“Today is a painful day for the Baylor Family.”

12 thoughts on ““Today is a painful day for the Baylor Family.””

1. 

   Keith Starr '83

   May 26, 2016 at 6:32 pm

   I quit reading anything about us from the broader mainstream press that loves to call any failing of anything Christian as hypocrisy. The secular media revels in the failings of Christians. This is not limited to Baylor, but runs to the very foundation of our religious founding and Judeo-Christian heritage.

   It is proof of the failure of many to truly understand what it means to be a Christian. Being Christian is not being without failure or fault, or being better than anybody else — being Christian is knowing where to go and where to turn when we do fail — to the only one we know offers forgiveness and salvation. Perfection was attained by a single man, and cannot be attained by others.

   For this reason, as truly saddened and hurt as I am today, I am not thinking about those who made the tough decisions concerning action they felt had to be taken, but rather those who fell short in their own eyes of what they know to be right and wrong. I’m not sure exactly who that might be, but I will say today, I have decided to focus my prayers first on the women who may have been victimized, then to the BU leadership, that they may finally come to realize what really matters at Baylor, and find the balance that we have always had (a regular prayer of mine), but also for Coach Briles, Ken Starr, and others who were adversely affected today by this action.

   To me, on a personal level, this is a very very painful day for my beloved BU, and I pray for her too – that she may learn from this, and become what we always knew she could be.
2. 

   Molly Jones

   May 27, 2016 at 12:16 am

   It is a painful day. As an alumni I don’t feel the consequences were even handed. Fire the Ad and Starr too or retain Briles and sanction him as well. They were all guilty and he is the one taking the fall. Not well done Regents.
3. 

   James Sinclair

   May 27, 2016 at 3:11 pm

   I read with interest, and a lot of sadness, today’s news stories regarding our university. I confess that I was one of those alumni who reveled in the glories of a winning football team, especially after having been involved in the “glory” days of Bill Beall and his strategy of punting on third down to “outsmart” your opponent. But I also lived through the days of Grant Teaff, and the example he set both on and off the field. I had hoped with Art Briles that Baylor would once again be an example in the sporting world of how “nice guys DO finish first.” I can see now that I was deceived…..

   The saddest part of today’s saga is that one of the guilty parties in this sordid affair is merely chastised and shifted to another realm. Ken Starr was a hero of mine by virtue of his dogged determination to pursue truth and honor in his protection of the Presidency of the United States. He brought Baylor to an undreamed of pinnacle of prestige in both sports and academia – but at what cost? Now, he becomes Chancellor of our university — a position where the focus is on “development” (read, “money”) and religious freedoms.

   So, one who condones the very things we abhor is fired, and the other, who helps cover it up and violates both criminal and federal law, is reprimanded and given a position as a full Professor teaching Constitutional Law at Baylor School of Law…….am I missing something here??

   James W. Sinclair, Jr.
   Houston, TX
   BA – Political Science – 1971
   Life Member – Baylor Alumni Association
4. 

   Linda Bunnell

   May 27, 2016 at 6:59 pm

   Those of us who carry Baylor’s name on our resumes and its heritage in our hearts should be the loudest voices asking for the Board of Regents publicly to assure that our alma mater has the new resources and the highly qualified mid-level leadership as well as commitment from those at the highest levels of leadership to ensure that no future Baylor student endures the damage of sexual assault without out full support of the university.

   Linda Bunnell
   ’64
5. 

   Stan Perry

   May 28, 2016 at 1:50 pm

   It is a Biblical truth that if you pursue fame and glory above all else you will be humbled before the Lord. Well, any way you look at the Baylor Football Scandal you see pride, hubris, and pursuit of glory above all else. This is true not just for Coach Briles, his staff, President Starr, and Athletic Director McCaw. It is also true for me and thousands of Baylor fans. I have to confess Baylor football dominated my life from August until December. Everything else in my life – family, work, church, all of it – had to fit around my obsession with Baylor football.

   I now have a painful opportunity to realign my priorities so they are consistent with my professed faith in God through his son, Jesus Christ. Sadly, so does all of Baylor. The question I have is whether our faith is genuine and we are willing to make changes to a football first, with all of the money, fame, and glory it brings, culture. Time will tell.

