*** OFFICIAL VEISHEA WEEK 2014 THREAD ***

[BoxsterCy]

Same sort of riot happened at the U of M here a couple of years ago. I think they tracked down students and booted them. Same thing has happened in Madison. Unfortunately ours get linked to the ISU spring event VEISHEA and it becomes an official ISU thing where I think the other riot-like events were more Minneapolis (oooh, bad dangerous city) and Madison (oooh, crazy party town) sort of things as far as outside perception was or is.

Kinda sucks to be us today and by us I mean our extended ISU community because the stories aren't going to led with Ames or Iowa, they will lead with Iowa State University and what the president and what ISU is going to do.

 

[Jer]

So let's take a look at what the celebration is supposed to be about. From Wikipedia...

VEISHEA (pronounced "VEE-sha"[SUP][1][/SUP]) is an annual week long celebration held each spring on the campus of Iowa State University inAmes, Iowa. The celebration features an annual parade and many open-house demonstrations of the university facilities and departments. Campus organizations exhibit products, technologies, and hold fund raisers for various charity groups. In addition, VEISHEA brings speakers, lecturers, and entertainers to Iowa State, and throughout its over eight decade history it has hosted such distinguished guests as Bob Hope, John Wayne, Tony Bruno, Presidents Harry Truman, Ronald Reagan, and Lyndon Johnson, and performers Diana Ross, Billy Joel, Sonny and Cher, the Goo Goo Dolls and The Black Eyed Peas.[SUP][2][/SUP] VEISHEA is the largest student run festival in the nation, bringing in tens of thousands of visitors to the campus each year.
The name of the festival is an acronym for the colleges of the university that existed when the festival was founded in 1922:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Engineering
• Industrial Science
• Home Economics
• Agriculture.

As the colleges have since been changed, the Iowa State Daily considers it no longer an acronym, and spells it Veishea, with only the first letter capitalized. Official university paraphernalia regarding the event still puts it in full caps.

In the early 1900s, the campus of what was then known as Iowa State College was host to multiple events in the spring, as each college celebrated its history and recruited prospective students by holding an individual celebration—such as the Ag Carnival, the Home Economists' "HEC Day," and the Engineers' St. Patrick's Day Parade. In 1922 it was decided that by combining the separate celebrations, it would be possible to preserve tradition without students taking time off from several consecutive weeks of class. Additionally, a large celebration would be a more effective advertisement for the university than several small celebrations. Professor Frank “Shorty” Paine conceptualized the name "VEISHEA" in order to allow the combined celebration to pay homage to each of the colleges and celebrations from which it was born.[SUP][3][/SUP]
VEISHEA is, and has been since its inception, a wholly student run event. The first VEISHEA Central Committee, led by Wallace McKee of the class of 1922 met in Beardshear Hall, since the Memorial Union (where student organization offices are currently housed) was not yet built.[SUP][4][/SUP] After months of planning, the first VEISHEA was held May 11–13, 1922. The event managed to combine highlights of each college celebration into one showcase of the entire Iowa State College. Longstanding traditions which became part of VEISHEA included the May Queen pageant, the knighting of senior Engineering students into the Knights of the Order of St. Patrick, and the traditional vaudeville show of the Ag Carnival. Other events included 33 department open houses, a mock battle hosted by the ROTC, a parade themed “History of Iowa State as it is Today,” and the student written and performed “Nite Show,” titled “Scandals of 1922.”[SUP][5][/SUP]

I remember when I was young (man I feel old today) we would go as a family and see the parade, eat the little cherry pie things and have a generally good time at our favorite place. Now, 20 years later, I wouldn't take my family there. That tells you all you need to know about the direction this celebration has taken and why it needs to be redesigned top-to-bottom with a focus on family and student activities rather than partying. I don't know what the solution is, but I'm pretty sure it should be shut down for 5 years to find out.

 

[Skidoosh]

Now on twitter a bunch of Greeks are asking for the Greek community to come together and lead Veishea to what it SHOULD be.

Right, because you guys weren't a huge part of this.

You're obsessions with Greeks is starting to become unhealthy.

In all honesty, Greeks are usually the ones avoiding trouble. They know that if they are caught, it will become a "Frat bro gets drunk and pukes everywhere" problem as opposed to "random idiot pukes; nobody cares" problem.

Not saying Greeks are perfect, but the Greeks I know usually act with their chapter in mind.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Well this is a dumb ***. Posts a video of himself on the clock tower on his personal youtube.

