The Inter-Residence Hall Association voted unanimously to pass a bill supporting an alcohol-free Veishea at its meeting Thursday night.

The bill, which was tabled at last week’s meeting, calls for all residence halls to be alcohol-free during Veishea weekend.

The policy will affect residents of all ages.

Matt Craft, Richardson Court Association president, feels giving up alcohol during Veishea is not the main concern of students.

“I think that it is not that people cannot give up alcohol for a weekend, but not having the option to drink is what people are upset about,” he said. “Therefore, it is not a pledge to its truest form.”

To give students other options besides alcohol, the IRHA has decided to come up with ideas for fun alternatives to drinking.

Eric Anderson, Towers Residence Association president, said passing the bill is the first step toward keeping Veishea dry.

“Our commitment to Veishea doesn’t stop after we passed the bill — it is just the beginning,” he said. “We need to make it more fun and more exciting so students will want to stay.”

Some IRHA members said entertainment will be a key to the success of this year’s celebration.

“Last year, we stuck with the policy and people left,” Anderson said. “We need to have big-name entertainment this year so people will stick around.”

The IRHA addressed the problem of students leaving campus to find other places to drink.

“We can ask the students to give up the alcohol, but unless there is something to take its place, it will be harder to enforce the pledge and to keep students from leaving,” said Scott Meyers, Union Drive Association president.

Other IRHA members said they should not only concentrate on the entertainment, but also on the guest policy.

The guest policy limited the number of people who could attend the events sponsored by Veishea to the Cyclone family — students, alumni and members of the Ames community.

“Last year, all events were for the Cyclone family only, but I think it would be better to extend the Cyclone family so more people could come,” Anderson said.

IRHA members said they want to find ways to make Veishea more exciting for the students.

“I think we should take the power back,” Anderson said. “Last year, they made up the rules; this year we should. It is our pledge, our rules.”

Steve Wisener, IRHA adviser, agreed that the control of Veishea should belong to the students.

“We need to start talking as representatives of the students,” Wisener said. “We need to work to make Veishea more student controlled and not administrative controlled.”