The past week / weekend should have been a fun time on the campus of Iowa State University. It should have been the 90-something-th edition of VEISHEA. But that was postponed last year, indirectly due to a riot, but directly due to an out-of touch university president.
Last summer that president, Steven Leath, put a permanent end to VEISHEA Of course, he did this after getting that recommendation from his hand-picked task force. An absolute joke.
What was this task force going to do, make a recommendation contrary to what the president and his cronies wanted? Leath had already played judge and jury to cancel last year's VEISHEA shortly after the riot, but well before enough time had passed to collect the facts about what happened.
He acted impulsively and dictatorially, claiming student safety was at risk, and ruining work and plans that were many months in the making. He isn't going to admit now that he was wrong about his actions.
But in truth, those actions haven't made Iowa State students, or Ames, Iowa, a safer place. Suppressing the organized fun and freedom of people doesn't engender trust and safety -- it makes those people bitter and angry, and makes them dislike you. Worst case scenario, it manifests into something chaotic and violent.
Fortunately for ISU / Ames, that manifestation didn't happen this year, and maybe it won't ever. Unfortunately for Leath, the same can't be said for how much he's disliked on campus.
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