I’m a first year transfer student and have been reading of President Jischke’s ultimatum to make Veishea dry or discontinue it all together.

And the articles I’ve been reading have mostly revolved around whether it will make a difference or not. I believe this to be a moot point.

What must be looked at is what has brought about such a decision. Some bad press that smudges the name of ISU and unforgivable violent acts that have occurred in relation to Veishea.

The ISU administration attempts to lay the blame on groups of 18- and 19-year-olds, high school kids and troublemakers not part of ISU — and then drops their problems at the doorstep of these individuals and tells them to fix it or else.

What the ISU administration and the city of Ames don’t admit or mention either to you or amongst themselves is that these are legal responsibilities that they are paid to take care of — action such as arresting people for public intox, contributing to a minor and open container. These are all laws taken too lightly in the city of Ames and more lightly during Veishea.

If more people found themselves in a jail cell in the morning with a big fine, some community service and a smudge on their record — not ISU’s — then troublemakers would stop coming or learn to behave.

It’s not the people who have 10 to 15 people in their houses or people coming from the bar after two to three beers who are causing the trouble, but it is the people who don’t know when to stop and the parties overflowing on the front lawn.

These people shouldn’t be drinking or shouldn’t be here altogether, but instead they should be at home with mommy and daddy or participating in what Veishea was supposed to be — which is a showcase for ISU’s Veterinary, Engineering, Business, Home Economics and Agricultural programs. It is not an excuse for every juvenile throughout Iowa and beyond to come drink at the 8th largest college party in America.

And the way to stop that and bring Veishea back on track isn’t by having them make some secret pledge that they won’t drink, but to do what they should have been doing all along —ÿwhich is to force businesses to ID and use good judgement when serving and for campus security and the Ames police to enforce the laws of city, state and federal government.

Brooks Groves

Junior

English