Herky and Cy less likely to attend political events

IOWA CITY - People who invite Herky or Cy to political events will face more scrutiny under new university mascot appearance criteria.

Iowa State University has changed its mascot appearance application to find out if events are political, and the University of Iowa Spirit Squad is working on updated criteria after the schools were criticized last year for allowing mascots to appear at U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst's Roast and Ride, a fundraiser featuring Republican presidential candidates.

'Is your event affiliated with any political action committees and/or does it feature an appearance by a political figure or raise funds for individuals running for public office?” reads the new question on ISU's mascot appearance application.

If an applicant answers yes, ISU Athletics is to get more details and discuss the request with campus officials that could include people in communications or government relations, said Steve Malchow, ISU senior associate athletic director for communications.

'No one has answered in the affirmative since we added the new question to our form,” he said.

The UI Spirit Squad, which includes cheerleaders, dance team members and mascots, plans to provide updated criteria for appearances when rolling out a new website, said UI Spokeswoman Jeneane Beck.

'We will be adding a very similar question to the one ISU is adding,” Beck said. 'The three universities worked together on common language - we are just waiting until the new website launches to make the addition.”

She did not know when the new website is to be done.

Beck said last year the UI erred sending Herky to Ernst's Roast and Ride June 6 in Boone.

'The Spirit Squad did not understand this was a partisan event,” Beck said last year. 'It was a mistake. We'll need to look at these things more carefully in the future.”

The Jobs, Opportunity and New Ideas PAC, or jonipac, organized the event that started with a motorcycle ride from the Des Moines Harley-Davidson dealership to a barbecue in Boone.

Harbinger LLC, a Washington, D.C., public relations firm, paid the UI Spirit Squad $250, plus about $140 for mileage, for Herky to appear for one hour at the event, which included a roast of U.S. President Barack Obama and other Democrats by seven GOP hopefuls - Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, retired physician Ben Carson, former CEO Carly Fiorina and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Harbinger paid ISU $200 for Cy's appearance at the Roast and Ride. About 1,500 people attended the event, which cost $30 for adults.

ISU's Spirit Squad also changed appearance charges. The group that includes Cy, cheerleaders and the dance team plan to do one free appearance per year for non-profit organizations within 50 miles of Ames. General public appearances cost $200 an hour for up to two hours, while campus groups pay $100 an hour for up to two hours. Hosts are to pay mileage for events outside of Ames.

Cy has appeared at about 175 non-athletics events over the last year, squad coordinator Kelli Baker said.