It’s a little bit belated, but after seeing many editorials demanding apologies from those who were involved in crafting the Live@Veishea wristband policy, I felt that those who actively fought against the policy deserved recognition for their efforts.

Thank you, Jason Paull and Josh Hasty, for creating the Facebook group, “Veishea + Wristband = Worst Idea Ever,” that swelled to more than 10,000 members over the course of a few weeks. You brought a lot of dissatisfied people together, who quickly organized and tried to make a change in the wristband policy through peaceful means. Thanks for organizing the paper protest as well! I’m glad to have taken part in it, and I thank you for spending time you could have spent elsewhere standing in the Free Speech Zone collecting signatures. You have my respect and my thanks.

Thank you, Rick Hanton, for creating an online petition of the wristband policy and your frequent activity within the Facebook group. You fought against the policy in an appropriate way, every step of the way, and you did good.

Thank you, RJ Green. Your outspokenness against the ’08 wristband policy and your passion for Veishea is remarkable. You weren’t afraid to say what everyone else wouldn’t say (usually involving the word sucks, but that’s OK with me). I thank you for standing up for what you believe in, enduring the juvenile threats made by Kris Olds, and the following public exposure to those events. Thank you, RJ, for your valiant efforts.

Thank you, Luci Van Scoy, Mike Rothschild and everyone else who attempted to contact the media about the policy and make it known to those outside the “ISU Family.” I commend you for your actions.

Thank you, Russell Schmidt, for the “Epic Sail” wristbands. Though the matter was an “epic sail” by all means, you did something constructive (I still owe you 10 bucks for your “epic sail”) and I appreciate you efforts. Thank you!

And finally, thanks to everyone who wrote in to the Daily about their dissatisfation with the wristband policy, including, but not limited to, Jennifer Flugge, Scott Ready, Ian Moodie, Andrew Norton, Kayla Strokes, Daniel Fischer (who, while campaigning for GSB president, pledged to listen to the students on these matters), Devin Carney, Brent Behrens, Nathan Schulz, RJ Green (yes, I believe he deserves being mentioned twice), Jon Shelness, Rick Hanton (again, but he deserves it as well), Bart Dvorak, Adam Brewer, Ryan Reams, Nick Voermans and Anne Naberhaus.

Thank you all for voicing your opinion on this policy and utilizing your First Amendment rights.

Nick Burdock

Sophomore

Electrical Engineering