Stuffy British Society Hosts Adult Film Stars for Pornography Debate

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University of Cambridge

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In the past, the Cambridge Union Society has hosted the likes of the Dalai Lama to Archbishop Desmond Tutu and even boasts Arianna Huffington as a former president.  But now the world’s oldest and most respected debating society is extending an invitation to adult film stars.

Panelists to grace Cambridge’s exclusive debating platform on Thursday include porn star Johnny Anglais, Anna Span, the first UK adult film director, and Shelly Lubben, now a born-again Christian and chaplain but once starred in Bra Busters 2. And the motion on the table for debate? “This house believes that pornography does a good public service.”

(More on TIME.com: See how MTV’s Skins started a child-pornography debate)

But what explains the motivation for Cambridge’s less-traditional guest list and offbeat topic of debate? Lauren Davidson, incoming president of the union, explains it boils down to addressing issues that are prevalent in today’s society, The Tab reports. “At the union this term we’ve got the traditional debates on politics, foreign policy and the media, but I thought it was important to look at the bigger picture and debate a wider range of hot topics.”

(More on TIME.com: The Way of the Samurai Porn Star)