Veishea 2001 will see the implementation of a new committee designed to increase community involvement. The committee members will work together with the Ames Youth and Shelter Services to get more children involved in Veishea.This is a step back in the right direction for Veishea.In recent years, Veishea has seen a decline in the number of children participating in the event. This is due partly to the perception that the focus of Veishea was on alcohol.In the golden years of Veishea, it was an event not only for the administration and the greek community, but also for families. Parades, petting zoos, face painting — these are great attractions for children.But sometime in the last decade, that all changed. Maybe it was the murder of Uri Sellers, maybe it was the focus placed on drinking over Veishea weekend, or maybe it was the new focus on the “ISU Family,” but somewhere along the line, Veishea stopped being a family event.The new Community Involvement Committee can help return that element to Veishea. Working with the YSS will be a great way to get Ames children involved in Veishea also and turn Veishea back into a family event.Veishea is an alcohol-free event, and there are many attractions for children and families, as well as for ISU students. Children bring a fresh enthusiasm for Veishea and are an important part of its environment.Veishea’s inclusion of families shouldn’t stop at the ISU Family. Getting children involved in Veishea is a great idea.editorialboard: Carrie Tett, Greg Jerrett, Katie Goldsmith, Andrea Hauser and Jocelyn Marcus