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[Note: This material is copyright by The Gazette, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of The Gazette.]

  But some members of the Presidential Committee on Athletics want more than Barta’s apology. They want action.

  ‘‘The reason why, Gary, it felt wrong was because it was wrong,’’ said Ed Wasserman, a committee member and a psychology professor. ‘‘I don’t think we have any business promoting this or gambling.’’

  The commercial uses Hawkeye logos, a version of the Iowa Fight Song and footage from sporting events at Carver- Hawkeye Arena. The Iowa Lottery paid Hawkeye Sports Properties, a subsidiary of Learfield Sports marketing company, $14,400 for the ads. Learfield, which has a contract that nets Iowa’s athletics department about $5 million annually, handles marketing for more than 30 universities.

  The concerns began after a Jan. 18 article in The Gazette revealed the delicate  UI/ Ads will get closer review, Barta promises balancing act between the athletics department and antigambling concerns. Barta, in a Jan. 19 article in The Gazette, said he regretted allowing the school’s fight song in the ad.

  In an outline presented to the committee, Barta said fault lies with the athletics department, not with Iowa Lottery for the commercial. He said his department oversees advertising and retains approval authority.

  Barta wrote that the commercial ‘‘crossed a line of acceptability’’ by re-creating the arena and changing the fight song. He said the department will add more layers to review advertising and seek opinions from administrators and campus leadership.

  That wasn’t enough for Wasserman.

  ‘‘Let me just start with the bottom line: Stop it,’’ Wasserman said. ‘‘Stop the relationship. It doesn’t gain the university and the athletics department much and it already has cost you the $40,000 or $60,000 in goodwill. And it only will continue to do so.’’ Barta said he wasn’t surprised by the level of scrutiny voiced by committee members.

  ‘‘I thought it was a great discussion, and we’ll continue the discussion about making sure our athletic department is running in a first-class fashion,’’ Barta said. ‘‘That’s what this committee is all about.’’

  Concerns voiced by Wasserman and an e-mail circulated by committee member Betsy Altmaier, who did not attend the meeting, led to a motion to ask that the department stop accepting advertising from the state lottery. Likewise, some members stood behind Barta. There was no vote, and any resolution would be non-binding.

  The Presidential Committee on Athletics is an oversight committee and has no power over the athletics department. Concerns raised by Altmaier included possible NCAA violations and a hypocritical, pro- gambling message to students. Barta said the commercial doesn’t violate NCAA rules, although the NCAA recommends athletics departments steer clear of gambling and alcohol advertising.

  Iowa Lottery has paid Iowa and other state universities for past promotions. But this ad, Barta said, struck a chord in the school’s relationship with a state gambling agency. ‘‘I think the commercial really brought forth the feelings about the relationship,’’ Barta said.