The two groups that’ve been studying Iowa State University’s violence-plagued student celebration released their recommendations Tuesday. A task force looked at the root causes of the violence that broke out at last spring’s Veishea. Some of that group’s recommendations included looking at different ways preventing large nuisance parties, identifying the way to respond to disturbances, and examining and addressing alcohol-related regulations. Laura Bestler-Wilcox, assistant director of I-S-U’s Memorial Union, chaired a commission that examined ways to improve the relationship among Ames residents and the college students. The had over a dozen recommendations. She says a number of their proposals surround the idea of being one community for both the “short-term neighbors” or students, and the “long-term neighbors” or permanent residents of Ames. Bestler-Wilcox says they need to get both groups to feel they have a say in what happens. She says one of the ways they suggest doing that is to make sure they have social venues for neighborhood relations and potentially neighborhood resource coordinators. She says they also need to strengthen the communication between the University, student body and Ames City government. She says they found Veishea has done a lot to help the community.She says Veishea has played an integral role in bringing the community together over the past 80 years. Bestler-Wilcox says the commission believes the event should go on. She says they did recommend that Veishea should be preserved, strengthened and celebrated. She says that’s in respect to the recommendations of the task force. She says their recommendation is based on their discussions about the good and bad of Veishea. Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy canceled this year’s celebration. President Geoffroy, the Mayor of Ames, and the student body president will review the work of both groups and review their recommendations. Geoffroy will announce a decision about the future of Veishea by April 2005.