   Stan Perry
   Houston, TX
6. 

   Don Adams

   May 30, 2016 at 11:30 pm

   When Starr was appointed President, I wrote this publication my objections to that decision. As a special prosecutor he besmirched a President of the United States, spent millions of taxpayer dollars, and proved nothing Clinton could be convicted of nor impeached for.

   What he knew or didn’t know about the shameful conduct of the coach and others in his administration is immaterial. It happened on his watch.

   Starr’s obsession with the football program( and that of many others) is damning of his misplaced priorities. While it appears he is now an empty suit, he should have been fired as well as the coach, the AD, and any other administrator who did not fully investigate the outcries by the young women and take appropriate action.
7. 

   Cheryl Campbell

   May 31, 2016 at 4:01 am

   I am hoping we all pray more than we talk or read or post, not just in these days or weeks, but ongoing. Maybe we have let the enemy into our institution by not praying enough for all involved in all aspects of making it the beacon of hope for our Savior in a fallen world. I know that I have, but I will do better.
8. 

   Mark Mitford

   May 31, 2016 at 11:28 am

   I’m praying for Baylor, its Staff and students. I’m sure that being in Waco it has been a tough week and the ripple effects will continue as Ian McCaw will now leave his position. I’m sure there might be additional fallout in the next few weeks.

   That said, Baylor has been here since 1845 and will continue to stand strong among adversity as it has in the past. I know that myself, other Alumni, my daughters and the other students will continue to support Baylor and its Mission.
9. 

   Thomas Love

   May 31, 2016 at 4:14 pm

   The Baylor University Board of Regents failed Baylor University and the Baylor Nation by NOT flat out firing Ken Starr!

   What were they thinking!!

   The action of the Board of Regents was not a good faith action to clean up the crap within the University’s athletic department. It seems like the BOR took some action to cover their “you know what” but didn’t go far enough to correct the situation that Ken Starr let develop under his lack of leadership tenure.

   Please take the initiative to completely remove Ken Starr from the Baylor University Administration, Faculty, Staff, or whatever other position he may be assigned. Keeping him employed is not in the best interest to Baylor University or the Baylor Nation. If Starr wants to be a lecturer let him go elsewhere else.

   I’m disgusted about the whole situation that was created under Starr’s tenure.

   Thomas D. Love
   Class of 1957
   Baylor Line Association Member
10. 

    Kurt Dorr

    May 31, 2016 at 9:34 pm

    I cannot believe we are back here again just 13 years after the Bliss disgrace. Did we learn nothing? Apparently the answer is clear, we did not.
11. 

    Gwendolyne(Gwen) Byrd

    June 5, 2016 at 5:45 am

    Before ruining more lives, maybe it would be more prudent to ask the required questions and wait for the complete answers before making judgements.
    It is obvious that the Regents did not provide all of the information available on this situation before making decisions that not only embarrassed Baylor University, but also has pitted one against the other.
    I personally believe that since all of the heads of these programs were fired, all of the Regents should also resign so Baylor can heal and start over with a clean slate.
    There is also a question as to “why did Baylor Regents request a Law Firm, not from Texas, to investigate?.” Strange.—
    I definitely sympathize with the young ladies that were assaulted and do expect the University to ALWAYS take appropriate action. I have a Grandaughter attending Baylor this upcoming year and expect that she will be safe on campus.
    The Baylor investigation, along with the police, should have been immediately provided, upon notice, in order to minimized the fallout at Baylor and allow the victim to provide full recall.
    Now, Baylor is in every paper in the US. People are speculating about what really happened, and coming to conclusions that have resulted in ruining people’s reputations without all the facts. THAT IS WRONG!

    Gwen Byrd
    ’64
    Austin, Tx
    Life Member – Baylor Alumni Association
12. 

    Linda Stamps Carswell

    June 5, 2016 at 7:00 pm

    Kenneth Starr’s past & present lack of moral judgement should disqualify him as a person who teaches BU students. Period. His wanton nature should not be held up as acceptable. I do not want to think about what law school students might assume from the University’s allowing him to teach. I am absolutely opposed to allowing him to remain on campus in any capacity.

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