Royal Hanneford Circus should remain on campus
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Bring on the elephants; the circus deserves a second chance.
An 850-signature petition was hand-delivered to MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon Monday by about 20 students from Students Promoting Animal Rights, or SPAR, to ban the Royal Hanneford Circus from performing at Breslin Center on March 12-14.
Simon informed the SPAR protesters a ban on the circus only could be handled by the MSU Board of Trustees. The petition comes two years after SPAR protested the circus in 2008, after video of a Royal Hanneford employee abusing an elephant surfaced.
SPAR was successful, making 2009 the first time in 16 years the circus didn’t perform in Breslin Center. Last year’s petitions prompted MSU officials to re-examine the use of animals in on-campus entertainment, and the university now requires animal entertainers to provide a license from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and have a veterinarian on call.
Although it is understandable SPAR is concerned for animals’ well-being, there is not enough substantial evidence that the Royal Hanneford Circus still is abusing animals.
SPAR already went through the proper steps to bring the circus’ past behavior to the attention of university officials, and MSU responded with new guidelines for animal entertainers, banning the circus for a year while it resolved the issue. With MSU’s request of a USDA license and an on-call veterinarian, the Royal Hanneford Circus is planning to return to campus. With the new policies fulfilled, nothing points to the circus as still abusive to animals. If new information on the abusing of the animals comes out, MSU should ban the circus from campus once again until Royal Hanneford can prove it is a responsible organization with zero likelihood of animal abuse.
MSU implemented its new policies on animal performances, and SPAR was informed enough to know about these changes. Even though it takes time to accumulate 850 signatures, SPAR should have been more vocal sooner — at the very least, more than two weeks before the circus is scheduled.
Caravan Youth Center is the party that has brought the circus to Lansing since 1981, according to its Web site. SPAR reportedly has met with the organization and was unsuccessful in persuading them to discontinue hosting the circus. However, that does not mean Simon should take the brunt of the blame if the circus proceeds. Delivering a petition to Simon’s office might be great for publicity, but it is not the most efficient way for SPAR to achieve its goals. Simon didn’t invite the circus personally and she doesn’t have the power to ban it herself.
In the grand scheme of things, the debate over the circus performance is a matter of ideology. What exactly constitutes animal abuse? Some might see the idea of a circus itself as abuse to all the animals involved, while others might be more concerned with whether or not these animals are undergoing unnecessary stress or suffering. SPAR members have a right to be concerned for animal safety, but they must realize that their ideology might not align with every student at this university.
SPAR can continue to be vocal in its protesting of the circus, but until more evidence of abuse comes out, MSU can stand by its decision.
If the evidence of more animal abuse does come out, then MSU should consider banning the circus for good or pursue a “people-only” circus. That is to say, they should send in the clowns.
Commentary
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Sean Cook
(03/04/10 6:55pm)Report
Oh, guys! Well-intentioned, but mis-informed.
Now, Dan and the rest of you, I realize that you are always the most well-intentioned. However, much as it pains me to do, I have to put it out there that you’re just wrong.
The attempts to ban the circus are not because the Royal Hanneford is the bad apple, or that they hired the bad apple, or got caught in one unfortunate act. The ban petition is because the abuses that occur in elephant training are universal, standard practice. The “changes” that the university made are essentially meaningless. They were presented with a list of things that they could do to ensure that no animals are harmed in the events brought to campus. But the regulations that the board voted on were a minimal number that was basically just so that they could say “we made changes” without making any real waves.
The elephants coming to town next week, or whenever, ARE abused animals. That is 100% factual. That is just how the animals are trained, using sharp-hooked batons. So please, anyone reading this, do not take this column as a free ticket to feel morally okay about supporting the circus. I realize it’s for charity, but would you support dog-fighting for charity? I imagine not. Please just realize what you’re supporting.
I know that it’s Thursday before Spring Break, guys, but for real, I’m so sad that you could sit down and actually think about this issue and decide that it’s okay to support the circus. I realize you’re well-intentioned, but you are very mis-informed.
Sean
circus
(03/04/10 7:39pm)Report
Florida State has their own student circus. If Royal Hanneford gets banned we can always form our own.
Tom
(03/04/10 9:24pm)Report
Most children attend the circus because they love animals, but if they knew what an unnatural and abusive life it was for the animals they probably would not want to support the circus any longer. The animals are chained when they are not performing, whips and bullhooks are used to control them, and they have to travel in tiny trains cars. But aside from all that, these are intelligent sensitive creatures who have their own purpose in life, and it is not to be forced to entertain people. They should be free in their natural habitats, with their families. Elephants have complex communication between their families and friends and they mourn for those who have passed away. Circuses with animals are an outdated pasttime, and they should not continue, as they have been banned in many other cities already.
Kelly
(03/05/10 12:24am)Report
To the people who wrote this editorial…
You are incredibly ignorant. “What constitutes animal abuse?”
You obviously haven’t seen the video of what that monster “trainer” did to those animals. If you did, you would not be parading your ignorance by writing this ridiculous claim that the circus should be returning. Here’s the link to the video, so you can be properly educated on what a clear case of abuse looks like.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6573332075373615887&ei=P5WQS7vkCNyGlge8mZjAAw&q=tim frisco elephant#
DBoude
(03/05/10 2:27am)Report
Are you serious? Even the most uninformed of our society can see that elephants doing tricks and tigers jumping through hoops is abusive.
^ Really?
(03/05/10 8:58am)Report
I’d have to disagree DBoude. It could be but is it when your dog sits, rolls over, etc? No.
