The Siberian American: Baylor University: When Sexual Assault Hits Close to Home

Friday, May 27, 2016

Baylor University: When Sexual Assault Hits Close to Home

Today, my heart hurts. I ache for the sexual assault victims and how my beloved university has failed them countless times. I have been hesitant to comment until we knew the results of the Pepper Hamilton report, and I was sick to my stomach reading the results of the investigation.


I especially hurt for those fans who call Baylor the “scapegoat” and say this problem has occurred many times at big name programs without the head coach and president taking the fall. That’s not the point. We shouldn’t point fingers at other schools when our school failed women. Baylor chose football over sexual assault victims.

I will never stop loving Baylor. It’s where I met the love of my life and pursued my passions. At Baylor, I grew and was constantly challenged in my faith. My love for the school is unconditional. Some of my favorite memories are associated with Baylor football. I will never forget Baylor Homecoming 2010 when, after an insane rainstorm, we stormed the field after Baylor became bowl-eligible for the first time since 1995. I have always admired Coach Art Briles and how he overcame tragedy to become a successful football coach.

Although my heart bleeds green and gold, I will never make excuses for the awful decisions made by the university and football team. After failing so many times, the first step in the right direction is to fire Coach Art Briles and demote Judge Ken Starr. Now is the time for humility and forgiveness. We can’t change what happened, but we can make sure it doesn’t happen again.

14 comments:

  1. Oh that's a shame. I didn't hear about what happened but it sounds unfortunate and so similar to other cases.

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  2. I've heard bits and pieces about the allegations and results at Baylor. I think you're right- it's important to punish the people that went about lessen the serious offenses. And I'm glad Baylor is doing something about it. When similar events took place in Steubenville, OH people jumped to the defense of football and it's importance. Sorry, but sports are just not THAT important. At all.

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  3. i hadn't heard about what happened, but i am sorry to hear it. i think it's hard when something we love is involved in something as horrible as this. we can still love it for what it was without agreeing with what it did, or allowed, if that makes sense. i don't understand why things like this keep happening though, at different schools around the country.

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  4. I didn't hear about this story, but will definitely read some more about it, but it's so sad how this happens at colleges and universities around the country and nothing seems to be done about it. There's actually a documentary on Netflix (the name escapes me now) that I watched and it featured women who got sexually assaulted in college.

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  5. I'm so sorry to hear that a university that obviously made a big impact on your life is not making the right decision. I'm not entirely familiar with the story that you're referring to, but either way, it doesn't sound right and my heart hurts for the people who were hurt.

    liz @ j for joiner

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  6. I am thankful for your post. I was reading about the Baylor situation yesterday and my heart and head were swirling with emotions. I appreciate your words coming from a Baylor alumni.

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  7. Go you for taking a stand even though you love the school. I dont know the details but the undertone already lets me know its awful.

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  8. It happens everywhere. Have you seen the documentary The Hunting Ground? So crazy. So sorry for you and your school. I love the university I went to and I'm sure it has the same problems, yet it will never be a scapegoat because it's a D II school. Not only big schools have this problem!!

    Ashley
    acutelifestyle.blospot.com

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  9. It's a major problem in society in general, not just at schools and not just with football programs. It hurts when it hits close to home. I'm sorry.

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  10. heartbreaking, for sure. i find your perspective, as someone who has a connection, very interesting and insightful.

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  11. My high school (I went to boarding school) and the boarding school community is going through something similar. It's been shocking and hits home even more to me bc one of the teachers involved was one I knew quite well as he was affiliated with my dorm. Sigh. Unfortunately this is prevalent everywhere.

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  12. Love your heart in this post. It's obviously how much you love your alma mater, but also how you are so honest about what has happened. Everything you wrote here was so well said.

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