Task Force Recommendation for VEISHEA

[CyDude16]

Just curious, but why don't any of these things happen during Homecoming, or one of the first few weeks of fall term, or during the weekend of any home football game? Hell, why doesn't this happen at UNI or Iowa the first few nice weekends in the spring? My guess is it's because there aren't associations of causing a ruckus the third week of September like there is during VEISHEA week.

Have you been in Ames the night of homecoming? Or say even iowa-isu recently or the okie state game in 2011?

something like this could happen just as easily those nights as it did during VEISHEA this past year. I've actually seen in the past years, not just sitting behind a computer.

 

[cloneswereall]

Question, do you think isu is the only university that has a spring or fall celebration? If not, why didn't this task force talk to officials from say Penn State, Indiana U, Wisconson, KState, Illinois, Purdue, etc? These are all schools off the top of my head that have celebrations yearly that have problems and sometimes even more than just two riots in the last decade. I'm not excusing the behavior as I was up there that night and walked home embarrassed. And yes the students who were idiots need to pay the consequences, hence why it needs to be disbanded for a few years. But the overreaction is astounding, and this task force for the most part was just a facade for Tom Hill.

One: No, I don't believe ISU is the only school that has a celebration. Two: do we know for a fact that the task force didn't talk to those schools? Three: You say those schools still have problems with those celebrations, so why would their advice on how to handle it be good? Four: If you really want to kill off an association with something, the moves you make need to be drastic. There needs to be a point where a line in the sand is drawn, and it's been drawn before but behavior hasn't changed. At that point, the problem just needs to be done with for the foreseeable future (where we are today). Everyone has seen how VEISHEA has been reprimanded before, and there have been warnings in the past about getting rid of it completely. If you keep threatening to do something, and never do it, nothing is going to change. This year was just the straw that broke the camel's back.

 

[cloneswereall]

Have you been in Ames the night of homecoming? Or say even iowa-isu recently or the okie state game in 2011?

something like this could happen just as easily those nights as it did during VEISHEA this past year. I've actually seen in the past years, not just sitting behind a computer.

Yes, yes, no.

Why didn't those things happen then? The association of causing destruction isn't there.

 

[Farnsworth]

No kidding.

They've tried NUMEROUS things to make Veishea work, and yet it still hasn't worked. I don't know what else they can do?

Anything that is called "VEISHEA" is going to be a problem IMO. Just that word makes students and others from outside of Ames think it's time to have a huge party on Welch Avenue and burn and destroy things. That is what that word has come to mean unfortunately.

Ask anyone outside of ISU what VEISHEA is and that is what they will tell you. It's just a great big drunk fest where you can get totally out of control and have riots. That is what it has come to mean.

And it's even gotten to the point where incoming students feel the need to live up the stereotype as well. "If you don't riot like we used to back in the day... then you aren't ****, and you don't know how to party like we did!". That's the attitude now. In fact, I think some feel the need to even outdo previous riots and wreck even more havoc.

VEISHEA has lost all meaning unfortunately, and I don't think you can get it back now. Some things just stick with certain names. When you say "Richard Nixon" for instance, you instantly think "Watergate". Well.... when you say "VEISHEA" now, the first word people think of is "riots".

It's VERY unfortunate, but it's reality.

I agree that VEISHEA has turned out to be that in the minds of those 15-30 of age. I disagree though that the damage has to be permanent. With a decent hiatus and actual effective change, it could be salvaged.

And quit with the "they've tried everything" bs, show me one thing they tried that anyone thought would 've been anywhere effective before put in place. They were all bad changes made to say "hey we did something" without putting real thought into it, quick fixes never work. (Like an overweight girl thinking she''ll do the 30 day ab challenge a month before a wedding and lose 10 inches off their waste). I agree this task force was put together to kill it so nobody had to actually put effort into fixing it as it would be a huge challenge.

This is like any other cf debate, people on different sides of the fence that won't be convinced. Except people against it don't listen to the other side when shown that what was tried in the way to fix it is bs.

I do agree though that it's a big problem, the event needs to die for a bit, and go over some major changes on how to handle the night time drinking. The whole event shouldn't be scrapped for the few that ruin it.

 

[Farnsworth]

Yes, yes, no.

Why didn't those things happen then? The association of causing destruction isn't there.

I agree. It doesn't mean though the association couldn't be changed over time. Difficult task? Extremely. Worth it, I seem to think so, but who knows.

 

[alarson]

Yes, yes, no.

Why didn't those things happen then? The association of causing destruction isn't there.

Because most years nothing that bad happens at veishea either?

