In the United States, there are more adult stores than McDonald’s franchises and pornography is a bigger business than football, baseball and basketball combined.

Former sex addict Michael Leahy said that during last week’s “Great Porn Debate,” which added 7,000 cans for the Can Emporia food drive to the $10 billion in the U.S. and the $52 billion worldwide that pornography brings in each year.

The Washburn Student Government Association, Campus Activities Board, Washburn Finance Society, Delta Chi and Sigma Phi Epsilon hosted the debate between Leahy and adult film star Ron Jeremy Monday, Oct. 1. The audience warmly welcomed both speakers, with one person in the second row giving Jeremy a standing ovation.

Leahy started the program by sharing his personal story about getting hooked on pornography at 11 years old, the average age of first exposure. He recounted watching Jeremy in his earlier films, prompting slightly nervous laughter from the audience. He also told of his descent into addiction, being one of the 6 to 8 percent of those exposed to pornography that develop what he calls Sexual Compulsivity Syndrome. Although SeCS is not a medically established condition, Leahy says it affects 20 to 40 million Americans.

Leahy admonished the porn industry for not taking action to prevent human trafficking, which recently replaced drug trafficking as the number two international crime against humanity. He was even sharper in his criticism of corporate America for exploiting sex to sell products.

After Leahy finished his introduction, Jeremy spoke in defense of the commercial pornography industry. He talked about double-identification age verification of those appearing in adult films, which often includes those involved in the hiring process posing as “potential employers” who call prospective hires to make sure they are who they say they are.

Jeremy touched on measures the industry takes to keep pornography out of the hands of minors; measures that Leahy retorted were vastly inadequate. Leahy then turned to the audience and asked whether anyone had clicked past a disclaimer on an adult Web site, falsely identifying themselves as being older than 18.

When an overwhelming majority of the audience raised their hands, Jeremy said, “You guys kept watching? You little perverts.”

Much of Jeremy’s performance consisted of quips such as that and denials that Leahy’s comments were relevant to him or those that he represents.

Jeremy also got a huge reaction when he said, commenting on an appearance in “Playgirl” magazine, “That was back when I was skinny. Now they want me in ‘Field and Stream.'”

Jeremy’s antics didn’t impress everyone, however.

“The debate was interesting, but Ron Jeremy made a fool of himself,” said sophomore Caleb Reid.

The improvisation award of the night has to go to moderator John Paul of the sociology/anthropology department. When Jeremy called pornography “an elective,” Paul didn’t hesitate before adding, “Not at this college.”

Another point that the two differed greatly on was the age at which children should first be exposed to sexually explicit material or information on sexuality. Jeremy said that children are ready when they first ask their parents. Leahy contended that if parents wait until their child asks, they will never discuss it – the topic should be broached when the child will first have exposure to mass media without constant supervision or absolute parental control.

Though there was some fear that the debate might degrade into a circus, the event was marked, for the most part, with mature and thoughtful discussion. Even when the forum was opened up to unscreened questions, everyone remained on topic and mature. The students in attendance vindicated those who worked hard to bring the “Great Porn Debate” to campus and reflected well upon Washburn.

Perhaps Leahy summarized the event best in his closing arguments when he said, “I think the key is to have an open dialogue.”