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.