Baylor student disciplined for gay rights rally

[PfcHammer]

http://www.dailysentinel.com/hp/content/gen/ap/TX_Baylor_Gay_Student.html

Baylor student disciplined for gay rights rally

By ANGELA K. BROWN
Associated Press Writer

WACO, Texas — A Baylor University student who organized an off-campus gay rights rally graduated Saturday, but he says he doubts he would have received his diploma if he had not admitted violating the Baptist school's conduct code.

Darrin Adams, 22, found out last month that Baylor was charging him with misconduct for organizing the March rally in downtown Waco. A letter from an administrator said the event was "part of an advocacy group that promotes understandings of sexuality that are contrary" to biblical teachings, Baptist beliefs and Baylor's Christian mission.

Punishment for misconduct — which includes drinking, gambling, premarital sex, cohabitation, homosexuality and using weapons — ranges from a reprimand to expulsion, according to Baylor's student handbook.

Adams, who is gay, said the administrator told him if he signed a document admitting wrongdoing, his punishment would simply be a written warning. Otherwise, Adams said, he was told he would go through the university's disciplinary process, in which a committee of faculty and students would decide his penalty.

<chop>

[0007]

1. I wonder what Baylor thinks of their... Gov'nor

Captain Goodhair? LOL!!

[jmowreader]

2. I can't figure this out

Not why Baylor disciplined this guy for organizing a gay rights rally.

But why someone gay would go to Baylor in the first place.

A gay's entire existence is an affront to the Baylor culture, and there are many universities that are just as good as Baylor, that teach the exact same things Baylor does, that don't operate on the principle of intolerance.

Baylor won't change and gays can't, so gays should attend a good liberal university.

[Lisa0825]

5. I went to Baylor (Class of '90)

I'm straight, and I also hadn't really thought much about gay rights back then. I had already rebelled against my parents as far as racist comments and such, but you oculd still find me making jokes about the guys who were "different." Interestingly enough, a pretty good female friend of mine was deeply in the closet back then, and came out to me about 3 years ago. Anyway... yes, I went to Baylor. I wasn't involved in politics or social issues back then, and if I had to do it all over, I would have gone somewhere else.

However, rumor was that there was a pretty sizeable gay population at Baylor, and that the third floor of the library was the place to be to meet up. But that could have been just a story... who knows.

I have been pleased to read about the actions of some students lately, as far as publishing articles and standing up to the school administration. But I have been very disappointed in the administration. I don't know if I even should be... after all, the school's roots ARE in the Baptist church, so it will never be what I want it to be. I guess it's just a little sad that I feel like I can no longer be proud of where I went to school, like I was before I "grew up."

[bluestateguy]

3. Ah, the Red states!

and that's why I identify with the Blue States (except on the gun issue).

[AudreyT]

4. state accredited schools should not be able to discriminate like this

if they still want to teach they can, but policies of exclusion and repression are wrong and should not be condoned by the us.

[TexasBushwhacker]

6. Baylor is not state supported

It's a private university supported by the Baptist church. I'm stunned that this kind of shit is still going on though. When my cousin attended Baylor 20 years ago, the president at the time, Herb Reynolds, made some kind of speach about how they were going to find out which students were HO-MO-SEXUALS and expel them. Even then it seemed pretty ridiculous.

WHAM (ya know, with George Michael) was popular at the time and they had those big t-shirts with the big black letters that had "Franky says" and then something on the back like "War, hide yourself", etc. My cousin got a bright idea and had big white t-shirts with big black letters printed that said "Herb says" on the front and then "No Homos" on the back. I think he got 50 of them printed up and sold out immediately but only covered his cost, but before he could print some more and actually make some money, Herb found out and said, "No T-shirts". Oh well!

[davsand]

7. I worked for a company that wanted to send me there.

They called it a promotion to send me to Baylor.

I saw it as a place where I'd need combat pay given how liberal I am. I'll never forget how green around the gills the corporate guys got when I explained to them that as a liberal white woman from Illinois I was probably gonna get burned at the stake within a week of my arrival...

I left the company shortly after that when they wanted to send me to South Carolina... :)


Laura