Residents in the area surrounding Campustown have high hopes for a successful Veishea, but echoes of the 2004 riots remain.

Fern Kupfer, president of the South Campus Area Neighborhood and associate professor of English, supports Veishea and the action to move its events back onto the ISU campus.

“I think it’s really smart that the university is putting Veishea back on campus – associating it with campus rather than Campustown.”

The SCAN boundaries extend east to west from Beach Avenue to State Street and from Lincoln Way south to Mortensen Road. Kupfer said the majority of residents are not students; most are homeowners or landlords.

Kupfer has been living in the area for the past 36 years and runs its 80-member committee. Her only complaint about Veishea was the rioting in 2004, which she said affected the SCAN tremendously.

Kupfer said she could feel the tension growing throughout the late night of April 17, 2004, and she was devastated when she awoke the next morning to see the damage done to Campustown, but more importantly, to Iowa State’s image. Kupfer said the riots were a “fad.”

“[Rioting] comes and goes, and it really damages the image of Iowa State – people will think it’s a party school, and people come from out-of-town for [Veishea] to party and riot,” Kupfer said. “So that’s discouraging.”

Kupfer said she doesn’t view Veishea as a purely good or bad event.

“It’s a good thing, because it’s fun to have a spring celebration and there are parties, good music and food – there’s a feeling of commodity,” Kupfer said. “People work very hard for it. [But] there’s a hesitation, too.”

Kupfer gave some basic advice on how to have a positive Veishea experience.

“Have a good time, but don’t be a bystander if scary things are going on – leave when police tell you to leave,” Kupfer said. “Act responsibly.”

After meeting with the SCAN committee and Kupfer in late September, Megan Todd, Veishea general co-chairwoman and senior in marketing, said Kupfer and the other committee members have been helpful in giving the Veishea committee insight into the neighborhood.

The Veishea committee has been working closely with the Ames Police Department on this year’s party response team. The party response team is a group of police officers that watches over SCAN and Welch Avenue and visits parties to handle complaints of disturbances.

Todd said the officers will be handing out T-shirts for their spring 2008 campaign on partying responsibly.

Sheila Lundt, assistant city manager, said 2006’s flamingo mascot will be returning this year, along with new designs featuring a CyRide character.

“It’s a recognition in the spring,” Lundt said. “To reinforce with people that they can still have a good time – just be smart about it.”

Todd said officers are simply trying to create a good relationship with students who are a part of SCAN.

Because Ames is a “university town,” Kupfer said, patrolling the neighborhoods surrounding campus is the safest thing to do.