The sounds of rioting are inspiring to me. This is a time when many people unite to speak with the same voice.

They speak because they’re angry. They speak loud enough to finally be heard because they’ve been driven too far and nothing they say or do seems to change things. Ames is not Tiananmen Square, by any means, but the people have spoken. Veishea used to be great. Adults, children and college students alike could enjoy the various facets of the yearly celebration of community. However, the current policies of the university attempt to sweep its own students under the rug by restricting or revoking those parts of the celebration enjoyed by the college-age contingent. Six years of enforced dry Veisheas are a constant reminder that the ISU administration equates student celebration with leaving a 3-year-old home alone.

Students’ reaction to being treated like children and guided like animals was only too predictable. The riots on Saturday and Sunday were sparked by police intervention aimed to stop ISU students from celebrating Veishea in the way they find enjoyable.The message to students was clear: you can’t stay at home and celebrate, you can’t go to the bar and celebrate, and you can’t congregate in public and celebrate.

People who are denied their free will, treated as potential felons and finally herded with mace and tear gas will react with violence. After officers began using riot control measures on a crowd of confused and aimless celebrators, the people had been pushed too far and became a rioting mob.

They have spoken a clear message: We will not be treated this way! Forcing ISU students into the role of the naughty child will only encourage them to act that way. There are other, better tactics the ISU administration and Ames Police could be using to avoid this kind of incident.

Empowering students with self-direction in their celebrations, instead of mandating where, when and how. Cooperation from police officers, instead of a menacing, brute force. Responsibility given to the students instead of “guidance” like enforced dry Veishea pledges. Veishea is a great celebration that can be enjoyed by students, faculty and Ames residents, but only if we’re all in this together.

Dave Oneal

Graduate Student

Veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine