Present: Sean Ogrady, Drew Winter, Sean Cook, Beth Rhodes, Nina Gucciardo, Mitch Goldsmith, Maggie (new member, yay!)
-Mitch discussed appealing his FOIA situation, in which the University labs did not provide all the necessary documents requested in Mitch’s FOIA submission. The appeal, Mitch was told, must go through President Simon’s office, and Simon will be traveling until mid-April. The national ACLU said they would not help, but Mitch will attempt to get in touch with local ACLU affiliates.
As a result, Mitch suggested we start a campaign at some point demanding university transparency, in which we could ally with other campus groups who have been denied access to university records, etc. Among the ideas for a rally were wearing blindfolds in public to demonstrate our inability to see the university’s work.
-The site will soon have Circus Rally info.
-Sean will call the MSUPD to inquire about forms for the protest, although Beth said a police officer she knows said no forms are technically required.
-Drew will obtain the name of the police officer who came to the first Breslin meeting to discuss further details about the circus protest.
-Mitch reinforced the importance of calling friends and asking them directly to help by protesting with us.
-All Species Kinship (ASK) voiced opposition to SPAR’s circus demonstration through Nina, saying that it would be negative attention that would detract from the cause. SPAR members agreed universally that the protest should continue, and emphasized the importance of positive, non-aggressive protesting.
-Sean O’grady said buttons should be available, and will order more with different slogans. Drew volunteered to pay for extra and hand them out, and buttons will also be passed out at the circus prep rally.
-Mitch made an etiquette form to be reviewed and revised on the circus event page. It can be viewed at
-Drew asked if anyone else (in addition to himself, Dani S, Marla Greanya, and Sasha Fawaz). No one else was interested, instead saying they’d prefer to spend the day protesting the circus.
-Mitch explained that the City of East Lansing has no jurisdiction on the MSU campus, so the East Lansing laws do not apply to MSU, thus the Board of Trustees are the next place to go for change and regulations on circuses.
-Drew advertised the vegan goods now available at ERC: Zucchini bread, banana muffins, and soy whip! (Try a regular/iced coffee with a shot of hazelnut, soy milk, and some soy whip, delish!)
SPAR and other demonstrators prepared for the event with a poster-making party, producing signs, handing out etiquette sheets, and attempting to color inside the lines.
