The Iowa Board of Regents is continuing its court fight in the case of Bubu Palo, the former Iowa State University basketball player who was accused of sexual assault back in May of 2012.
The Regents want a new ruling in the case, even though Palo has left the university and now plays in the National Basketball Association Development League.
Palo was charged in Story County District Court with sexual abuse, but prosecutors later dropped the charge.
Iowa State argued that Palo had violated university disciplinary code and should be kept off the team.
Palo sued, and so far the courts have ruled against Iowa State. Now the Iowa Court of Appeals has agreed to reconsider the case.
Palo’s attorneys say the case is moot because he’s no longer attending ISU. The Board of Regents argues the university’s ability to enforce its sexual misconduct policies is at stake. They say students should not be given a free pass by dropping out.
National groups representing rape victims and college deans have taken the university’s side. With recent attention to sexual assault on campuses, they see it as a test of whether universities can enforce strict sexual misconduct policies.
Palo is also pursuing a defamation lawsuit against his accuser.