It’s that time of year again on the Iowa State University (ISU) campus – VEISHEA! The weeklong celebration held every spring (well, almost every spring) has become engulfed in controversy yet again.

Some might remember the riots of 2004 that resulted in the celebration being suspended in 2005, only to return in 2006 with a new location and rule changes. This year, however, the students are taking it to the VEISHEA committees over a new wristband policy for Live @ VEISHEA events.

In the last two years since VEISHEA returned, the headlining concerts have grown from a crowd of approximately 5000 people for Nappy Roots in 2006 to 12,000 people last year for Mike Jones. This year, the committees decided move the concert venue and limit the attendance to 7000 students, faculty, staff, and alumni, who now have to pay $5 for a wristband to get into the events.

A Facebook group started by ISU students protesting the wristband policy has now reached a membership of more than 10,000. The group opposes the following decisions:

-Moving the evening concert events from various campus locations to one stage located on the former marching band field between Howe Hall and Design
-Limiting the concert attendance through the sale of wristbands
-To further limit attendance by selling only 7,000 wristbands exclusively to ISU students, faculty, and alumni.

Many students I talked to said that friends of theirs that previously planned to come from out of town for VEISHEA, now feel unwelcome. Likewise, members of the Ames community who often saw VEISHEA as a celebration of their own are no longer able to attend the entertainment events.

The VEISHEA committees responded by reminding the “Iowa State Family” that there are numerous VEISHEA events that are open to the general public and that the concerts have been moved and downsized because students who are running them are not “in the concert business.”

There is a fear that those against the wristband policy will resort to other forms of entertainment such as drinking, which could escalate the chance for similar to what occurred in 2004. Nevertheless, the festivities are going on as planned, meaning if you want to see Eve 6 perform, you better go buy your wristband!

VEISHEA is one of Iowa State’s oldest traditions, but I still can’t figure out what it is besides a celebration of the mere existence of the school (and an excuse for students to drink heavily all week), so I’m going to do my best to find out by talking to people throughout the weekend. One thing’s certain though, the weather isn’t looking promising...gotta love Iowa!

For more information on VEISHEA events go to.

For VEISHEA news coverage from the Iowa State Daily, click here.

And for a semi-funny video, on the topic:
(watch at your own discretion)