With the allegations of misconduct by the men’s ice hockey team, it would likely help to gain an understanding of the licensing requirements the university places on its sports clubs regarding the use of the “Cy” logo.

Before a presentation to the Sports Club Council by the Iowa State University Research Foundation, virtually none of the clubs present had any idea of the regulations regarding the use of the logo.

To legally use the ISU logo or various other marks, all designs must first be approved by ISURF, the ISU Research Foundation. Once approval is gained, the item in question must be produced by a shop licensed by ISURF, a process that is extremely costly to the shop in question, thereby limiting the available locations and items available to clubs.

Furthermore, each item is subject to a licensing fee, increasing the cost to student-athletes merely trying to represent their university in a non-varsity sport.ÿ

The design restrictions imposed by ISURF serve in some situations to all but completely bar club athletes from wearing “Cy” on our jerseys.

Our various national governing bodies impose certain regulations that our uniforms need to follow. Some of ISURF’s regulations conflict with our uniform requirements, leaving our clubs between the proverbial rock and hard place.

One in question is the requirement of ISURF to have all jerseys contain the name of the team, i.e. “ISU Men’s Hockey” and “club” so as to differentiate us from varsity sports.

This requirement belittles our organizations by illustrating to us that in the eyes of the university (and the words of an ISURF representative) we are “not real athletes”.

That statement in itself is utterly demeaning and ludicrous. Having to append “club” to our team names serves to pour salt in our wounds.

We are athletes; we play for teams.

We play sports that are recognized as varsity sports by other schools.

We put in the same amount or more of hard work and pain that our basketball or football teams do, but don’t receive scholarships or free athletic gear; we foot our own bills and play not for school money, but for pride in our university and the love of the game.

Our wins and losses, our conduct on and off the court, all serve to represent the image of Iowa State the same as any varsity sport, yet we are forced to jump through hoops, lose part of our identity and respect, then pay even more so we can wear the cardinal and gold to play as Cyclones.ÿ

It is time for the approval and licensing process to be reviewed, so as to allow fair use of the ISU marks by all eligible organizations without the need for their organizations to be cheapened.

It’s also time that sports clubs receive the respect that is owed to them for their dedication to and representation of Iowa State.

Jon Gucinski

Graduate Student

LOMIS/Information Assurance

ISU Roller Hockey Club