This year’s Veishea celebration at Iowa State University has been cut short following overnight violence in Ames.
That’s the decision from Iowa State University President Steven Leath, after students and others flipped over cars and threw rocks and beer cans at police in Campustown. One student was badly injured when a light pole was knocked over on top of him.
In past years, violence during Veishea was blamed on non-students. But, Leath said it appears ISU students were primarily at fault. Leath said he’ll appoint a task force this week to help determine if Veishea will carry on in future years.
Veishea has been marred by violence and riots many times. In 1997, a young man was stabbed to death in a fight outside a fraternity house. Riots in 2004 led then-ISU President Greg Geoffroy to suspend Veishea in 2005. A decision on whether or not Veishea will be held in future years will come within a couple months.
The name of the student who was injured in the rioting early yesterday (Wednesday) morning is not being released, but Leath said the male student is conscious and in stable condition at a Des Moines hospital.
