Iowa State University students are already trying to organize a replacement for VEISHEA, an annual week-long event known for excessive partying.
VEISEHA was declared dead last week by ISU President Steven Leath. The decision came after a task force unanimously proposed ending the annual celebration and scrapping use of the name for any possible replacement events. The task force was formed following the third riot in two decades during VEISHEA.
Since VEISHEA was officially alcohol-free, but largely known and celebrated as an excuse to party all week, there theoretically isn't anything stopping students from continuing a week of debachery except the ability to settle on when it would take place. VEISHEA, an acronym for the original colleges of the university, featured official events like concerts, parades and food fairs.
But it also played host to hundreds of arrests, a murder, multiple injuries, in some rare cases resulting in death.
A small promotion company is trying to lay claim to which week a VEISHEA replacement would take place, posting a Facebook event for what they're calling "WEISHEA."
Other Facebook groups and events are popping up as well:
VEISHEA frequently moved around on the calendar to fit with the semester scheduling, the best chance for opportune weather -- or, in some years, colder conditions to avoid too much partying -- and to avoid conflicts with other major events in the state.
Leath said last week he would work with various groups on campus for which events may continue, but didn't offer which ones that would be. University spokesman John McCarroll told HuffPost that since Leath's decision was only announced four days ago, there aren't any plans in place for any events.
McCarroll pointed to Leath's statement noting that work with student groups will take some time.
"What I don't want to do is set an arbitrary timeline that will dictate the assessment of future activities and events," Leath said last week. "We still want to be able to showcase the wonderful things taking places in our colleges. But we’re going to take a very thoughtful approach to this as we decide how to move forward to ensure student safety."