Michigan State University mascot "Sparty" appeared among seven other collegiate mascots in Anheuser-Busch, Inc. commercials during the NCAA women's and men's basketball tournaments. Michigan State's choice to include Sparty in this advertising campaign is incongruous with its efforts to quell alcoholism on its campus; combining a highly recognizable school mascot with beer tacitly promotes drinking from the same source that tries to discourage it.

Moderate underage weekend intoxication aside, alcoholism is a huge problem on college campuses. Like many other universities, Michigan State conducts a campus-wide campaign about alcohol consumption. Entering into a partnership with Anheuser-Busch associates Michigan State with the beer company.

Alcohol companies are required by law to have a percentage of their advertisements include a sentence or two about drinking responsibly. It is unlikely that Anheuser-Busch or any other company would advice consumers to consume less of its product; this conflict of interest often produces ads which glorify drinking, giving no nod to responsibility until a few rushed words at the end.

Instead, responsible drinking ads are far more likely to be sponsored by a public health organization or some other source that is not directly related to the beer company. Regardless of the ad's purpose, Michigan State is sending a mixed message to its students and is only perpetuating its party school image.

There is nothing wrong with universities entering into legal contracts with companies under the correct circumstances; this happens frequently, particularly in relation to collegiate athletics. At the University, for example, all athletic apparel worn by athletes has the Nike swoosh and all sporting events sell Pepsi products.

But this type of advertising is different from that which Michigan State embarked upon when partnering with a beer company.

The University's advertisements for athletics are the result of the University going out and seeking sponsorship. The money made from the advertisements is used to fund specific things, such as football programs distributed at games. MSU has sold (or rather, rented) its mascot and its name to Anheuser-Busch, which has in turn capitalized on the recognizability and appeal of Sparty.

There is no excuse for using a school mascot to advertise alcohol, especially on a campus where alcohol abuse is so prevalent. If MSU needs the money so badly, there are other, more responsible ways to raise it.

And if MSU insists on on promoting a beer company, it could at least have picked a better beer.