Members of the Iowa State and Ames communities are depending on a safe and successful Veishea this year to help set the tone for future celebrations of the 76-year ISU tradition.

Last fall, student groups pledged to make this Veishea celebration an alcohol-free event. With that assurance, ISU President Martin Jishcke gave the go-ahead for Veishea ’98.

With a group of well over 300 students, the Veishea Central Committee agreed to change the image of the annual event and work toward improving its public image.

The mission

This year’s mission statement reads, “Veishea is the largest safe and alcohol-free student run event in the nation that strives to showcase excellence at Iowa State University to the Ames community, students and alumni.”

The statement is similar to the original goals of Veishea when it was started in 1922. The goal then was to showcase ISU for potential recruits and for people already involved with the university.

In the beginning

Wallace McKee, a student leader in the agriculture college, is credited as the creator of Veishea.

According to the pamphlet “Veishea, the First Sixty Years,” McKee wanted to combine an event known as Divisional Days, during which time each of the five colleges showed off their programs.

During Divisional Days, students would often skip classes to attend the events, which were held on different weekends, according to the pamphlet.

McKee proposed to combine the event into a three-day weekend in which all colleges would showcase their programs at the same time. With the approval of the university, McKee held a contest to name the event.

The winning entry was submitted by Shorty Paine, engineering professor, who called it Veishea, which represents the first initials of the five colleges (veterinary medicine, engineering, industrial science, home economics and agriculture), according to the pamphlet.

And so the first Veishea was held.

Longstanding traditions

Several traditions have withstood the test of time, while new ones have been introduced, and others, such as the Veishea Queen of Queens Contest, have been left behind.

Stars Over Veishea, the annual musical produced by students, was one highlight of the celebration even from the beginning. This event got its name because the musical performances originally took place outdoors.

The annual parade, always held on Saturday, has also been an integral part of Veishea.

Canoe races, college open houses and entertainment for the entire campus have been formed through the course of ISU’s changing student body.

In 1923, the budget for Veishea was $5,000, according to the pamphlet. In 1998, the budget is well over $100,000, according to the Veishea committee.

Though its budget has grown and the student population has dramatically increased, Veishea remains a student-run and operated event.

“Veishea has really progressed,” said Kathryn Whitaker, general co-chairwoman of the Veishea committee. “It’s adapted to the changing student body.”

New attitude

Throughout the years, Veishea evolved into an event many students thought of as one of the largest parties in the country. Alcohol, unruly behavior and even riots have marred the celebration’s name in past years.