Friday, November 14, 2008
By Tim Woods
Tribune-Herald staff writer
Baylor University Interim President David Garland said Thursday that a rope found in a tree on election night was a makeshift swing and not a noose, as originally suspected.
Garland sent an e-mail to students, faculty and staff saying that a student came forward to Baylor police Wednesday afternoon, saying he and friends had found a piece of rope on campus the day before the election and tied it to a tree to use as a rope swing.
Once the group had their fill of the swing, they abandoned it. It was discovered on Election Day and cut from the tree, Garland said in the e-mail.
Discovery of the “noose” was one of three incidents from election night, Nov. 4., that were thought to be racially motivated after Barack Obama became the first black person elected president of the United States.
Another of the incidents has been discounted, as well. What was first reported as students burning Obama/Biden campaign signs outside Brooks Flats was determined to be students burning empty computer boxes found nearby on campus.
The third incident involved a group of black students and a group of white students verbally sparring outside Penland Residence Hall as the group of black students were reveling in Obama’s victory. That incident is still under investigation, according to Garland’s e-mail.
Challenges remain
“While we are eager to move beyond the events of the past 10 days and the negative light they have cast over our campus, this experience also calls our attention to the challenges that remain before us,” Garland said.
Throughout the week, a number of events have been specifically designed to increase cultural and racial awareness on campus, including Wednesday’s prayer rally for unity in Miller Chapel and Tuesday’s “Frankly Speaking” discussion, which centered on race relations.
“As I have stated previously, we have been and will remain intentional in our progress toward enriching the racial and ethnic fabric of our university,” Garland added in his e-mail.
twoods@wacotrib.com
757-5721
Comments
By ryan
Nov 15, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
Baylor (not all certainly cannot say that, only an idiot says "all" people...) but a lot of Baylor students (mostly white males) are gay and my roommates are gay Baylor students, though I am not...
I cannot say I've experienced racism and God bless you if you have experienced it, that's so terrible...I was fortunate to grow up with parents, family and in community that appreciates life, respects people and individuality, and realizes its WHO people are, not WHAT...I grew up in a very educated community in Dallas...a very mixed neighborhood which contributed to my rich background....which I am so glad and proud of...such an educational contributioning thing I can respectfully carry with me thru life...I can identify with anyone...not just subpar Waco...
There's hidden spots for the Baylor gays to hang out...I think it's really sad that it has to be hidden. I can say about 50 random Baylor students and about 15-20 other people on any given weekend hang out in these spots....
Typically they go to Dallas or Austin to really chill or hang out...b/c let's face it...Waco is bone dry, ran by old conservative boring folks and just sad. I really am not trying to act like a 13 yr old, insulting things all immaturely and close-mindedly...but Waco is just not the place for any real LIFEEe...
ONE LOVE!!!!!!! ONE LIFE!!!!! LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE WHEREEVER YOU ARE, EVEN THE STREETWEEPER AND BLIND MAN, GOD BLESS YOU!
By Dave
Nov 15, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
one love, one life...get your mind right...unite...appreciate individuality...go travel some...please go see the world outside waco and outside texas and outside the dirty south!!!!!
Baylor Grad 08'
By That Good ol Republican Spin
Nov 15, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
After in depth investigation the interim president rules that students merely found a rope and played swing in a tree; the same day a black man was elected.
Then later on that night a few more found some empty computer boxes and decided that they needed burning right then and there. What? Were all the trash dumpster really full?
What a joke; no one is perfect but Baylor admins are showing incredible stupidity and elitism by putting forth these spin stories.
Why not admit; hey some of our student have a problem and we'll work on it.
Mr. Edwards, It's called a lack of leadership. Rush Limdruguser would be proud of Edwards and would agree whole heartedly.
By null
Nov 15, 2008 7:13 AM | Link to this
This from the administration that assures that having students retake SAT at BU's expense to support the "award" of additional scholarship monies was not done for the purpose of inflating SAT results.
By fuel1224
Nov 15, 2008 2:30 AM | Link to this
For those claiming this is just a giant cover up by Baylor, the students who came forward to claim responsibility for the "noose," also went before leaders of the Baylor NAACP chapter and the Baylor Black Students Association to tell their story. According to the Larit, leaders of both groups as well as a professor have stated their belief that the students were being genuine in their statements. I'll take their word over most of yours.
Now, that is not to say racism doesn't exist at Baylor or that there is not a lot of work to be done. That is true. I am just saying if you're looking for a conspiracy theory, I think you're barking up the wrong tree.
By Another Realist Baylor Alumni
Nov 14, 2008 11:38 PM | Link to this
Another Baylor cover up . Another race igniting situation . YOU All Do IT To Yoursevelves. FAKE!! Black and White
By Stephen
Nov 14, 2008 10:54 PM | Link to this
Get over it, you freakin' idiot! Why does everything have to revolve around race with you? I could go fly a kite with my son and you'd accuse the string of being a noose. I,personally, am done with trying to please you day in and day out. It's impossible--you've got your "Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton/Lester Gibson" mentality--and "whitey" doesn't have a chance. So, I give up. No more trying. Hope you appreciated what your dumb *** has accomplished.
By kaleen
Nov 14, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this
I just wanted to say I feel extremely sorry for the students who had to experience those ignorant comments and actions. I'm so sick of this us vs them mentality...it has to cease. It will not progress us, just make is stay back and when God opens that book of life up on them, it's nobody to save them, not even charlie angel Baylor tsk.
Baylor Law Grads 09' (I am writing for a group of 14!!!!!!!)
WE SUPPORT GOOD DEEDS OF BAYLOR but not this crap!! BAYLOR in the words of BAYLOR CLASS 09, don't be a coward, rise above!! THIS IS NOT RIGHT!
ONE LOVE - BAYLOR, WACO, refreshed COUNTRY!! :-)
By ben
Nov 14, 2008 9:47 PM | Link to this
The statement saying it's a swing, does not remedy this situation. GET A GOOD LAW TEAM, contact groups who specialize in investigating these cases especially against a college. Do not rest with Baylor trying to sweep it under the rug and downplay this behavior. SHAME ON BAYLOR. It's not a point to ridicule Baylor, but this is poor leadership. They should excel the backwards, childish students who did the noose and made insulting, uneducated, "born in 1910 and ignorant as heck" remarks.
This is so unacceptable to walk away belting out " it...was....just...a....s..w....i..n...g...." bye.
Take the swing out of the picture, hello! We still have an issue. Baylor is ran by a bunch of gray haired hypocrites anyway, whose lives are over if they cannot be perceived as the "made for tv family" and stiffest shirt guy or gal town.
I agree with most of you guys here... Waco lets Baylor run this town and puts too much emphasis on it. I agree education formally and informally is the about the most important fundamental thing in life. Yes, I have a BBA from Baylor.
However, Waco is a small boring town but doesn't mean we want Baylor thrown down our throats 24/7. It's like please, get out more, travel around the world to see the beautiful diversity of life.
By null
Nov 14, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this
It seems that the NEW minorities are now White people, and they don't know how to handle it, the more racist they are the more ignorant they look.
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