NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — University of Tennessee President Joe DiPietro is urging lawmakers not to pursue legislation that would penalize the school over its student-run Sex Week.
In a letter to Senate leaders, DiPietro argues that First Amendment protections prevent the school from ending the event that has raised the hackles of GOP leaders in the General Assembly.
The letter is in response to one written earlier by the chairs of two Senate committees, warning that new UT funding could be threatened if Sex Week wasn't put to a halt.
DiPietro said in the letter that he is increasingly concerned the attention from lawmakers could "cause greater harm and damage to the long-term interests of the university than any programming that may occur as a result of Sex Week."