Veishea 1999 will once again be alcohol free, and the residents of Buchanan Hall, the graduate student housing, have varying views about the decision.

Since it is a requirement that all students who live in the residence halls stay “dry” during Veishea weekend, the residents of Buchanan Hall, all of whom are older than 21, are not supposed to consume alcohol during the celebration.

The Buchanan Hall Association, the hall’s governing body, was supportive of an alcohol-free Veishea both this year and last year.

Balsy Kasi, Buchanan Hall director, said Buchanan residents do not like being asked not to drink during Veishea weekend, but “most of them understand the university’s desire to promote a safe and fun environment during Veishea.”

“Ideally, I prefer not forcing students, but I am committed just like everyone else in the campus community to the pledge of not having alcohol during Veishea,” he said.

Randy Morfitt, resident of Buchanan Hall and junior in philosophy, said he can see both sides of the issue.

“It does seem silly to apply such a policy to a residence hall that is full of people over 21,” he said. “On the other hand, if it’s going to be applied to all dorms, then it should be applied to Buchanan.”

However, Morfitt said he had a problem with how last year’s dry Veishea was enforced.

“The idea is good; the execution is faulty,” he said. “Veishea needed to change, but the way to do that is not by changing Ames into a police state. The scariest thing to come out of last Veishea was the university punishing people for stuff they did off campus. This is way too Big Brother for my tastes.”

Eric Frana, Buchanan resident and junior in pre-electrical engineering, said the dry Veishea policy is not fair to any resident who is older than 21.

“We are all mature here, and it’s a pretty laid-back atmosphere,” he said.

Brett Showalter, Veishea parade co-chairman and senior in agronomy, said Veishea officials considered all students who are older than 21, both in the residence halls and greek system, when they made the choice to have another alcohol-free celebration.

Showalter noted that the dry Veishea decision was approved by five student groups that have members who are old enough to legally drink.

Frana said he doubts many people will stick around for this year’s celebration.

“Most think it will be boring and are not sticking around for the weekend,” he said.

But Morfitt said he thought the residents’ reaction was mostly apathetic.

“No one really seems to care one way or another,” he said.