For over two years now, Partnership Press, the publishers of the Ames Tribune, have been filing lawsuits against Iowa State and the Daily.

The lawsuits charge that ISU and the Daily have engaged in unfair business practices and unconstitutional competition.

However, in a recent summary judgment on ISU’s distribution policy, Judge Harold Vietor found that ISU has acted in accordance with the law.

Partnership Press and Collegiate Press Co. alleged that ISU treated them unfairly by not allowing their publications, which include The University Times and The Campus Reader, to be distributed as widely as the Daily.

ISU maintains that the Daily is different from Partnership Press’ newspapers because it is a university-sponsored publication, written and published by students and for students.

The judge agreed. In his ruling, Judge Vietor wrote that “such a distinction [between university and non-university publications] is not only reasonable, but the most reasonable distinction to make…”

He also cited several cases to back up his decision that non-university periodicals don’t deserve equal treatment to those that are sponsored by the university.

This judgment, however, doesn’t end the lawsuit. The case will to go to trial next spring.

But one has to think that Judge Vietor would have ended this thing right now if he found ISU’s policy unconstitutional.

As John Hobson, chairman of the Daily Publication Board said, “Obviously, if it was wrong, he would’ve stopped it.”

The judge did find two things wrong with ISU’s distribution policy — the sections involving prior approval and disposal fees. But that’s all he found.

If Judge Vietor thought ISU was acting lawfully, doesn’t it make sense that another judge would find the same thing?