Maryland students oppose porn policy

COLLEGE PARK, Md., Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Students at Maryland's public universities are raising free speech concerns over a mandate that regents enact a pornographic film policy, various groups say.

Student government spokesman Joel Cohen of the University of Maryland in College Park says establishing such a policy could set a bad precedent for campuses across the country, the Baltimore Sun reported Wednesday.

"I would love it if they decided that their policy was to have no policy," says law student Brady Walker, chair of the system's umbrella student council.

Maryland lawmakers ordered the Board of Regents to come up with a policy by Dec. 1 following the screening of an XXX-rated film at the College Park campus.

Opponents plan to express their concerns in a letter to regents and key lawmakers signed by more than 150 student groups and more than 100 faculty members, the newspaper says.

A discussion forum is scheduled Oct. 13 at College Park.