DES MOINES, IOWA (March 6, 2023) — State Auditor Rob Sand announced today that he will vote against tax-payer funds being used to pay half of a discrimination lawsuit against the University of Iowa Athletic Department during Director Gary Barta’s tenure, unless Barta is no longer employed by the Department. If approved by the State Appeal Board, the settlement would cost Iowa tax-payers $2 million dollars.
The lawsuit, filed by twelve Black U of I football players in November 2020, is the fourth discrimination lawsuit against the Department in less than nine years.