Tonight, the students of Iowa State may have another chance to take a stance on the Veishea pledge before the Government of the Student Body Senate.

Although GSB voted last Wednesday to take the pledge for the 2000 celebration, the senate may go another round in its fight with the administration.

And hopefully, they’ll stand strong this time.

Wendell Mosby, FCS, who voted in favor of approving the pledge, is planning to make a motion to amend the resolution. He felt, by caving in to ISU President Martin Jischke’s and Veishea supporters’ arguments, “I compromised my integrity.”

If his amendment is approved, the resolution will not agree to take the Veishea pledge at this time.

It simply will establish communication between the students and administration regarding what taking the pledge entails, mandating more student involvement in the event’s planning and accompanying rules.

GSB senators should vote in favor of this amendment, and students need to go to the meeting and tell their representatives how they feel about it.

Rather than complaining about senators’ cowardice after the deed is done, students need to voice their opinions to give their government representatives a leg to stand on.

Senators must vote the way their constituents tell them to. The more students who stand up and speak, either at the meeting or by contacting their representatives before the meeting, the better the chances that senators won’t take the easy way out by reaffirming the pledge at this early stage in the game.

Don’t be afraid to contact them, day or night, by phone, e-mail or in person — it’s their job to listen.

And just because this amendment passes does not mean Veishea will be canceled.

No one approached GSB three weeks ago asking senators to take the pledge.

Even President Jischke was confused at last week’s meeting as to why the bill was coming up now.

Nothing will be lost by supporting this amendment.

If Veishea does not become a truly student-run celebration, there is no point in breathing life into a dying tradition.

Sure, it would be sad to see 77 years go down the bureaucratic toilet. But today’s Veishea celebration isn’t what is used to be. The intent is different, the structure is different, and the spirit is gone.

We’re not all about drinking, we’re just all about students rights.

If students don’t make their stand in this battle, the war with administrators for more student rights will be lost with dishonor.

GSB will meet tonight at 7 in the Campanile Room of the Memorial Union.

All senators are required to hold office hours in the GSB office, Room G43 of the MU, 294-1585, and all senators are listed with their constituencies, home phone numbers and e-mail addresses at www.gsb.iastate.edu /GSB_SENATORS/gsbsenators.html.