College Student Works in Pornography to Pay Tuition

“I’d rather have my dignity and loans than work as a prostitute.”

That was one Internet comment about “Belle Knox,” an 18-year-old Duke University freshman who works as a porn star to pay for tuition. Duke University charges $60,000 per year. Knox claims she makes $1,200 per scene. Knox began filming last November, flying out to Los Angles during school breaks. She was outed by one of her classmates, Thomas Bagley, during a fraternity event. Bagley recognized Knox from one her scenes. Although Knox asked Bagley not to disclose the information, he did so anyway.

After Bagley’s betrayal, Knox was harassed on campus and online. Many individuals asked that the university expel her, sent rape or death threats, and other types of harassment. Her personal information, including her real name, address, and contact information, was released. One commentator made it a goal to “bang” her before the commentator graduated. Knox quickly became the “Freshman Porn Star” among her peers at Duke University.

Knox responded to her critics and harassers. She gave an interview with her school newspaper, The Chronicle, and wrote a statement on the controversy on XoJane, an Internet magazine about women. Knox was proud of her current position, although she still desired privacy. Knox felt “empowered” by her “honest day’s work.” Knox plans to continue working as a “sex worker” to pay for her education. The men who “consumed her then condemned her” were hypocrites.

Can a Student Be Expelled for Engaging in Pornography?

I looked through Duke’s Conduct Covenant and there is nothing about her conduct that seems like a breach of contract. The Conduct Covenant requires students to conduct themselves honorably in all their endeavors and not to lie, cheat, or steal in their academic endeavors.

It’s possible to say that Knox’s pornography is somehow academic since she is speaking out about justice for sex workers, but I doubt anyone would take that argument too seriously. The pornography is clearly a part-time job, one which takes place away from campus. Second, her writing about sex workers and her engagements in sex are two different activities. Even if the writing might be academic, that doesn’t make the sex academic, especially since the motive behind the sex is profit rather than knowledge.

Using pornography to pay a private Christian school might seem like sacrilege and thus could be less than honorable conduct. However, “honor” is rather subjective and the money is rightfully hers to use as she pleases. As long as pornography isn’t illegal, she hasn’t committed any egregious behavior. I’d say that if Knox is expelled for less than honorable conduct, so should many of her classmates.

If Knox’s conduct is questionable, any students who sent her threats of rape or physical harm are clearly in violation of the code. The code states that any harassment, including sexual harassment, should be brought directly to the Academic Dean. It would be hypocrisy to punish the person being threatened and not the people making the threats.