VEISHEA riots rage in Ames

AMES – An annual rite of passage in Ames known as VEISHEA exploded in riots Tuesday night, sending one to the hospital. Rioters were said to have caused thousands of dollars in property damage, according to multiple reports.

Ames police reported an incident in “Campustown”, an area of bars and student housing adjacent to the Iowa State University campus.

“If you had not already heard, we did have some problems in the Campustown area over night and into Wednesday morning,” an Ames police officer reported.

“We had a disturbance on Welch Avenue where a car was flipped over. This then moved over to Stanton Avenue. A very large group overturned another car and the crowd began throwing things at responding officers, beer cans, rocks, etc. This crowd then moved north on Stanton Avenue to Lincoln Way, west back to Welch and gathered at the clock tower at Welch and Chamberlain. At this time, two light poles were knocked down by the crowd striking one person. He was seriously injured, transported to Mary Greeley Medical Center and subsequently Lifeflighted to Des Moines. We do not know his identity or condition at this time.”

In past years, VEISHEA has had assaults and rowdy behavior. Alcohol has always been blamed for much of the detractive behavior.

One ISU student says Wednesday that “I would hate too see some of the safer activities of VEISHA disappear, but I know alcohol is a large contributing factor too a lot of the more destructive activities. Maybe enforcing a dry VEISHA would help change that.”

A Facebook page dedicated to the VEISHA event mentioned nothing of the riots, and made plans for tonight’s activities.

“Campus Cookout will have a great meal today!” the page reported.

VEISHEA continues all week in Ames, culminating in a parade on Saturday morning to mark the 92nd annual event.