Since 1922, when VEISHEA began at Iowa State University, it has done an excellent job of displaying the qualities and talents of Iowa State and its student population. It has helped to bring students, the alumni, and the community of Ames together. Over the years it has grown from humble beginnings to a nationally recognized celebration, complete with parades, athletics, food and displays. VEISHEA has many traditions and one of the latest, most popular traditions is a series of concerts provided by the VEISHEA executive board and entertainment committee for free. In recent years these great concerts by popular artists have drawn huge crowds of people from the student body, Iowa State alumni, and the Ames and greater Iowa community. Many of the students and alumni greatly enjoy the free concerts where they can have a good time with friends and listen to great music surrounded by the beautiful Iowa State campus. Some alumni have remarked that the concerts are part of what keeps them coming back to VEISHEA year after year. We, the undersigned, are very unhappy with the decision to close off the concerts for VEISHEA 2008 from the general public and with the decision to move them away from the beautiful buildings and scenery of central campus this year. We feel that by offering a limited number of passes to the concert events this year for a token fee, that Iowa State is removing from campus much of the allure of the VEISHEA celebration for both students and the attendees that come from across the nation to come to or come back to Iowa State for VEISHEA. Security and crowd control issues must be addressed, but we feel that the chosen method to control the event will only result in greater unrest for those unable to be one of the 7,000 allowed attendees. We ask the VEISHEA committee and Iowa State administration to please review your actions on this issue and to take steps to keep VEISHEA as open and friendly an event as possible this year and in the years to come. We feel that this unrestricted access to ALL parts of VEISHEA for the general public can be accomplished while still providing safety for participants and that admittance to concerts should not be limited to only persons who are able to obtain wristbands. Note to people signing this petition: I will remove those that enter unconstructive or profane comments on this petition. Be warned, you will not have a second chance to sign it.

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