032474 SEX WEEK IS QUIET AT U. OF ALABAMA

Only Token Complaints Are Made by the Community --No Censorship Found

By WAYNE KING
Special to The New York Times (Of Course)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala., March, 23-The University of Alabama, probably best known as the place where Gov. George C. Wallace stood defiantly in the schoolhouse door to block the admission of two black students in 1963, seems an unlikely setting for the showing of obscene movies and a lecture by a star in a pornographic movie. 

Nonetheless, the university today went quietly into the sixth day of an officially sanctioned Sex Week-a series of films, lectures and dramatizations dealing with a variety of explicit sexual themes.

"At first," said Al Goldstein, who is editor of Screw magazine and probably the nation's best'-known hard-core pornographer, "at first I thought I was being set up for something.

"Can you imagine a hairy New York Jewish pornographer walking onto the campus of the University of Alabama with a filthy movie under his arm to show the students-and then give them a lecture? Even my shrink said not to come."

Mr. Goldstein and his "filthy movie" were received with hardly more than a flutter from college officials and only token complaints from the community.

There have been protests from the religious community, -but no pickets, no arrests and no censorship.

"It's an opportunity for students to expose themselves to extremes of human sexuality," said Philip Rawls, a 22-year-old graduate student who is head of the University Program Council, sponsors of the week. "We have heterosexuals, homosexuals, bisexuals-any way that people swing, we want to have it."

Ex-Male Leads Discussion

The program began Monday with a talk and question-and answer session by a formerly male hair stylist from Birmingham who underwent sex change operations to become a woman. About 450 attended, with some forced to stand in the aisles in the small auditorium.

Wednesday night was given, over to Mr. Goldstein's appearance and the film, followed Thursday night by a student written play called "Boys Will Be Girls, Girls Will Be boys," a
dealing with homosexual themes.

Last night a lecture on rape prevention was presented and tonight there will be a "softcore" pornographic film by Russ Meyer entitled, "Harry,, Cherry and Raquel," and then as it finale tomorrow, Linda Lovelace, star of the film "Deep Throat," will deliver a lecture. ~

Although the program thus far has been largely uneventful-only four persons left the Goldstein film presentation and received a $1 admission refund after he warned that the film was graphic; and likely to be offensive-the week has not been without controversy.

Criticism by Minister

A local Baptist minister, the Rev. Dr. Allen Watson, declared the program "almost totally useless, If not harmful."

Another minister assailed the week as "simple exploitation," and added: "What of any significance is Linda Lovelace going to be able to say to an academic community that will be any aid in understanding human sexuality? She's just a porn chick, and that's what will pack the arena."

In a sense the program chairman, Mr. Rawls,agrees.

"Frankly, it makes me a little angry," he continued. "We had the Lippizaner stallions here open to everyone, and only drew 2,500 people in a 16,000seat stadium. We showed Chaplin's 'Modern Times' and 100 showed up.

"Then we booked a Swedish porno film and filled the house for two shows. We had 1,600 people for four shows of 'Fritz The Cat.' So we asked ourselves, what do people want to see?"

The university administration has judiciously kept a low profile, although official approval was necessary to guarantee the $3,000 in students funds that the week will cost.

Townspeople are free to attend all the sessions except the films-X-rated movies are not shown in Tuscaloosa theaters, by gentleman's agreement -and so far the administration has accepted public criticism, including some negative editorial comment, with stoicism.

Student reaction has been largely approving - although many students particularly women, found the Goldstein movie "gross," as several put it, and a woman writer for a campus newspaper condemned the exploitation inherent in the Lovelace appearance.

The faculty has been largely quiet on the issue, indicating at least tacit acceptance.

One professor of liberal persuasion said most of his colleagues considered the program," essentially harmless, if nothing else,"

"Personally, I'm not sure what the benefits of dirty movies are," he said, , 'but there must be something in the right to show them."