ISU’s moral high ground about “protecting its youth” and “the good name of the University” is a joke.

Let’s be honest here: Would Iowa State have the guts to take on the feminist establishment by firing a female coach who’s photographed for something “embarrassing” at an abortion clinic, or the homosexual lobby by firing a coach who’s photographed at a gay bar, even if Iowa State students were also there (and let’s remember, the students at ISU are not children)?

Would they fire a coach who wrote a letter to the editor decrying the U.S. involvement in Iraq? Would they refuse to let Bill Clinton speak on campus because of his involvement with Monica?

How many speakers with embarrassing political views have spoken at the school, and have been embraced with open arms in the name of diversity?

Of course, when it comes to accepting the huge dollars that beer ads bring the school, well, that’s just fine for the folks in charge of morality at Iowa State. How many kids will drink beer because of Larry’s “bad example,” and how many will turn to alcohol because of the countless beer ads they will watch during ISU’s televised athletic events?

“Bad judgment” and “conduct unbecoming a coach” is so broad you could fire anybody for nearly anything. ISU needs a clear standard, not a vague one that it can impose against somebody on a whim.

The ex-Coach made the mistake of participating in legal acts that are not loudly advocated by strong political voices. He should have taken the team to a huge anti-meat rally, and had a beer there. That would have been noble.

Greg Smith

Salt Lake City, UT