Although many students find something to interest them at Veishea, the event’s co-chairs and committee heads are finding that not all students are satisfied with the activities offered during the annual spring celebration.

In response, Veishea committees and the Government of the Student Body are trying to start the ball rolling to satisfy more students.

The word “multicultural” has been added to the phrase “safe and alcohol-free” in the Veishea pledge, adopted by GSB in October.

“I am not a big fan of Veishea, which I have verbally expressed, but at least by putting [multicultural] in the pledge, I feel like something is getting done,” said Wendell Mosby, FCS senator, who proposed the change to the pledge. “This is the opportune time for minority students to be heard.”

Roxanne Smith, president of the Black Student Alliance, also has voiced her opinions about the Veishea celebration and what she feels is a lack of multicultural attractions.

Smith, senior in accounting, said she hopes to see Veishea become a more diverse event in 2000.

“I really want to see more activities that will interest all students and not just the mainstream,” she said.

During Veishea, BSA sponsors Harambee, a cultural celebration that in the past has included a fashion show and musical acts.

Smith said this is one of the only activities minorities have during the celebration, but even Harambee doesn’t have the Veishea stamp of approval.

Mosby said it would be a step in the right direction if the Veishea committee would endorse Harambee and publicize it with other events.

But until steps like this are taken, some minority students choose not to participate in the spring celebration. In her four years at ISU, Smith has yet to attend a Veishea event.

And Christina Fernandez, a member of the Hispanic Heritage Committee, said the closest she has come to celebrating Veishea was walking down Welch Avenue during Taste of Veishea to get to campus.

“Veishea looks interesting, and the people participating look like they are having fun, but the groups that come for entertainment just aren’t of interest to me,” said Fernandez, junior in marketing.

Veishea Executive Committee co-chairman Justin Wilhelm said event committees for the past few years have tried to make the activities more inclusive.

“That has always been one of our goals,” said Wilhelm, senior in mechanical engineering. “We have made some attempts in the past.”

Wilhelm said last year, Veishea planners tried to get some alternative entertainment that had been suggested, including rapper Tone Loc, who performed Wednesday night of Veishea week. However, because of routing problems, most of the big-name performers weren’t attainable, he said.

But Tone Loc really wasn’t what the students were looking for, either, Mosby said.

“Come on — Tone Loc? He was cool back in the ’80s, and white people may still like him now, but he just isn’t cool now,” Mosby said. “As far as big bands, I realize they don’t really have the option of people like Will Smith, but at least something more current.”

Smith said she and other members of BSA would like to see progress this year, and Veishea co-chairs Wilhelm and Justin Chesnut, senior in agricultural systems technology, have agreed to come to BSA meetings to aid in that progress.

Mosby said having the co-chairs at BSA meetings is definitely a step in the right direction.

“I really commend them for going and talking to BSA,” he said. “Even now, they are making an early effort, and no one can say they haven’t listened and looked at things from another angle.”

Wilhelm said he hopes dialogue with BSA will give Veishea committee members more ideas for expanding entertainment and other events.

Some ideas Smith has suggested include international food fairs and open forums on diversity.

“We wanted to do some sort of street party, but then you are looking at extra security,” she said. “We really don’t know much on how Veishea is run and how it works.”

Mosby suggested events to showcase the pastimes of other cultures, such as double dutch, craps and spades.

“They really just need to stop making excuses and try,” he said.

Another complaint Fernandez had was the number of activities geared toward alumni.

“Most of my friends are first-generation college students, so the alumni part of Veishea really has nothing to do with us,” Fernandez said.

Although Wilhelm said he sees room for improvement, he doesn’t think Veishea planners of the past completely neglected other cultures.

“I do think there have been some multicultural aspects to Veishea,” he said, “but there is an opportunity to change things around and make sure everyone gets something they find entertaining.”