The number of Iowa State students facing disciplinary action for violating the Veishea student conduct code is down this year, said Loras Jaeger, director of the Department of Public Safety.

Jaeger said DPS and Story County law enforcers charged 42 people with 44 offenses, including public intoxication, operating while intoxicated and underage possession of alcohol. Of the 42 violators, 21 were ISU students.

Jaeger said the number of charges during Veishea has gone down significantly in the last few years. In 1998, 63 people were charged and in 1997, 155 people were charged.

Alcohol-free Veishea has made a difference in the number of charges, Jaeger said. He also cited the weather as a factor in the low arrest count.

“If the weather had been warmer, our numbers would have been up significantly,” he said.

He said the number of law enforcement officials working is the biggest difference between Veishea weekend and every other weekend.

“If you’re committing a violation, the chances of being observed are much greater,” he said.

Students who violated any alcohol laws or drank on campus can face disciplinary action, said Paul Tanaka, director of University Legal Services.

The university can take disciplinary action against students during the year for violating city, state and federal laws that “adversely affect” the university.

“The policies forbid violation of alcohol laws anyway,” he said.

However, the student conduct code during Veishea includes an alcohol-free campus. Students of legal age can be punished by the university for consuming alcohol on campus.

Students violating the conduct code either on- or off-campus can be punished.

“Our policy says when there is a direct connection between university events, we can take disciplinary action,” Tanaka said. “Veishea is clearly a university festival.”