ISU administrators are appealing a federal judge’s ruling that claims the university violated the free speech rights of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws chapter (NORML) at Iowa State. 

Attorneys for President Steven Leath, Senior Vice President for Business and Finance Warren Madden, Director of Trademark Licensing Leesha Zimmerman and then-Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Tom Hill, who were defendants in the case, notified the court Wednesday of their intention to appeal to the 8th U.S. Court Circuit of Appeals, according to the Des Moines Register.

The judge for the case, U.S. District Judge James Gritzner, issued his ruling Jan. 22 that permanently hindered the university from enforcing the trademark policies against NORML, or any other student organization, in a discriminatory matter.

“ISU’s trademarks represent the identity and reputation of the university,” John McCarroll, executive director of university relations, said in a statement. It is our view that the U.S. Constitution and a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision gives us discretion in permitting trademark use.”

McCarroll continued in the statement, expanding on the university’s decision to appeal.

“We are appealing because we regard this as an important issue of law,” McCarroll said. 

Paul Gerlich, senior in software engineering and a plaintiff in the case, said he believes they are right on all accounts and will counter the appeal.

Gerlich was “not really surprised” by the administrators because the university has been fighting them tooth and nail for years, he said. 

To read about the case, click here.