2008 Woodie Awards
Councilman proposes library porn filters
Viewing in presence of children 'unacceptable'
Jovanni Colisao
Issue date: 10/30/07 Section: News
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A San Jose Councilman decided last week that he would like to put an end to the multiple complaints regarding pornography in San Jose public libraries.
Last Wednesday, City Councilman Pete Constant announced his proposal outside of SJSU's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library to restrict public access to pornography in public libraries.
On Oct. 24, Constant said in a news conference streamed online by ABC News that viewing pornography while in the presence of children is unacceptable.
"You can be walking with your children or grandchildren through our library right behind us and on your way walking to the stacks of books be subjected to people who are viewing pornography right in your presence," Constant said. "And that, I believe, is wrong."
One student thought Constant's proposal was a good idea.
"Different age groups go in there, and it wouldn't be appropriate if someone is looking at porn and there's kids walking by," said Frances Ualat, a junior nursing major.
Patricia Harris, media relations specialist at SJSU, said the University Police Department reported 37 calls for disorderly conduct of soliciting lewd acts between Jan.1 and Oct. 19.
Harris said that out of the 37 calls, 26 were related to computers, 17 resulted in an arrest or citation and two possibly involved child pornography.
Harris said that there have been 720,000 annual sessions or log-ons and 2.6 million visitors in the King Library this year.
Harris said that even though the ratio of calls to the amount of annual sessions or visitors in the King Library is small, one call is one too many.
She said that these types of matters require more thought.
"It is a very complex issue," said Harris.
Harris said that she was pleased that the rules committee decided to take a step back and think about all of the different factors that need to be considered.
"We want to make sure we're doing everything we can to ensure that the campus is safe," Harris said.
Last Wednesday, City Councilman Pete Constant announced his proposal outside of SJSU's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library to restrict public access to pornography in public libraries.
On Oct. 24, Constant said in a news conference streamed online by ABC News that viewing pornography while in the presence of children is unacceptable.
"You can be walking with your children or grandchildren through our library right behind us and on your way walking to the stacks of books be subjected to people who are viewing pornography right in your presence," Constant said. "And that, I believe, is wrong."
One student thought Constant's proposal was a good idea.
"Different age groups go in there, and it wouldn't be appropriate if someone is looking at porn and there's kids walking by," said Frances Ualat, a junior nursing major.
Patricia Harris, media relations specialist at SJSU, said the University Police Department reported 37 calls for disorderly conduct of soliciting lewd acts between Jan.1 and Oct. 19.
Harris said that out of the 37 calls, 26 were related to computers, 17 resulted in an arrest or citation and two possibly involved child pornography.
Harris said that there have been 720,000 annual sessions or log-ons and 2.6 million visitors in the King Library this year.
Harris said that even though the ratio of calls to the amount of annual sessions or visitors in the King Library is small, one call is one too many.
She said that these types of matters require more thought.
"It is a very complex issue," said Harris.
Harris said that she was pleased that the rules committee decided to take a step back and think about all of the different factors that need to be considered.
"We want to make sure we're doing everything we can to ensure that the campus is safe," Harris said.
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