It appears the Iowa Board of Regents has rejected former Iowa State University basketball player, Bubu Palo’s, appeal to rejoin the team. Palo was temporarily suspended, but then returned last season after a sexual assault charge against him was dropped. An unidentified complainant challenged that reinstatement, and ISU President Steven Leath made the decision to dismiss Palo for a violation of ISU’s Student Code of Conduct.
Regents president, Bruce Rastetter, says the Board agrees with President Leath in a case involving a student’s appeal. “I think the board reviewed the university’s decision and felt the same and we confirmed President Leath and the university’s decision,” Rastetter says. Rastetter says privacy laws prevent him from confirming that Palo was the subject of the vote, but the former athlete said he expected the Regents to hear his case Wednesday.
Regents attorney Tom Evans says when a student loses an appeal before the Regents, they have a limited time to appeal to district court. “Typically it’s 30 days. We’ll follow up and notify the student’s legal counsel and the legal counsel can notify the student,” Evans says. Palo’s attorney did not return a phone call.