Students must decide whether to change the image of Veishea or end the celebration, Iowa State President Martin Jischke said Tuesday night at a special Inter-Residence Hall Association meeting in the Wallace-Wilson commons.

Two weeks ago, IRHA passed a resolution requiring Jischke to speak to parliament and answer questions before members would vote on any Veishea legislation. IRHA is the only student government body left to reaffirm the alcohol-free Veishea pledge.

Jischke said the Veishea pledge must be signed for the celebration to continue. “What we want is a safe, alcohol-free Veishea and a sincere intention to promote that,” he said.

The dangers of excessive drinking associated with Veisheas in the past forced him to require the pledge, Jischke said.

“Unless we dealt directly with the alcohol issue, Veishea had to end,” he said. “Only under those terms [an alcohol-free celebration] would I allow Veishea to go on at the university.”

Jischke said before alcohol-free Veishea, the celebration was known throughout Iowa as a drunken party. Jischke said he decided in 1997 that Veishea’s image needed to be changed.

“We had to do something drastic and dramatic to change our self-image of Veishea so we can feel good about the university,” he said. “We must change our idea of Veishea and what we think Veishea is.”

Once ISU changes its image of Veishea, citizens of Iowa also will begin to view the event as a celebration that showcases the university, Jischke said.

Jischke said the decision is up to the students, and if they would rather have no Veishea than a dry Veishea, he would withdraw university support of the celebration.

“If students don’t want Veishea under those terms, I would regret it, but I would respect that decision if that’s what it comes to,” he said.

One reason some IRHA members do not support the pledge is because of a clause in the Department of Residence Terms and Conditions stating Veishea will be alcohol-free. However, Jischke said the clause does not replace signing the pledge.

“The pledge is to renew the commitment collectively,” he said. “The sincerity and the spirit of the pledge is what is important.”

Brandon Hart, Maple Hall, said Veishea is not what it used to be.

“People I’ve talked to think Veishea has already died in spirit,” he said. “People don’t see it as fun anymore.”

However, Zwede Demissie, Wallace Hall, said Veishea still can be something students can enjoy.

“It depends on which way you define it,” she said. “If [needing alcohol] is the way you define it, you have to give it up.”

Mike Taylor, Storms Hall, said he has seen much support for dry Veishea. “The quiet majority supports the pledge,” he said.

Some IRHA members said they support Veishea but not the pledge.

“We have a right to have a choice,” said Kathryn Kallaher, Oak-Elm. “I am very much against an ultimatum for us to sign a pledge. Veishea is not for President Jischke. It is for us.”

IRHA is scheduled to vote on the Veishea pledge at its meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Maple-Willow-Larch Commons.