Rep. Samuel Rohrer, R-Berks, asked Spanier if he thought the programs were "wrong" or "immoral." When Spanier refused to make a statement denouncing the entire Sex Faire, Lawless called him "evasive" and "Clinton-esque."
In one volley, Lawless said he was insulted by a Penn State student who made fun of his facial disfigurement in an e-mail message. Spanier responded by reading an e-mail the student had sent to Spanier complaining of a threatening call from Lawless.
The House proceedings were a contrast to the civil Senate committee hearing Monday, which focused mostly on how Penn State spends taxpayer money.
As the summer approaches, the state legislature will finalize the budget, and Penn State will hear its final answer on appropriations for 2001-2002.
The university requested $361 million for the next fiscal year, but Gov. Tom Ridge only proposed $334 million earlier this month. Less money from the state could lead to a higher tuition increase, perhaps raising the in-state price tag above $7,000, Spanier said.
In answering the committee's questions, Spanier said the university tries to meet the right balance between community standards and free speech.
He mentioned three policy changes: Penn State will now review banners to be hung on university buildings, student groups could have to explain the content of their events when reserving rooms and some programs might be limited to only Penn State students.
Rep. Curt Schroder, R-Chester, said the university should place values and common sense above strict compliance with the law regarding free speech.
"Sometimes I think the law is not as our founding fathers intended it," Schroder said. "Sometimes we have to go past what we are allowed to do and what we are not allowed to do."
At a press conference after the hearing, Lawless said the Penn State Board of Trustees should take action on student conduct.
"They have to begin to live within our standards, both social standards and financial standards," Lawless said.
At the press conference, Lawless said his own freedom of speech was violated by newspapers who edited explicit references out of his recent opinion column. He also hinted that he might travel to Nebraska to investigate something about Spanier's past, but refused to elaborate.
"We saw the Clinton-esque come out in this man today," Lawless said. "He probably doesn't have any problem with cigars either."
Radio talk-show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger -- who was scheduled to appear via satellite at the media event -- was a no-show. She did provide a statement that reiterates some of the comments she made on her program countering liberal attitudes in higher education.
Undergraduate Student Government President Matt Roan, who sat in the front row of the audience yesterday, said the hearing should have focused more on the university's financial needs.
"All of the great things that Penn State does for the commonwealth are being lost because of this controversy," Roan said.
At the height of the proceedings, about 150 people crammed into the House Majority Caucus Room to hear the heated debate. People who couldn't fit in the room watched from a monitor in the capitol rotunda labeled "Parental discretion is advised for this video."
Spanier received support from Democratic representatives later in the hearing.
Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, said it was troubling to seeing his colleagues badger Spanier. Frankel said they were suggesting that students couldn't exercise reasoning and judgment without legislators' help.
"It harkens back to the 1950s," Frankel said.
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