Student organizers of Iowa State’s Veishea celebration have chosen a theme — Celebrating 75 Years of Leadership — for the spring festival.

It was chosen to honor ISU’s tradition of student leadership, said Veishea public relations co-chair LaTosha Lewis.

The 75th Veishea celebration next spring will be an opportunity for students, the Ames community and alumni to be involved in one of the nation’s largest student-run celebrations, she said.

“We’re trying to get a wider variety of groups involved,” said Daniel Faidley, general co-chair. “Iowa State is not just the students that go here now, it’s the alumni, the Ames community and the state of Iowa.”

Veishea executive committee members want to bring back old events that were enjoyed during earlier celebrations. Many events from prior years are being discussed.

Last summer the Veishea committee hired Maha El-Obeid to research the history of Veishea. “She dug through the archives and made over 60 personal interviews,” Faidley said.

Faidley said the committee would like to showcase the history of Veishea by having a time-line with pictures and information. “It’s basically to show how Veishea has evolved over the years,” he said.

Last year many students felt slighted by the Veishea committee’s decision to not have a band. But Faidley said he believes student reaction to Veishea is still positive.

“We’re trying to appeal to everyone,” Faidley said, “but the financial and personnel aspect is difficult. There are a lot of ideas we can’t act on.”

Public relations co-chair Chelsea Olson said even though this year’s Veishea committee is trying to bring in more people from outside the Cyclone realm, students will always be the centerpiece.

“It is and always will be a student celebration because it gives everyone a chance to shine,” she said.