We, the undersigned, petition the University of Illinois to ban circuses that use animals and similar animal acts from university property. Animal trainers regularly inflict pain upon animals, because the fear of punishment is the most effective tool in training them to perform unnatural stunts. Bullhooks, beatings, electric prods, paw-burning, and choking are all used as training methods. Furthermore, circus animals are kept confined by chains or small cages for most of their lives and often develop neurotic behavior due to lack of exercise and socialization. Several circuses use only human performers, and the imagination, talent, and artistry exhibited in these performances would be of much greater benefit to our community and its children than acts that feature the domination of animals.

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