New Iowa AD should end live raptor display at games

Though my husband and I watch from home, our enthusiasm matches that of the fans spellbound in Carver-Hawkeye Arena during Iowa women's basketball games. During the recent Wisconsin game, when our spirits had been boosted by the ever-expanding lead of the Hawkeyes over the Badgers, the camera suddenly cut away from the court to a close-up of someone attending the game against his/her own will. A live raptor. My heart sank. What is the thinking behind subjecting a wild bird to an environment that could not be any less like its natural habitat? The roar of the crowd, the periodic buzzers, the multicolored flashing lights — these elements make for a joyous experience for the fans packed into a sold-out arena and for the thousands watching from home. But for the lone raptor? A different story.

No amount of training or time in captivity can prepare a sentient creature from the wild for such a sensory overload. What elevates us — the tidal wave of cheers, chants, and dynamic music — can be excruciating for these birds. What is on view is not a respect for these majestic beings but a disregard, however innocent or well-meaning, for their nature, inflicting pain to entertain.

As Beth Goetz embraces her new role as permanent Athletic Director at the University of Iowa, I hope she will bring this practice to a close at Carver-Hawkeye, at Kinnick, anywhere our athletes engage in competitions, exhibitions, or promotional events.

Corbin Sexton

Iowa City