I think you nailed it. And it's not just the students here now, or the students here ten years ago. VEISHEA has a reputation, it's been rampant in the VEISHEA threads here on CF alone the last several years even before last night. We don't need to be a nanny state, but something isn't working... so you have to eventually try something else.
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I think you nailed it. And it's not just the students here now, or the students here ten years ago. VEISHEA has a reputation, it's been rampant in the VEISHEA threads here on CF alone the last several years even before last night. We don't need to be a nanny state, but something isn't working... so you have to eventually try something else.
It was a brilliant decision by Leath. If the students really care about VEISHEA, they'll realize that the out-of-control parties and rioting are not acceptable, and they will self-patrol the drinking and make sure nothing gets out of hand for the rest of the week. However, if VEISHEA has become nothing more than an excuse to have drunken out-of-control parties, there will probably be more rioting, which will further serve to justify Leath's decision to cancel it.
Time to find out what the students and those coming to Ames for the event really value about VEISHEA: Showcasing the university (in a positive light)...or drunken, out-of-control parties.
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It was Tuesday night. I think it is safe to assume that most of them were ISU students.
Not all, but 99% are all students or others that are from the Ames area in ages that range from 18-24. Can't really blame outsiders when this occurred on a Tuesday night.
Really sucks that the nighttime culture of rioting at VEISHEA cancels all the daytime, family friendly events. I've never seen anything go bad at the parade. Sucks there won't be a parade (that is kid/family friendly) in the daytime because a bunch of youths had to act like dbags late on a Tuesday night...
(I'm a 28 year old single man with no children who has gone to SEVERAL VEISHEAs btw.)
(I'm a 28 year old single man with no children who has gone to SEVERAL VEISHEAs btw.)
Funny I have seen from 99% to 25% of the participants were students. I will give you this of the whole 3 arrests all 3 are enrolled at ISU, but I am surprised as big of event as this gathering was last night only 3 were arrested???
Drunks chanting VEISHEA doesn't make it a VEISHEA event. Some of us are being ridiculed for "not seeing the connection". I think it's the other way around, frankly. I think more would be gained by hunting down the people responsible, and publicly stating "this is NOT what VEISHEA is, and we will not allow this to end what VEISHEA is supposed to be." VEISHEA brings people in to town, but the people actually coming to VEISHEA are not the same people that are coming to Ames to get drunk and party, and the students who see the week of VEISHEA as an excuse for binge drinking are generally not the ones with all the sweat equity involved in the events.
The more people try to make that connection, the more the myth that VEISHEA is just one big drunken brawl will be perpetuated.
I too love VEISHA, but it has been proven time and time again the students just can't handle it. Time to kill it. (and yes I was once a student, 2000-2005. Ames is also my hometown so I took part in almost 25 VIESHAs in my time before moving)
Perhaps that's a lot of the problem (3 arrests). If students feel they can get away with it then whats stopping this in the future? The Ames PD should just make an announcement that there will be zero tolerance for anything during these celebrations.
I personally don't think an occasional riot is the end of the world.
But I feel even more strongly about veishea. This is an idea aimed at saving veishea by coming up with a feel good solution for those who demand it. I don't take ads about people smoking pot and sticking a gun in their mouth seriously, but it makes the people who demand crack downs happy.
Do you seriously think that many people would have been there had it not been VEISHA week?
I moved to Ames in the early 60's, the first few years on campus, right in the heart of all of this. At that time, the celebration was about students taking pride in their university and showcasing it. Now it's nothing more than a drunkfest that too often turns ugly and/or violent.
I don't see where the President had any other choice. If he lets VEISHEA go on and something worse happens, he looks like an incompetent idiot. Period.
I'm sure by now this news about the riot last night and the cancellation of the event has gotten out to most homes in Iowa, and across the nation. Hopefully, there have been a few thousand phone calls from parents to their darling little children attending ISU to see if they took part in the riot last night, and to let them know the consequences if they are caught taking part in such activities. Of course, I'm sure there are some parents out there who are just as irresponsible and stupid as are their children, but I have to believe the majority would not approve of such behavior. We can only hope.
I'm sure by now this news about the riot last night and the cancellation of the event has gotten out to most homes in Iowa, and across the nation. Hopefully, there have been a few thousand phone calls from parents to their darling little children attending ISU to see if they took part in the riot last night, and to let them know the consequences if they are caught taking part in such activities. Of course, I'm sure there are some parents out there who are just as irresponsible and stupid as are their children, but I have to believe the majority would not approve of such behavior. We can only hope.
Unfortunately, these are the ones that are drawing the majority of the attention. There's no way a single police force can effectively monitor and control these situations, not matter what is explained and/or emphasized beforehand. Young people looking to act out are going to find their release, and the more of them there are, the harder is will be to stop. They seem to feel their needs outweigh anyone else's, no matter the end result.
VEISHA used to be a celebration that could be enjoyed by everyone, from youngsters to seniors, it was a celebration to showcase one of the finest educational institutions in the midwest, if not the country, and everyone took great pride in that. Sadly, I'm afraid it will never be close to that again.
I know this is currently a debate about what should have been/should be done, but I have a serious question. I was planning on attending Stars Over Veishea on Saturday. Has that been cancelled along with everything else? Can't find any information on the website. TIA.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
It does suck, I just don't see how you can possibly hope to separate them. Students hear VEISHEA and immediately think that means time to get drunk and be stupid, that's all VEISHEA is to some people. Look at the start of the VEISHEA thread here, first page was all about getting drunk the entire week, that's what VEISHEA is now.
Stephens Auditorium @StephensAud
@AugustineAndrew Unfortunately Stars Over VEISHEA has indeed been canceled, along with @DavidKoechner's appearance.