As for banning them, you’re in the fringe (but vocal) minority considering that almost 80% of MSU students taking the poll on the State News website want them to perform.
haha
(03/05/10 11:18am)Report
It appears that since you mentioned it to all of them they’re all getting their friends to vote against the circus on the snews poll.
Get something better to do.
Statistics
(03/05/10 11:49am)Report
So, a poll of ~20 people yielding 80% in agreement with is significant, but a 45 person poll with 58% disagreeing with you is not. You can’t really talk about a ‘fringe minority’ with 45 people on a campus of 45,000. This is why God doesn’t talk to us anymore…
I took your comment to heart Sean
(03/05/10 12:14pm)Report
Thanks for informing the readers Sean.
mara-kame
(03/05/10 12:33pm)Report
like i said before…
redneck journalists go to redneck schools, MSU is a redneck school.
mara-kame
(03/05/10 12:34pm)Report
If any of you that enjoy watching animals dress up like humans, and do stupid, infant-like tricks, actually think that animals choose to “join” the circus..you’re wrong. Has anyone seen National Geographic or Animal Planet depict animals in NATURE doing these ludicrous acts—No-b/c it doesn’t happen and animals aren’t willingly putting tutu’s on. Wake up
mara-kame
(03/05/10 12:36pm)Report
There is NOTHING “extreme” about banning animal acts in circuses; what’s “extreme” is that people actually find it acceptable to chain wildlife, beat them into submission, deprive them of all that is natural and provide subpar vet care, so that HUMANS can make a few bucks. And likewise, I guess you would also find the United States Department of Agriculture “extreme” too. THEY are the agency that has cited this circus OVER 20 times for violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
You don’t need to believe SPAR; request a FOIA on it YOURSELF.
@mara-kame
(03/05/10 12:47pm)Report
You and others here have gotten my attention. I never thought about the circus before. I only though about how much I enjoyed it as a child. I will have to take a second look at this and see what I decide once I have sought out more information.
Dumbo
(03/05/10 12:55pm)Report
We don’t need the Royal Hanneford Circus…
We already have the SN editorial CLOWNS.
pirate_king
(03/05/10 6:15pm)Report
mara-kame, yes, I (and my family) enjoy watching animals dress up and do tricks.
God gave man dominion over the animals. He gave us animals for our purposes: to work for us, keep us company, and provide food for our table, as well as to entertain us.
arc
(03/05/10 7:46pm)Report
^nice troll, or at least I desperately hope it is.
pirate_king
(03/05/10 8:48pm)Report
arc, if you are talking to me, I’m not a troll. It’s what I believe.
Sophia
(03/06/10 8:19am)Report
Mara-Kame: Next time you opt to plagarize, please give proper credit to ur posted statments by adding quotations marks around them..since they are actually MY words from the previous State News piece on the issue… Thanks for re-posting on my behalf though?!
John G Hynes, DVM
(03/08/10 11:08am)Report
Abuse of elephants in circuses is as old as the circus itself, but it should no longer be an accepted practice. These majestic animals are deprived of almost all natural behaviors in the captivity of circuses. Many of them are captured in the wild, and traumatized during transport to their new destinations. They are beaten until they perform acts that are not only unnatural, but dangerous for the animals and the trainers. When they are not performing, they spend most of their time chained and/or travelling in boxcars or trailers.
The elephants that are born in captivity are taken from their mothers at very young ages, often with the knowledge of USDA inspectors, and trained for the circus. Although this is a clear violation of the Animal Welfare Act, inspectors frequently look the other way. The USDA violations for neglect, mistreatment, and abuse against circus owners, trainers, and handlers could fill volumes.
Most children do not want to hurt animals, or see them suffer. If children knew the suffering and cruelty that occurs under the Big Top, I would surmise that most of those children would choose not go to an animal circus.
I ask you today to take a first step towards more humane entertainment for the people of your state. Support the ban of the Royal Hanneford Circus on your campus.
John G. Hynes, DVM
USDA Accredited Veterinarian
Chris
(03/08/10 2:22pm)Report
@ Really^
Dogs are domesticated, elepahants and tigers are not.
mara-kame
(03/08/10 3:59pm)Report
pirate king…then you are wrong.
Sophia, I read those on the LSJ and i thought it was a great post…but you are welcome :)
Agreed Chris
(03/09/10 12:38am)Report
Hence their formal name: Domestic Dog. They are able to be trained with relative ease— positive reinforcement, not whips or withholding food.
Tigers and elephants don’t get it, they’re wild animals.
Gary
(03/09/10 8:25am)Report
So called “evidence” against the circus alleging animal abuse is often bought and paid for propaganda. Don’t take my word for it. Check the results of the 2009 Federal trial. The judge considered only evidence – the fact was that the animal extremists groups had PAID people to testify. Professional liers. NOW – in 2010, the circus has filed a lawsuit aginst 12 defendants -charged with rackateering, bribery, and money laundering. Most circus animal handlers love and care for their animals as family members. To allege that a circus would, across the board, abuse it’s most valuable assets defies common sense and logic. Do NOT allow the animal extremist businesses who collect “donations” running into the $$Millions$$ to mis-lead you! Enjoy the circus and it’s animals!
Adam
(03/09/10 9:35am)Report
pirate_king: You must live in a sheltered world, God is like Santa Clause, sorry to burst your bubble. I hope this doesn’t ruin the circus for you and your 17 siblings.
Gary
(03/09/10 11:05am)Report
To Mara-kame:
To “cite” and to “prove” are two different things. Animal extremists “allege (cite)” much and “prove” very little. You must be very disappointed with the recent decision of the federal judge who can only use facts and must dismiss hearsay.
Long live the circus and performing animals!