Imagine that you are in class and your instructor gives you an assignment that will be evaluated by every faculty member in the department. It must fulfill some very stringent guidelines, must appeal to every instructor in this department and must be done within a short period of time. Then imagine halfway through completing this assignment, the guidelines for the assignment are changed. Some faculty begin to question your motives. Some complain that your choices of topics are unpopular — not everyone will enjoy it. You must complete this assignment without spending too much money, staying within the guidelines and maintaining passing grades in all of your other classes at the same time.

In a sense, this is not unlike what the Veishea committees have been challenged with doing this year. Veishea has been one of the largest issues debated on the Iowa State campus. Many have voiced opinions supporting this year’s Veishea celebration, and many have expressed concerns ranging from activities planned for the weekend to whether or not the dry campus pledge is fair and if it will work.

As student leaders at Iowa State, we have heard these opinions expressed by many of our constituents, floormates and friends. However, we would like to present a different point of view — one that has not seen much daylight in recent months. Many of our fellow students have spent countless hours and days working to change the image of Veishea to something that the entire state of Iowa can be proud of. Something that we can all look back on 20 years from now and say, “Yeah, I was part of Veishea back in ’98, and we saved it.” Veishea’s theme this year is “A Time for Change,” and that is exactly what is needed. This year’s celebration needs to set the tone for the future. If Veishea is to continue, the change must begin this weekend. The administration put forth a challenge to this year’s students. A very simple solution would have been to cancel Veishea altogether, but they allowed us to have Veishea if we would keep it safe and alcohol-free. The most immature response we can have is to throw it in their faces and say, “You can’t stop us from drinking; just watch us.” Let’s respond in a mature manner and show the administration, the Ames community and the state of Iowa we are adults capable of refraining from drinking for 48 hours to save a 76-year-old tradition.

As everyone knows, the penalties for drinking on campus or in university-approved housing will be severe. Off-campus locations will be under intense scrutiny. We would like to challenge every student, faculty and staff member to do their part to make this the best Veishea ever. Let’s prove to all of those cynical folks who say that we can’t do it that we really can.

We have taken the Veishea pledge and will not be drinking on the weekend of Veishea. We will still have a good time, a weekend that will be remembered for years. There will be more activities, events and concerts going on this weekend than any one person could take in. Please think about what this weekend really means and what you want to remember about Veishea 1998. Be a part of the change, a part of the future. Veishea ’98 — “A Time for Change.”

Ben Chamberlain

Junior

Agricultural studies and agricultural business

Inter-residence hall association president, 1998-1999

Kimberley Hannum

Junior

Animal science and pre-veterinary medicine

Inter-residence hall association vice president, 1998-1999