Porn Actor's Lecture At Pasadena City College Relocated Due To Potential Protest

PASADENA (CBSLA.com/AP) — Pasadena City College officials are concerned about protestors potentially disrupting a guest lecture Wednesday featuring porn star James Deen.

The prolific porn star was invited to speak at his alma mater by Gender Studies Professor Hugo Schwyzer.

Following the invitation, Schwyzer, who has taught Gender Studies at the college for 20 years, was immediately contacted by campus officials who said Deen's visit was "unauthorized."

College administrators said they had received word that 100 protestors planned to picket Deen's presence on campus, KNX 1070 Pete Demetriou reported.

"We support the instructor's academic freedom within the classroom," Robert Bell, assistant superintendent of Academic and Student Affairs, said in a statement. 'The college's concern is to schedule all public events according to procedures so we can insure public safety and security."

"People are going crazy about this," a Pasadena City College student said.

College officials moved the lecture, titled Navigating Pornography, from the Campus Center to a closed classroom where he would be able to speak to only about 40 students.

"We support the instructor's academic freedom within the classroom," Dr. Robert Bell, assistant superintendent of Academic and Student Affairs, said in a statement.

"Well, he has a gender, and I'd definitely say he's done some studies," student Katherine Sevelli said.

Schwyzer previously invited both porn industry representatives and anti-porn activists without any hassle. But none, he acknowledged, have quite the profile of Deen, who recently co-starred with Lindsay Lohan in the upcoming mainstream film "The Canyons".

Deen, whose real name is Bryan Matthew Sevilla, has starred in approximately 1,300 adult films, including "Nerdy Girls" and "unSEXpected".

The lecture went off without a hitch, reports Brittney Hopper for CBS2/KCAL9.

Deen told Hopper he didn't understand all the controversy -- especially since he was talking to college students. "If someone doesn't know information, give them the information give them the tools and you know as far as sex goes, it's not a bad thing but it can be seen as a bad thing if you're ignorant."

Deen also said despite today's controversy he will continue to lecture about the adult film industry.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)