A bill requiring the Board of Regents to study the benefits and practicality of reinstating VEISHEA at Iowa State University, House Study Bill 545, passed out of subcommittee on Thursday. 

If put into effect, the Board of Regents would then present their findings to the chairperson of the House Committee on Higher Education and Senate chairperson of the Education Committee before the Nov. 26 meeting of the state board. 

VEISHEA began in 1922 as a student-run celebration named after the five colleges: Veterinary, Engineering, Industrial Science, Home Economics and Agriculture. 

VEISHEA celebrations included a parade with floats, bands and novelty balloons, in addition to open houses for departments to showcase their activities and accomplishments. Celebrations ranged from several days to a week. 

In April of 2014 the VEISHEA-ending riot occurred. Cops shut down a series of parties leading to an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 people on Welch Avenue. 

The crowd threw beer cans at police and began flipping cars and the police directed businesses to close. 

The crowd then toppled two light poles, one by the Jimmy John’s and one by Fire Station #2.

One of the light poles fell, injuring a student. The student traveled via helicopter to the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines and spent time in the Intensive Care Unit with a brain bleed. 

The following day, Student Body President Hillary Kletscher met with Iowa State University President Steven Leath and his cabinet. VEISHEA celebrations were suspended. 

Leath established a task force of administrators, students, city officials and community leaders and hosted five open forums for public input on VEISHEA. 

In August of 2014, Leath announced the permanent termination of VEISHEA.