IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Groups representing rape victims and college administrators are asking a court to uphold Iowa State’s decision to kick a basketball player off the team for alleged sexual misconduct. The Victim Rights Law Center and Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education say the case of former Cyclone guard Bubu Palo has national significance. Iowa State is asking the Iowa Supreme Court to reverse an August ruling that found there wasn’t evidence that Palo violated its sexual misconduct policy.

In a friend-of-the-court brief filed Monday, the national groups say the case could impact students and colleges in Iowa and across the country. They say universities must be able to use internal disciplinary hearings to enforce stricter standards of sexual misconduct than criminal law allows.