President Geoffroy,

1. The disturbances the morning of April 18, 2004, had nothing to do with Veishea. All of us in the ISU community need to make that clear to the outside world.

If we do not counter the implications of the link between “Veishea” and “Riots,” the world assumes a connection which is not there.

2. Veishea needs to continue; it is one of the most positive, image-creating, community-building events Iowa State has. A break for a year will destroy the tradition; the chain of information from student to student, committee to committee, from year to year, will be broken.

Planning and organization for next year has already begun. A break for a year will mean starting over.

3. I hope the pending independent investigation is the start a cooperative effort, like none we have seen before, among the university, the students, the Veishea Committee, the Ames community and law enforcement agencies. Surely the power and organizational ability of all these groups is bigger than that of the small number of vandals who ruined the weekend (and who, for the most part, had little interest or involvement with Veishea).

4. I am encouraged that community-wide cooperation is possible by the conversations that have already begun among the groups. In addition, I have talked with many students who felt they were bystanders treated unfairly by the police.

However, I sense, from them, more a sense of consternation and frustration than anger, and not once have I heard anyone justify the vandalism which occurred. Although, I admit, I would like to hear what the vandals have to say for themselves now.

Kevin Schilling

Associate Professor

Music