Here we are, not even a year out from the mishandling of ex-coach Larry Eustachy, and we see how Iowa State and the athletic department show their hypocrisy in being able to hold any standards at all — draw a line in the sand, if you will — regarding athlete and coach behavior. Eustachy was let go for violating some agreements in behavior set in his contract. He is an adult and is supposed to live up to certain standards for his contract and being in the public eye.

We now have Jackson Vroman, an athlete who has broken the law multiple times within one year’s time. For a while, it seemed the new coach, Wayne Morgan, was going to have some standards on these issues and public respect when he suspended Vroman.

The bar for any standards is blurred again as Vroman is being reinstated to be able to play. Fans will think it is great for the team and maybe the season. However, it sends a message to students and kids who watch or attend ISU athletic events. The message is, “You will receive a free ride with an athletic scholarship. Earn a free ride with deviant, criminal behavior. Play for Iowa State, and as along as you don’t injure or kill someone while driving intoxicated, you will be slapped on the wrist and only suspended for a game or two — or (worse yet) only a few months in the offseason. You can get as high as a kite, and we will still let you play.”

It also sends a message that the university will turn a blind eye to the behavior because it, in the end, makes money whether you learn something using the scholarship ride or not.

How many high school students in this country who work hard to learn as well as to play in sports would greatly benefit receiving a scholarship for their hard work and integrity? How many high school students truly deserve to receive scholarships, full or partial, and would make use of the aid in attending college, going on to contribute to society?

Isn’t it time to hold these athletes — who are in the public eye just as much as the coaches are — to a level above the rest? Shouldn’t we give scholarships to people who will represent the university well on the court and off the court? Who will use the opportunity for their benefit in an education and participating in athletics?

I call on the university as well as the athletic department to start being responsible to society. If a student athlete is caught with drugs, found drinking underage or driving while intoxicated, or convicted of assault, destruction of property, etc., yank their scholarship and use it for a more deserving student. It is time to stop embarrassing the alumni, the state of Iowa and the university by continually allowing such criminal behavior to continue.

If a public university cannot uphold social standards in its athletic representatives, and expect students and student-athletes alike to abide by the law, then public funding should be cut. Why should our tax dollars be used to provide an environment where some adults aren’t held to the standards all adults are?

Alex Farley

Alumnus