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NEWS RELEASE

04-04-03

Contacts:
Hannah Dobbs, Veishea, (515) 292-6233, ext. 5119
Merry Cooper, Veishea, (515) 292-3974, ext. 5207
Annette Hacker, News Service, (515) 294-3720

VEISHEA RETURNS TO ITS ROOTS WITH 'IOWA STATE ON DISPLAY,' APRIL 11-13

AMES, Iowa -- Veishea, the largest student-run, alcohol-free celebration in the nation, will kick off its 81st year with appearances from two Iowa State University legends.

Opening ceremonies highlight one great athlete, one great fan
Cael Sanderson will provide the keynote address at Veishea opening ceremonies, set for 12:15 p.m. Friday, April 11, south of the campanile. Sanderson is the four-time NCAA wrestling champion who completed his ISU career with an unprecedented 159-0 record.

The face that's graced the Wheaties box will share his Iowa State experience with current students. Sanderson graduated from Iowa State in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in art and design.

Bill Yungclas earned his master's degree at Iowa State and spent 30 years in the university's admissions office. Now retired, the hooting and hollering "Wild Bill" is affectionately regarded as one of the Cyclones' most ardent fans -- especially when it comes to women's basketball. He will join President Gregory Geoffroy and Vice President for Student Affairs Tom Hill in addressing the ISU student body at Friday's opening ceremonies.

2003 theme is a blast from the past
This year's Veishea theme, "Iowa State on Display," has been borrowed from the very first Veishea celebration held in 1922. The five colleges at then-Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts combined to present the university to the public as a whole. The name Veishea was composed from the first letters of each of the five colleges: (V)eterinary Medicine, (E)ngineering, (I)ndustrial (S)cience, (H)ome (E)conomics and (A)griculture.

Today's Veishea celebration holds fast to some of its most cherished traditions while introducing some new events.

Presidential suites
Friday marks the return of Iowa State's 12th president for the official naming ceremony of Gordon P. Eaton Hall at 3:30 p.m. Refreshments and building tours will follow the outdoor ceremony. (Rain location is 1132 Eaton Hall).

Eaton Hall, formerly Union Drive Suite 1, opened its doors to student residents last semester. It is located directly south of State Gym on the former site of Clyde Williams Field. More than 300 students occupy suites in the spacious, 86,000-square foot building.

Eaton served as president of Iowa State University from 1986 to 1990. He will serve as grand marshal of Saturday's Veishea parade.

Favorite Friday Events
Taste of Veishea, featuring food vendors and games, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, Welch Avenue, Campustown. The annual "Battle of the Bands" competition begins there at 2 p.m. Friday and continues until midnight.

Comedians Jim Breuer and Bobby Lee will headline Veishea's "Dew the Rec" on Friday night, April 11. At 8:15 p.m., an opening act -- winner of the "Veishea Says I'm Funny" student comedy competition -- will take the stage, followed by Lee at 9 p.m. and Breuer's stand-up at 10.

Breuer is best known for his original Goat Boy character on "Saturday Night Live." Lee is quickly establishing himself as one of the up-and-coming comics to watch. He's a regular on "Mad TV" and has toured with Pauly Shore, Andrew Dice Clay and Carlos Mencia. Tickets for "Dew the Rec," available through the Iowa State Center ticket office and the Memorial Union ticket office, are $8 for students, $12 for the public and $15 day of show. Purchasing guidelines apply; visit www.veishea.org for details.

Stars Over Veishea
Upholding 80 years of tradition, Stars Over Veishea and ISU Theater present Brigadoon at Stephens Auditorium. The musical focuses on the Scottish village of Brigadoon, which awakens only one day every 100 years.

Performances are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday; 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and the Iowa State Center.

Saturday, April 12: Pancakes on Parade
The annual Veishea pancake breakfast will be held from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. south of the campanile. The cost is $5. Hold on to your plate -- pancake flippers from Chris Cakes will travel the Veishea parade route by cart, offering second and third helpings.

A benefit silent auction will be held on central campus from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Veishea Scholarship Fund for high school seniors.

The Veishea parade's elaborate floats and festive bands will begin their route through campus at 10:40 a.m. on Saturday. KDSM (FOX 17) will broadcast the parade from 2 to 4 pm. Saturday afternoon.

Just desserts
Veishea's traditional cherry pies will be on sale ($1 each) beginning Friday at 9:30 a.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. in MacKay Hall, while supplies last. More than 8,000 cherry pies are sold during Veishea weekend.

Other Veishea 2003 highlights include:

Veishea Village: Open houses on the Iowa State campus, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cultural Festival and Village Square Stage, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., west of Curtiss Hall.
College of Veterinary Medicine facility tours and events, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Veterinary Medicine building and grounds.
Petting zoo with goat, rabbits and other animals, Room 1010
Raptor presentations, Wildlife Care Clinic
Arson-sniffing dog demonstration (outdoors, weather permitting)
Exhibit booths, Room 2226
International Food Fair, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Memorial Union Great Hall. Various international student groups will sell food native to their countries.
Cy's Big Top, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., north of the campanile. More than 20 student organizations, including Iowa State's chapter of the Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children and the Council for Exceptional Children, are hosting Cy's Big Top. Kids can enjoy a carnival, games and entertainment.
The Veishea Golf Classic, Sunday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Veenker Memorial Golf Course.

Veishea closing ceremonies are at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Memorial Union Sun Room. For more information, contact the Veishea office, (515) 294-1026; www.veishea.org.

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