Iowa State has revoked travel privileges for its lacrosse team after a picture surfaced of a university vehicle parked outside a marijuana dispensary in Colorado. In a separate incident, the team's president was also ticketed for speeding in a university vehicle.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a student rights group in Philadelphia, wrote a letter to Iowa State saying the lacrosse team had done no wrong and asked the school to restore the team's privileges.
The group, known as FIRE, claimed the students were never given a chance to explain why the vehicle was parked outside of a dispensary.
In response to FIRE, Michael Norton, Iowa State's general counsel and chief risk officer, said the team was punished for speeding and not the photograph of the vehicle parked in front of the dispensary.
"It does not appear that FIRE has a full and correct understanding of the facts associated with the incident referenced in your correspondence," Norton's letter reads, according to the Ames Tribune. "Most critically, contrary to the assertion in the correspondence, neither the lacrosse club nor any club member received any type of penalty or lost any type of privilege because of the picture published on Twitter referred to in your Feb. 3 letter."
Norton also said that renting a vehicle through the university is a privilege and not a right.
"The ability to rent and use University Transportation Services owned and maintained vehicles is a privilege and not a right," Norton wrote. "The club’s privilege to use university vehicles has been temporarily restricted due to the club’s reckless and dangerous misuse of that privilege. There is no First Amendment and no due process implication associated with the university’s reasonable response to a dangerous driving situation."
The Cyclone lacrosse team was recently told that it would have to pay for any charter services if they travel for competition between now and May. The team turned to its Twitter account to ask for help in covering the expenses.
"Our club has run into increased travel expenditures for the upcoming season," the statement read. "In order to continue providing the same CyLax experience for all of our players and fans, we are asking for your help in dealing with the crisis. We hate to ask, but we are requesting any donations that you can spare to assist in offsetting these new costs. Keep in mind, these donations are tax-deductible. As always, we appreciate the love and support from all of our fans, and we look forward to providing you all with a great season this year."
