06-03-04

Contacts:

Bob Kindred, City of Ames, (515) 239-5101

Laura Bestler-Wilcox, Dean of Students Office, (515) 294-1023

William Rock, Government of the Student Body, (515) 294-9662

Annette Hacker, News Service, (515) 294-3720

University-community commission to explore problems, seek solutions

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy, Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco and Government of the Student Body President Sophia Magill have announced a new commission resulting from the April 18 Veishea disturbances.

The "Commission on Improving Relations Among ISU Students, the University, the City of Ames and the Ames Community" has 22 members. It will be co-chaired by Bob Kindred, Ames assistant city manager; Laura Bestler-Wilcox, assistant director, ISU Student Activities Center; and William Rock, Government of the Student Body vice president.

The commission's focus will be separate and different than that of the celebration-oriented Veishea task force. The task force, announced on May 12, held its first meeting last week and ultimately will develop recommendations to minimize the likelihood of future disturbances. The commission will more broadly examine the sense of community among Ames residents, the City of Ames, the university and ISU students, and will develop recommendations to improve those relationships.

Both the commission and the task force will provide their reports to President Geoffroy by Nov. 30. The commission's work may continue beyond that date, Geoffroy said, because strengthening and growing the town-gown relationship will always be a need.

"Ames and Iowa State University have long enjoyed a very positive and mutually beneficial relationship. It's one of the hallmarks of this community. But we also know there are aspects of the relationship that we need to work on -- especially those involving ISU students. We can't be complacent about that. The commission will help us identify and provide recommendations for those areas that need improvement. Our community will become better and stronger as a result," Geoffroy said.

In addition to Kindred, Bestler-Wilcox and Rock, other commission members include:

• Ann Campbell, former Ames city councilwoman
• Chuck Cychosz, support services manager, City of Ames Police Department
• Eugene Deisinger, captain, Special Operations unit, Iowa State University Police
• Joyce Durlam, co-owner, Durlam and Durlam
• Rachel Geilenfeld, ISU student
• Doug Gentile, ISU assistant professor of psychology
• Cara Harris, ISU student
• Tahira Hira, ISU assistant to the president for external relations and executive administration
• Richard Horton, ISU professor of electrical engineering
• Patrick Hultman, ISU student
• Anne Kinzel, Ames resident
• Drew Larson, president, ISU Inter Residence Hall Association
• Tom Northrop, co-owner, Pizza Pit
• Joel Paulsen, Ames resident and rental property owner
• Richard Reynolds, director, ISU Memorial Union
• Dan Rice, academic advisor, ISU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• David Romero, ISU student
• Leigh Thiedeman, ISU student and president, Collegiate Panhellenic Council
• Andrew Tugan, ISU student and Government of the Student Body liaison to the Ames City Council

On April 27, Geoffroy suspended Veishea 2005 so that it can be redesigned and strengthened for the future. He'll decide whether the event will continue in 2006 after reviewing recommendations from the commission and task force.

The commission will hold its first public meeting from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on June 10, Campanile Room, Iowa State University Memorial Union.

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Veishea Task Force Members Announced