[video=youtube;Zq-dqf9j33s]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq-dqf9j33s[/video]

 

[MartyFine]

Drunk idiots don't think about things like this and they don't care. And the people who do care are quickly outnumbered in situations like this and have no way to stop a riot from happening before it starts.

I personally think its time to cancel the thing forever. But if they're going to allow it to happen, the authorities should remove everything that can be picked up and thrown from campustown. Cars, trash cans, newspaper holders, everything. If the drunk idiots don't have anything they can use as weapons it might make it less fun to riot.

I keep reading that the responsible parties are small in number, but that isn't really the case is it (otherwise I have made a valid point)? Everyone there was involved in some way.

 

[wartknight]

I saw my daughter in that video. Bummer.

There could definitely be worse videos to see your daughter in (I have 3 BTW, not videos, daughters)

 

[Rabbuk]

The kid who got crushed is probably in some way culpable, so I don't think attempted murder is going to happen. I'm really embarrassed today to have graduated from ISU. Seriously embarrassed.

 

[Skidoosh]

Who else is sitting at work not getting anything done?

 

[Dreamyfred]

I saw my daughter in that video. Bummer.

She is a terrible person, ban her from Ames!

 

[CloneinWDSM]

I like the idea of a curfew set in place prior to the night of so we don't get riots.

I think the concerts are a good idea. They bring in pretty good names, give us good money, and no riot or police assistance was probably ever needed at the concerts. Sure, people probably sneak alcohol in, but it's on the complete opposite side of campus as the partying. I'm sure the concerts would come back and all the events at the MU as well.

You're trolling with the first statement about curfews right cubs?

 

[Cyballzz]

You're obsessions with Greeks is starting to become unhealthy.

In all honesty, Greeks are usually the ones avoiding trouble. They know that if they are caught, it will become a "Frat bro gets drunk and pukes everywhere" problem as opposed to "random idiot pukes; nobody cares" problem.

Not saying Greeks are perfect, but the Greeks I know usually act with their chapter in mind.

Oh c'mon...

 

[3TrueFans]

You're trolling with the first statement about curfews right cubs?

I think it seems like a possible solution if they want to attempt to keep the other VEISHEA activities.

 

[Skidoosh]

Oh c'mon...

Oh right, I forgot I was on CF.

uhhh.. screw Greeks! They small bad and live in broken-down houses! yeah! We don't need to be paddled to have friends!

 

[cowgirl836]

I think it seems like a possible solution if they want to attempt to keep the other VEISHEA activities.

I would think it would be a serious option for the remainder of this week. I wouldn't be shocked about 2015, but I'd actually be pretty surprised if they scrap the remainder of this year. But I could see (and would agree with) a strictly enforced curfew.

 

[3TrueFans]

Won't somebody think of the frat boys!? They're the real victims here.

 

[ISULibrarian]

In terms of potential charges related to the injury, murder would imply intent, so any charge like that is probably out. However, I would imagine that manslaughter may be appropriate if the injured student does pass away from his injuries. The fact that he was in the crowd, no matter his participation level, doesn't remove culpability for the students that took down the pole.

 

[cyrevkah]

Wait until that 3 year old gets 8-12 bug juices deep! The story will change

I'm glad she's potty trained. Just think of all the diaper changing if she wasn't.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

I think a decision has been made. They took down the breaking news on ISU's website. Probably gonna put a second one up soon

 

[Erik4Cy]

Nope - responsibility is a *****, get used to it. Ever heard of guilty by association? These guys are our ambassadors, and to some, role models. There is no reason to give them a reason to want to try being near these types of activities again.

Ever heard of innocent until proven guilty?

While I get what you are trying to say and the point you want to prove - Yes, our athletes are ambassadors and shouldn't be out partying on a Tuesday night. But sometimes these situations arise and you become a part of something you didn't want to be in at all. Bystanders become enveloped in stuff who had no part in what started. Its not always as easy to just "walk away" from a gigantic mob that is happening around you, let alone avoid the human nature of wanting to stand there and witness it.

Suspending players without any proof of damaging property or other actual wrongdoing would be dumb by our coaches. If there is video of an ISU athlete tearing down a street light or throwing a bottle at a cop or w/e then YES absolutely suspend him or her, but my guess is that very few of them, if any, were in those crowds. And if they were I highly doubt they were involved in throwing bottles or breaking stuff. My guess is some of the people were just really dumb regular ISU students or people who aren't students at ISU/from out of town.

 

[ISUCubswin]

I am serious about curfews. Just don't set the curfew for Friday at midnight on Friday at 11:59PM.