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Hawkeye Athletics Director Gary Barta triggered the exchange by apologizing for allowing the Hawk logos and fight song to be used in the commercial, adding that the athletics department feels the ad "crossed a line of acceptability."

"The first time I saw the commercial I said, 'This just doesn't feel right,' " he said.

The lottery isn't at fault, the Iowa athletics department is, he said, noting that the lottery has been "a good partner" to the university. For five years, the two have had a relationship, and the lottery does have access to registered trademarks but cannot use them without the school's permission.

"Maybe blame it on the fact that I was new," said Barta, who became athletics director Aug. 1, 2006.

The lottery ad - which first aired Jan. 12 and is scheduled to end this weekend - has spawned some grumbling over whether such advertisements that refer to the university encourage college students to gamble.

The commercial promotes a raffle for a Dodge Caliber with a Hawkeye theme and features the "Iowa Fight Song" with different lyrics and the Tigerhawk logo. The vehicle will be given away at the last Hawkeye men's home basketball game, March 3 against Illinois.

Some committee members expressed strong concerns about the affiliation between the university and the lottery. Ed Wasserman, a UI psychology professor, praised the athletics department's credibility and handling of other issues but called the commercial an "exception."

"Stop this," he said. "Stop the relationship. It has already cost more [than the commercial] and will only continue to do so."

Barta said he did expect the scrutiny to come with the decision and called any debate "healthy."

Wasserman said his primary concern was about the influence the ad would have on college students, noting that gambling ads don't show the downside of gaming.

"The reason [the ad] felt wrong was because it was wrong," he said.

Others voiced concerns about whether the ad violated the NCAA's rules about corporate affiliations. Committee member William Hines, a UI law professor, said the NCAA doesn't have any requirements, but it does have guidelines discouraging affiliations with gambling.

Barta said he hopes that in the future, more university committees and departments will view such ads before they are aired.

"We'll make sure there is more than one set of eyes," he said.

Committee head Charles Lynch, a UI epidemiology professor, said the panel will work on recommendations to propose during the its next meeting.