Students gave ideas and expressed concerns about Veishea 2000 to a panel of event officials at an open forum Thursday evening.

The panel consisted of Justin Wilhelm and Justin Chesnut, Veishea general co-chairs; Jason Shenton, Veishea intramural chairman and Government of the Student Body USAC senator; and Ben Golding, GSB senator representing the College of Engineering.

“Veishea has gone through a lot of changes, and I think what we need to do is look back at what Veishea was and what it should be today,” Wilhelm said. “The challenge will be keeping a balance between old-time appeal and contemporary entertaining events.”

Because of delays caused by student groups debating the Veishea pledge, Chesnut said the committee hasn’t had enough time in recent years to plan events thoroughly.

“This will become our focus and goal — to put more thought into the events and planning,” he said.

Several members of the panel thought Veishea should revert back to its founding concept, focusing more on the growth of the academic departments and the new buildings on campus.

“This is what I’d really like to see,” Shenton said. “A celebration getting back to what it originally intended to be — a showcase of Iowa State University and the departments.”

Some ideas brought up at the forum included a Veishea street dance or run and events that would encourage students to stay on campus for the weekend rather than turn to alternate activities.

The panel’s attention quickly turned to another issue regarding the need for more multicultural and ethnic events at the annual spring celebration.

Roxanne Smith, president of the Black Student Alliance, said she believes Veishea lacks diversity.

“It’s time you guys stop preaching diversity and start living it,” said Smith, senior in accounting. “It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it and how you approach it. That will bring in the crowds.”

For years, Smith said, she has taken the time and effort to talk with Veishea committee members who have ignored her input for reasons such as budget and lack of time.

Smith suggested having more speakers, entertainment, programs and food fairs to increase cultural awareness on campus — not just for Veishea, but for the university in general.

Members of the panel agreed with Smith and said both sides should be recognized and willing to listen to each other.

“If it is done with open minds and done early enough before the committee gets stuck in a rut of doing what they do year after year, I think there can be a compromise on events,” said Kate Kjergaard, public relations co-chairwoman for Veishea. Panel members agreed the forum was both helpful in generating ideas for Veishea 2000 and served as an outreach for Veishea to grow and expand.