KCCI.com, IA
04-20-07
Safety Is Priority For VEISHEA Weekend
On-Campus Activities Offer Alcohol-Free Alternative
AMES, Iowa -- The annual VEISHEA celebration kicks into high gear Saturday
on the Iowa State University campus.
The annual VEISHEA event at ISU was named in 1922 and is an acronym made
up of the first letters of the colleges at ISU at that time -- Veterinary Medicine,
Engineering, Industrial Science, Home Economics and Agriculture.
The death of 19-year-old Abel Bolanos is still fresh in the minds of Iowa State
students and while they still plan to have a good time this weekend, they are
thinking twice about safety.
There's still a lot of painting and welding to do before this float will be ready for
the annual VEISHEA parade.
It's one of the many VEISHEA traditions students are looking forward to, but they
expect this year's celebration to have a different feel.
"It'll be in the back of everyone's mind. People try to be a lot more responsible
while they're out partying, having a good time for VEISHEA," said ISU student
Jared Mortenson.
That thought in the back of everyone's mind will be the tragic death of Abel
Bolanos.
Police said the ISU sophomore drowned in Lake LaVerne shortly after leaving a
party where he had been drinking with friends.
"We have had a very tragic situation recently. We certainly don't want to see any
aspect of that repeated by anyone so we want people to be safe and prudent in
their choice," said ISU Police Cmdr. Gene Deisinger.
Deisinger said safety is always a priority whether it's VEISHEA or any other
weekend.
He said the Party Patrol is a good example of how ISU officers and Ames police
are working with students to keep them safe.
"(It's) all designed to help them be aware of what expectations are, help them
prepare to have a great, safe and legal party," Deisinger said.
More on-campus concerts and activities aim to give students more alcohol-free
alternatives during the VEISHEA weekend.
But students said it's something that's never going to go away.
"Drinking at a college or university is going to happen no matter what. It's one of
those things that college students do," said ISU student Alex Sutherland.
Students said the whole situation has made them more aware about safety and
making sure no one gets left behind or takes off on their own when they have
been drinking.
"You can't stop it, but you can make it more safe for everyone," he said.