A former chancellor who was fired after regents learned he was producing pornography is suing the University of Wisconsin.

Former University of Wisconsin-La Crosse chancellor Joe Gow launched a lawsuit against the UW System seeking the reinstatement of his faculty position and compensatory damages.

The former University of Wisconsin-La Crosse chancellor fired over pornography he made with his wife is suing the university to get his teaching job back. The UW Board of Regents voted in September to revoke Joe Gow's tenure. Gow argues in the federal lawsuit that his firing violated his free speech rights under the constitution.

"I think this is an important moment for free speech and I'd like to think this will result in a court saying you can't fire someone for what they do on the internet on their own time," Gow, 64, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.