Also look at where everyone is around homecoming. Big events on campus or at the stadium, areas where issues dont occur. That was one of the focuses after 04, why they put stages on and near central campus and such that they abandoned a few years later.

 

[CycloneErik]

So far, we've solved that things have exploded at ISU around VEISHEA and Vietnam. As long as we can avoid those two things, we should be just fine.

 

[longtimeclone]

I'm not saying a lot of this stuff isn't ridiculous and it all should be preventable by the attendees not acting like this, but it's just sad to see it go down with out a fight. It's also sad to see some of you feel like it has no value for the university and could be easily replaced by the Boone county fair.

It's a great event to showcase the university and is worth fighting for. I've only got to go to one veishea as a non student to really see how much is out there for family and alums. My girlfriend who is a die hard hawk admitted that all our kids would end up cyclones after attending with me when she fought to the death they would be hawks (she's one that actually went to Iowa and attends sports).

If you think a lot of this isn't preventable or fixable, then I feel bad for you for giving up on thing so easily without trying new ideas. You all must be a joy to work with and full of ideas.

Go down without a fight? I am pretty sure there has been a lot of work done to try and prevent things from getting out of control since 2004, but the problem is it only takes a few people to screw it up for everyone else. If you are so passionate about VEISHEA maybe you should start an alumni group that fights to bring it back but with better changes.


After 2004, I got the feeling that if another riot happened that VEISHEA would be done for good and I think the President said such. It seems that something similar happened and you act surprised that is being followed through now, but with a different President.

 

[longtimeclone]

So far, we've solved that things have exploded at ISU around VEISHEA and Vietnam. As long as we can avoid those two things, we should be just fine.

Maybe we need to bring these things together, VEISHEA 2015 in Vietnam!

 

[CycloneErik]

Maybe we need to bring these things together, VEISHEA 2015 in Vietnam!

Goooooood morning, VEISHEANAM!!!

 

[cloneswereall]

I agree. It doesn't mean though the association couldn't be changed over time. Difficult task? Extremely. Worth it, I seem to think so, but who knows.

You're right. However, I believe the easiest way to do that is to abolish it completely like they are now, then revisit the idea of re-instating it in about 5-10 years after a bunch of students throughout the state kind of forget about the association. The thing is, if they say they'll ever think about reinstating it before people stop the association, it would remain being something that can never really be taken away and the association will remain.

 

[Tornado man]

I agree this task force was put together to kill it so nobody had to actually put effort into fixing it as it would be a huge challenge.

Amen. For example - there is a real issue with student participation with VEISHEA compared to two or three decades ago. When I was a student here , there was no TIME to get into trouble around VEISHEA because we were so busy on our float and other displays. Dorm floors and greeks all had floats. Now there are none. The "parade" is a shell of what it was.
I expected the task force to call in or interview leaders from frats, sororities, dorm floors, off-campus groups, etc. to see what they could do to solicit and assure more involvement and dedication to the festival. Instead of seeking answers and problem-solving, the task force seemed to just meet regularly to talk and take votes. Ugh.

 

[Wesley]

You're right. However, I believe the easiest way to do that is to abolish it completely like they are now, then revisit the idea of re-instating it in about 5-10 years after a bunch of students throughout the state kind of forget about the association. The thing is, if they say they'll ever think about reinstating it before people stop the association, it would remain being something that can never really be taken away and the association will remain.

If you bring it back after ten years, it might turn into the biggest party yet.

 

[CYKOFAN]

Goooooood morning, VEISHEANAM!!!

Lol, good one. But my point was comparing a few out of control drunks to the massive protests, destruction and potential for destruction during the Viet Nam era riots is like comparing a butter knife to an AK 47. I agree with the poster who said we need to get the student body more involved again and make some needed changes to get it back to more like it used to be, or I guess take the easy way out and blame the knuckleheads and quit. I didn't read any suggested solutions out of the committee, and it appears it was mainly appointed to give Leath backing to terminate Veishea.

 

[cygrads]

There's the disconnect. VEISHEA, as it is defined connotatively today, is not a celebration of the University. It's not viewed as cherry pies, campus organizations, and parades anymore to anybody not connected with the University. It's seen as on-campus concerts, off-campus house parties, and a time to get really hammered. That isn't going to change until the association of VEISHEA = city-wide, out of control party is dead to those outside of Ames and the University. Best way to do that is to kill off all of it as it is known today. If you keep anything VEISHEA like in the spring, the association will never go away.

