THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2006
Maine West Axes Donkey Basketball Game
Maine West High School scratched its donkey basketball game fundraiser scheduled for Saturday due to concerns from organizations and community members.
"There were concerns about the use of animals," said Dr. Audrey Haugan, principal of the school. Groups such as the Humane Society and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) contacted the school about the proposed game. Haugan said parents and students were also worried about using the donkeys.
The school decided, "This is not going to be the fundraiser we thought it would be," Haugan explained, and cancelled the event.
The donkey basketball game was a fundraiser for the athletic booster club and the student council. Haugan said the school held a similar event in the past.
"We had pictures from 1979," she said. "We learned that some schools were bringing it back, it was reasonably priced, and it was wildly successful back when we did it 20 years ago."
The school planned to hold the event in a gymnasium. The donkeys wear rubber shoes so there is no damage to the floor. "The company assures us the animals are not mistreated," Haugan added.
The school hoped to field at least six teams of students and at least one faculty team and conduct a tournament. "There was not a great deal of interest from faculty members or students," Haugan said. There were barely enough entries for one team.
After canceling the event, administrators tried to come up with a replacement, but could not on short notice. Haugan expected the fundraiser to gather about $500 for the organizations. The school will try another type of event in the fall.