Local law-enforcement officials are optimistic because Iowa State student leaders have taken a pledge to be alcohol-free over Veishea, but they question whether the number of off-campus parties will increase.

Chief of Police Dennis Ballantine said he was encouraged to hear students were willing to give up alcohol in order for Veishea to continue.

“I am encouraged that the student leadership has agreed to the dry pledge, but what about the 25,000 other students?” Ballantine asked.

“I think that the number of off-campus parties will increase. Last year they were downsized and manageable. We will have to see what happens this year,” he said.

ISU President Martin Jischke will decide this month whether one of the largest student-run celebrations in the nation will continue in 1998. He said earlier this semester that Veishea may continue if the students pledge to make the campus alcohol-free during the event.

Last week, the Government of the Student Body, the Inter-Residence Hall Association, the Inter-Fraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council all voted to accept the pledge.

Although the pledge to go dry should reduce the consumption of alcohol on campus during the Veishea weekend, Ames police and Department of Public Safety officers said they are not letting up on security — at least not this year.

“I am trying to take the optimistic approach to all of this. If the students are serious about saving Veishea and a 75-year-tradition, they will refrain from alcohol. If it is nothing more than a subterfuge, nothing will change,” said Loras Jaeger, director of DPS.

Ballantine said although security will not be lessened during Veishea, it may be realigned.

Last year during the Veishea weekend, Ames police and DPS arrested more than 500 people for public intoxication or underage possession of alcohol.

Ballantine said on a busy weekend such as that of the Iowa/ISU football game, only 30 arrests are made by the Ames police. Jaeger said only a dozen people are arrested or cited by DPS officials on such a weekend.

Jaeger said everyone on his staff will be working if Veishea is held this spring. All officers and student reserves will be working 12-hour days during the weekend, he said.

Jaeger said he would also like to work with the Veishea Central Committee to see if those students would be willing to help out DPS officers for the weekend.

DPS does not handle the patrolling of the bars, but Jaeger said the biggest influence on how many arrests may be made this year will be the number of non-ISU students who attend the celebration.

He said he hopes people who attended Veishea in the past only to drink alcohol will refrain from attending this year.