Tuesday 4/18/2000

Circus animal care prompts protesters

By Virginia You
Staff Writer

Willie Karashin/Exponent Photographer A student activist for animal rights protests a circus held at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds Monday evening.

Monday night at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, Students In Defense of Animals protested silently against Circus Pages and what they believe to be cruelty against animals. They had signs expressing such protests as "Stop animal abuse," " … boycott the circus" and pictures of a chained elephant.

"I'm here because I'm an ecology major and I believe that animals are supposed to be in the wild, not here," said Barbara Clucas, a sophomore in the School of Science. "Animals shouldn't be in a circus, even if they are taken care of. Keeping them in cages just disgusts me."

The protesters didn't disgust any of the circus-goers, although they did catch most of the circus-goers' attention. A humvee, a truck and a few cars even honked in support as they drove by the protesters.

Not everybody who was present supported the protesters. Workers of the Circus Pages defended their positions by saying that their animals are treated better than others are.

"Everybody is entitled to their own opinions," said Jeanette Pevey, who travels with the Circus Pages. "In Africa, people are hunting and killing elephants for their ivory. Also, there are pet owners who shouldn't have animals because I saw a dog that was sitting in a car with the windows rolled up."

But Students in Defense of Animals argues that it is wrong to treat animals harshly.

"It's clearly not OK when animals are not fed properly or given water," said Kara Beaver, president of Students In Defense of Animals and a sophomore in the school of Liberal Arts. "There were no veterinary records for these animals in the past year."

The cruelty to animals is what motivates the protesters to continue.

"Circuses with animal acts are extremely cruel," said Beaver. "The only way that the animals are able to perform those tricks are through fear and punishment by their trainers with whips, electric prods, muzzles and bullhooks."

"I have a love for animals and since animals can't speak out for themselves, I decided to speak out for them," said Sandi Dicken, a Lafayette resident who has been an animal lover since she graduated from high school in 1980. "I know that children ask their parents what we're doing and the parents will have to answer it."