NCU center under fire for `Beast Love' link

National Central University's Center for the Study of Sexuality yesterday courted controversy by posting on its Web site the link to "Beast Love," a site designed to introduce intercourse between humans and animals.

The site, which features pictures and a manual, sparked discussion on the fine line between pornography and academic research.

"Animals and human beings have the same sexual desires and should be treated equally and fairly. Intercourse between them does exist," Josephine Ho (何春蕤), a professor of English at the university and director of the sexuality center, said in a press release yesterday.

"That is the idea of posting the hyperlink to the Web site," Ho said. "It is not necessary to make it a front-page story and make people panic. I hope that everybody can take it as academic research rather than pornography."

"Please be advised that `Beast Love' does not belong to the center nor to the university. We just provided the hyperlink as a reference," she said.

According to Ho, when visitors click to "Beast Love," there is a warning which states, "Please leave now if you are offended by alternative animal intercourse pictures."

Ho was responding to complaints by education officials and women's groups that the "Beast Love" site is nothing but pornography and has nothing to do with academic research or education.

The officials said posting the link violates Article 235 of the Criminal Code.

The article says, "A person who distributes, sells, publicly displays, or by other means shows to another person indecent writing, drawing, or other [such work] shall be punished with imprisonment for not more than one year; in addition thereto, a fine of not more than NT$3,000 may be imposed."

Ho could not be reached in person yesterday as she is attending a month-long seminar in Japan.

The Ministry of Education said in a press release that the center should not abuse the Taiwan Academic Network by posting the link on its home page.

The ministry also asked the center to remove the link immediately.

The Taiwan Academic Network brings together universities and colleges nationwide for academic, research and education purposes.

Visitors to the "Beast Love" Web stite can see pictures of intercourse between people and animals.

In addition to pictures, "Beast Love" provides a manual with instructions on how to have sex with various animals, including horses, pigs and cats.