about Delegate Bob Marshall, R-13th District, who took to task the administration of Virginia Tech for sanctioning a show called “Sex Talk Live” on the college’s television station.
Marshall sent a letter to Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger, asking him how the university could condone a student television program with such sexual antics while the students and taxpayers pick up the tab.
“What the hell does this have to do with getting a college education?” Marshall told the Associated Press. “This has nothing to do with forming the intellect or imparting professional skills that will help students in the future.”
Steger replied in a letter to Marshall that while he condoned programs addressing legitimate sexual and health issues, he now believes that specific program went over the line.
“While I think that educational activities with respect to appropriate sexual conduct, sexually transmitted diseases, violence against women, and other such matters are certainly desirable and necessary, many aspects of the show, as reported, strike me as highly inappropriate and unfortunate,” Steger wrote.
Marshall is attacked relentlessly by opponents for trying to get slogans like “In God We Trust” tacked onto the walls at educational institutions, but those who object to his peddling of religion seldom object to programs of a such an excessive sexual nature that could very well offend portions of the student body.
Yes, there are many times where Marshall’s grand crusades drive us to distraction. But this time, Marshall has a valid point.
It was brought up that the “Sex Talk Live” was not directly paid for with taxpayer dollars, but it was funded through mandatory student fees. Parents and students are forced to pay enough for higher education without subsidizing this garbage.
It’s one thing for an educational institution to inform students about the issues of sexual relations, but using spiced-up TV shows under the auspices of education, or even free speech, is crossing the line.
The Virginia Tech administration will have some decisions to make on whether to continue doing business with the production company that produced this program. While it’s within the rights of a company to produce what it believes to be appropriate, parents and students should not be forced to pay for it.
While not everyone will appreciate some of Marshall’s endeavors from his legislative bully pulpit, it is well within his duties as a lawmaker to bring matters of this nature to the attention of constituents. . . and parents.