EAST LANSING – Citing safety concerns, Michigan State University officials have decided that people who wear the Sparty mascot costume can no longer participate in parades.

Emily Guerrant, an MSU spokesperson, confirmed the new policy Wednesday in an email to the State Journal.

"The MSU Alumni Office has decided that as of May 1, 2019 Sparty will no longer be able to participate in parades," Guerrant said. "This decision was made due to health concerns for Sparty and his team.

"Participating in parades increases the risk of heat stroke and health related concerns regardless of temperature and duration. It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of Sparty and his team."

Responding to follow up questions in a telephone interview, Guerrant said the policy is "still in development" and expected to be reevaluated later this year.

Guerrant said there have been no near-death experiences for students who have worn the Sparty mascot suit at parades, but there were some concerns students have "pushed themselves too hard" in hot weather.

Homecoming appears safe

Sparty still is expected to participate in MSU's annual Homecoming Parade in East Lansing each fall unless the weather conditions pose health risks.

Other special events on or near campus also remain a possibility.

For example, if the MSU men's basketball team wins a national championship and has a parade next season, Sparty would most likely have a presence, Guerrant said.

"If they did that and we had a parade right away in April, I think there would be a strong chance of seeing Sparty," Guerrant said.

In 2000, coach Tom Izzo's team won a title and participated in a parade with Sparty that ran from downtown Lansing to downtown East Lansing.

Football status quo

Sparty still is expected to appear at home football games and some road contests.

Students appearing as Sparty don't wear the costume for the entire game and take breaks.

Harrison Halley, 24, of Novi, graduated from MSU in 2017 and wore the costume for two years.

Halley said he'd be disappointed if he was still a Sparty and told by MSU officials he could no longer participate in parades.

"For me, doing parades wasn't much different than other events," Halley said. "Yeah, they were hot. Yeah, they were long.

"But as long as you took care of yourself and were hydrated, they were doable."

Cherry Festival void

Sparty has appeared at Traverse City's National Cherry Festival for at least 25 years. This year's event takes place June 29 to July 6.

Kat Paye, the festival's executive director, said she respects MSU's decision. In fact, festival organizers pulled the Super Cherry mascot out of their own parade last year due to hot weather.

"For mascots far and wide, we understand that July is not the most opportune time to visit us," Paye said.

MSU alumni in Traverse City also are bummed out by the news.

Art Bukowski, a 2004 graduate, serves as vice president of the Grand Traverse Area Spartans. The group has a mailing list of "several thousand" and 15 board members, he said.

“Sparty has been a fan favorite here for many, many years," Bukowski said. "We're very disappointed that he won't be up here.

"But we completely understand the reasoning behind this decision, and the health of the students has to be first and foremost.”

Mascot's history dates to 1950s

There is not a lot of documentation of the early Sparty, but his beginnings can be traced back to a papier-mache head that debuted in the early 1950s.

It was made by Theta Xi fraternity brothers Don Bauer, Donald Pais and Kenneth Roberts, according to the MSU Association of Future Alumni website.

The head was six feet tall and weighed more than 60 pounds.

Eric Lacy is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at 517-377-1206 or elacy@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricLacy.

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