The fate of Veishea was once again addressed at an open forum Friday in the Memorial Union.

More than 200 Iowa State students, faculty and staff gathered to discuss the future of Veishea at ISU.

President Martin Jischke headed a panel of speakers about Veishea, whose future is in doubt after a series of riots and the stabbing death of Harold “Uri” Sellers last spring.

Jischke said the celebration of Veishea has changed in recent years from a showcase of ISU to a “symbol of negative things, such as drinking, rioting, property damage and now, a murder.”

Jischke said he has responded to hundreds of e-mails and letters in the past month. He also said the number of people who want to end Veishea is growing.

“I will make a decision [regarding the fate of Veishea],” Jischke said. “But it will be a decision the students will play a role in shaping, and one they can live with.”

The audience was allowed to ask the panel members questions.

One of the most-asked questions during the forum was whether or not a 21-year-old would be allowed to drink during Veishea.

“The university will be alcohol-free during Veishea,” Jischke said. “It will not be conditioned by age. If you’re 18, 21, 56, the campus is still alcohol-free.”

Jischke said the pledge applies to “on campus.” He defined on campus as “all the university’s recognized property and housing.” Jischke stressed the greek system is considered on campus.

A political science class, who made a presentation on their Veishea-related research during last Wednesday’s Government of the Student Body meeting, asked several questions to the panel.

Adam Infante, class spokesman, asked if the administration had ever considered moving Veishea to the beginning of the year.

“Those options were considered,” Jischke said. “But based on advice from a number of students, if we don’t do something very dramatic to change our conception of what Veishea is, it will self-destruct.”

Thomas Hill, vice president for students affairs, agreed that some of the ideas, including raised fines for alcohol-related crimes, should be discussed.

“When you hit individuals in the pocketbook, you give them something to think about,” Hill said.

Jischke said the State of Iowa has increased the penalties for alcohol-related offenses, but he does not know if the community has the right to increase the penalties.

One member of the community, Peggy Murdock, an Ames resident of 23 years, said Veishea should stop.

“Everyone in the state of Iowa knows that if you want to raise hell you come to Ames,” Murdock said.

Murdock said the panel should not even think about keeping Veishea.

“You need to accept reality,” Murdock said. “Veishea is a disaster.”

In response to many greek members’ questions about whether or not their chapters would be revoked if members of their organization were caught drinking, both Jischke and Hill said the organization should question the loyalty of those offenders.

Other members of the panel included Sonja Rice, president of the Panhellenic Council, and Mark Holm, president of the Inter Fraternity Council.

“We will not be pulling the charters of houses if one or two members decide to drink,” Jischke said. “But if your house throws a party where alcohol is served, that’s a different situation.”

Jischke said he will use all his resources as president to rebuild Veishea, including more Department of Public Safety security, more alcohol-education and the possibility of “alternative entertainment.”

Jischke said he does not expect everyone to agree with the alcohol-free pledge.

“No controversial idea in a democracy is ever unanimous,” Jischke said. “We’re not asking for unanimity. We’re just asking if the majority wants an alcohol-free Veishea, the majority rules.”

Jischke is to announce his decision on the fate of Veishea sometime in mid-October. A number of student organizations including the Government of the Student Body, the Inter-Fraternity Council and Pan-Hellenic Council have yet to turn in their official vote on an alcohol-free Veishea.

One group that has officially pledged to be alcohol-free during Veishea is the Inter-Residence Hall Association. IRHA approved the pledge to make the residence halls alcohol free during Veishea last week with a vote of 22-0-1.

“Personally, I’ve been in favor of an alcohol-free Veishea,” Jay McLaren, IRHA president, said. “Residence halls realize the importance of the 75-year tradition.”

McLaren said he distributed surveys to 146 residence hall houses about the prospects of an alcohol-free Veishea. He said 82 surveys were returned, and of the surveys returned, only 6 houses voted not to stay alcohol-free.