It seems what happened Saturday night at a supposedly new, improved, family-friendly Veishea is telling of the political situation in the student body at Iowa State, and in the country at large.

Riots have a very political history. The Civil War draft riots, the Detroit labor riots, the Watts race riot in 1965, Chicago in 1966, throughout the 1960s most of the urban areas in the country were engaged in conflict in response to the Vietnam War and the struggle for human rights. There were even riots in Iowa City, and hundreds of students took it upon themselves to block I-80 in protest of the war.

What is at stake for the Ames student population now? Accordingly to one Veishea patron, “We were just trying to have a good time.”

A party broken up by police unleashed a violent reaction from party goers. A party, that’s what pushed students over the limit.

The Ames Police Department definitely should not be defended in their role in the escalation of violence. Wherever the police are, trouble usually follows, not the other way around.

Unfortunately, the police response has come to be expected. Riot gear, tear gas, pepper spray and any other toys they have. For any veterans of political demonstrations, it is well known that police doctrine is quite often indiscriminate and overwhelming force.

I guess the same lesson has now been learned by veteran party animals in Ames.

I wonder about the potential lasting effects this latest outburst will have on the student body, if any. My hope is that this is a step in the direction of politicizing the apathetic party animals who come out of their shell only when something as close to their hearts as partying is threatened. Maybe it will awaken many to the abuses of state power now that they have felt the bite of pepper spray firsthand.

Right now, Saturday night stands as an embarrassment to all of those involved both students and the Ames Police Department. When the first draft lotteries start in 2005, what will the student reaction be?

When the indiscriminate and overwhelming “War on Terror” escalates more, what will the student reaction be?

I hope students involved in the Veishea riot learned of their power and potential in the streets, and I hope they will be willing to defend more than their right to party in the future. I’ll see you in the streets.

Ben Slattery

Urbandale