Humans have had a rocky relationship with animals. With Charles Darwin’s “survival of the fittest” mentality in mind, we pave streets through the forests, dump toxic waste in the oceans and pollute the air with smog from factories. For centuries, there’s been a delicate balance with animals, and most times, humans are the ones that come out on top.
Like a lecture from an eighth grade ecology class, these arguments’ repetitive nature often fall on deaf ears. Admittedly, Darwin had a point. For example, it’s hard to take a stance against testing potentially life-saving medication on animals when a loved one is stricken with disease. But there have to be limits to our mistreatment of them.
When Northeastern was presented by the city to host Atlanta-based UniverSoul Circus on school grounds, it should’ve done its homework first. Given circuses’ long history of animal abuse, the university’s first instinct before allowing them to pitch tents in Columbus Lot, should’ve been to do some digging into their past.
If they had done so, they would’ve made quite a discovery. UniverSoul’s grievances against animal rights have been extensive. It’s faced multiple violations from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), as recently as last June, when it was cited for not appropriately cleaning the spaces where its animals lived. In 2005, there was a videotape of a UniverSoul employee beating elephants with bullhooks and shocking them with electric prods. In 2003, the USDA investigated UniverSoul after a kangaroo died while being forced into a harness and taunted into defending himself against another kangaroo during a boxing match.
For UniverSoul, these abuses seem common. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have documented animal rights violations with UniverSoul as far back as 1997. Of course, UniverSoul is not the first circus to be investigated for animal abuse. According to the PETA website, more than 30 other circus groups have been cited by the USDA.
But UniverSoul’s violations are more egregious than most of the others listed. And PETA even alleges that some of the exhibitors have rap sheets. However, UniverSoul stands behind its organization. In an article in today’s issue of The News, they maintained that animal rights is a priority. “The UniverSoul Circus’ position on animal rights is clear,” said Cedric Walker, president and founder of the circus, in the statement. “We are strongly opposed to any form of cruelty or mistreatment of animals, wild or domestic.”
Yet the facts don’t support their claim.
The university started with a noble intent. They wanted to host an event to improve strained community relations. Any effort to appease tension is important. But Northeastern should’ve launched their own investigation of the circus before it allowed them to use campus facilities to promote their organization. With a quick Google search of “UniverSoul,” you can view the violations straight from the PETA website.
Even with the best intentions, the university should’ve opted for a different type of community outreach. Perhaps allowing an organization that has been repeatedly cited by the USDA and hires exhibitors with rap sheets wasn’t the most thoughtful execution of their plan.