Too bad that VEISHEA means that to you any many other alums. As for this alum it was a celebration of the University - it was cherry pies, campus organizations, and the parade. I took my kids to the parade and walked around campus and always made sure to have a cherry pie. I looked forward to taking my grand kids. Its too bad that VEISHEA is now the universal bat signal for every moron in central Iowa to go get drunk in Ames.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

I've been working on a huge thing to basically do a "student editorial" on VEISHEA for the Daily. They keep telling me to expand my idea and get it in paragraph form (duh)

Basically my rough idea to fix it (which I sent to the Task Force and got no response)

-Wait 8 years until 2022. Everyone involved in the 2014 riots should be long gone and it gives it a clean slate.
-2022 would also mark the 100[SUP]th[/SUP] anniversary of VEISHEA.

On campus activates
In honor of the 100[SUP]th[/SUP] anniversary have 100 activities throughout the week. Students wouldn’t even have time to drink. (2014 had 56 planned)
Ideas for activities on top of the already planned ones:

• Community Service day from each college (Engineering, Business, LAS, Design, Human Sciences, Agriculture and Vet Med) 7 colleges for 7 days.
• Intramural tournaments every evening
• Movies on Central Campus every night (sponsored by Cyclone Cinema)
• ISU Film Festival. Films made by ISU students, voted by ISU students
• Multiple speakers and lecturers.
• VEISHEA Carnival. Awesome Carnival rides and great for the young kids for the weekend.
• TED Talks
• 50/50 raffles helping local charities or college clubs

-Gives the ability to spread people out and have fun

Welch Ave
-Make Welch Ave from Lincoln Way to Hunt Street a permanent pedestrian mall. No cars to flip!
-During VEISHEA have a large Oktoberfest style beer garden. Barricade or fence off Chamberlain Street from Chamberlain Place to Stanton Ave along with the permanent pedestrian mall on Welch Ave.
-Pedestrian only in that area for the whole week of VEISHEA.
-Must be 21 or over and have a ISU Student ID to get in
-Large Police force in the area. Including undercovers.
-$1 entrance on Monday to get in, $2 on Tuesday, $3 on Wednesday etc and $10 on Saturday.
-This will help the costs of the police force for the VEISHEA beer garden area as well as the setup for the tent(s). The rest can be distributed evenly from all bars/business in the pedestrian only zone.

-ISU can’t stop drinking from happening during VIESHEA, so better to “embraceâ€￾ it so students can celebrate responsibly and safely.

 

[Bobber]

Well it took nearly 50 years to revise the ISU vs Iowa football game. Hopefully it won't take that long for VEISHEA.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

I've been working on a huge thing to basically do a "student editorial" on VEISHEA for the Daily. They keep telling me to expand my idea and get it in paragraph form (duh)

Basically my rough idea to fix it (which I sent to the Task Force and got no response)

It's a good start. PLEASE keep trying.

 

[alarson]

Basically my rough idea to fix it (which I sent to the Task Force and got no response)

Wouldnt surprise me if that whole email box was just flushed. The whole thing seemed predetermined from the start.

 

[clonedude]

Couldn't disagree more. You're focusing on the actions of a few knuckleheads that got out of control in 04 and this year, and of course the media played that to the max. But I'd say Veishea to most ISU alums means a spring celebration of ISU filled with a lot of great campus activities, and possibly a return to the old campus to revive old memories and enjoy the current students. For Iowans it's a great opportunity for Iowa high school kids to get a good look at ISU and find out what it has to offer. To thousands of central Iowans it's highlighted by the parade where they can take their kids and grandkids to enjoy the parade and walking around the beautiful campus. Defining Veishea by the actions of the occasional knuckleheads is way off imo.

Couldn't disagree more.

Yes, to a small number of older alums, that is still what VEISHEA means. To those aged 15-35 or so, and to most Iowans (thanks to the media), VEISHEA is a huge drunkfest full of parties and riots.

And are you really ignorant to think that it's only a few knuckleheads causing it, or that it only happened in 2004 and last year? It's happened a LOT more than that. I was at ISU from 1987 to 1991 and there were at least two major riots in just my four years there.

And it's more than just a few knuckleheads. I agree that it might start off with just a few handfuls of idiots, but then thousands of other idiots join in the mess instead of trying to put a stop to it.

As I've said numerous times, I wish this wasn't the case, but it is. Ask nearly anyone on the street what they think about VEISHEA and the first word that will come out is "riot". It's partly true, but mostly a media creation as well. The media never covers all the great things that happen during VEISHEA, only the riots. So that's the stigma.

So much so in fact, that now incoming freshmen feel the need to party and riot during VEISHEA. That's what it has become famous for, and what sadly is expected.