AUDITOR TO PROBE PORN MEETING; STATE SENATOR CLAIMS CSUN SPENT TAX DOLLARS ON CONFERENCE.

Byline: Terri Hardy Sacramento Bureau

The state auditor will investigate whether taxpayer dollars were used to underwrite the World Pornography Conference sponsored by CSUN's Center for Sex Research last summer.

The state's Joint Legislative Audit Committee voted 11-0 Tuesday to order the investigation requested by Sen. Ray Haynes, R-Riverside.

``State tax dollars were used to promote child pornography,'' Haynes said. ``A state university sponsored a pornography trade show. This conference wasn't about First Amendment issues. They showed how to make, shoot and write porn films.''

John Chandler, a spokesman for California State University, Northridge, said CSUN and the center will cooperate fully with the audit. He said the university does not fund the center but ``strongly believes the 1998 conference was a legitimate academic endeavor.''

He added: ``The fact that there was an academic study of pornography does not mean that anyone is endorsing or promoting pornography.''

The World Pornography Conference, held in August at the Universal City Sheraton, included discussions of such topics as curbing sexually transmitted diseases, reforming prostitution laws and cross-dressing.

Participants included professors, researchers, First Amendment lawyers and adult film actors. An International Hookers' Masquerade Ball was held in conjunction with the conference.

CSUN's 30-year-old Center for Sex Research has worked to become a Kinsey Institute of the West and stresses its serious academic mission despite its departure from staid academic conferences.

It is listed among dozens of CSUN research centers. That, say CSUN officials, is the extent of the relationship.

``Yes, they are housed here, but it is not run by, sponsored by or funded by the university,'' Chandler said.

The center, directed by a CSUN sociology professor, James Elias, is self-supporting through its own activities, Chandler said. The center is located in Elias' faculty office.

Haynes said the conference agenda and registration form was posted on CSUN's Web site. Checks for the conference were made out to the university, and the press release about the event was issued by the campus.

Chandler said he does not know what research the center has published. He said CSUN research centers may be called that just as a vehicle for sponsoring conferences.

While the Center for Sex Research does not have to report to CSUN, university officials are ``generally aware of its activities'' and a financial report is submitted to the university each year, Chandler said.

Ken Swisher, a spokesman for the CSU Chancellor's Office, said any professor can create a center, and that ``there are some we're probably not even aware of.''

Swisher said there was no oversight system for the scores of research centers operating throughout the state.

``It's a great example of academic freedom,'' Chandler said.