Iowa State University’s announced a decision on an alcohol policy for its annual spring fling. VEISHEA ended with destructive riots in 2004, and the event was canceled this year. I-S-U President Gregory Geoffroy says the new rules will be closer to the on-campus alcohol policy in effect the rest of the year.

In the past several years they’ve had a “Dry VEISHEA” police, which completely prohibited alcohol use anywhere in campus, including dorms and entertainment facilities. But many think that policy actually contributed to bigger parties off-campus. Those parties grew into near-riots in 2004, and in some other years before that. For VEISHEA weekend 2006, they’ve decided to leave the normal campus alcohol policy in effect as it’s applied to other events throughout the year on campus.

That policy allows students who are 21 or older to have alcohol in their residence-hall rooms though it’ll still be banned in other parts of the dorms including lounges. He says the policy’s already strictly enforced. Alcoholic drinks will also be allowed at approved, sanctioned on-campus events, which already must be approved by a strict review.

The problems with VEISHEA haven’t been on campus, Geoffroy points out. They’ve been off-campus incidents that ISU has no control over. He says by allowing alcohol use on campus under the current strict control, administrators hope to discourage the growth of big off-campus parties nobody can control.

Returning to the standard policy means rules for VEISHEA 2006 will be the same as every other day of the year at Iowa State.