By Helena Hunt, Staff Writer
On Saturday, a vehicle plowed through the crowd gathered to celebrate the Homecoming parade at Oklahoma State University. Four people, including a 2-year-old child, died in the incident. Forty-seven others were injured.
Although the suspect, Adacia Chambers, has been taken into custody, the OSU campus and community are still reeling from the weekend’s tragic events.
At the same time that the OSU community experienced this tragedy, Baylor was celebrating its own Homecoming. Now, in the same spirit of homecoming unity and camaraderie, Baylor is reaching out to its Big XII rival to offer its sympathy for the losses that have touched the university.
Baylor Student Government has begun a book where all students can communicate their grief for the lives lost that day in Stillwater, Okla. The book will be available for all well-wishers at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the lobby of the Bill Daniel Student Center on Wednesday. Several campus student organizations will also have the opportunity to sign it.
The book is the result of a collaboration among the three members of the executive branch of Baylor student government. Houston senior Pearson Brown, Port Barre, La., junior Lindsey Bacque, and Houston junior Steven Newcomb wanted to find a way to allow the entire student body to reach out to OSU.
“People have been really excited about it. I have some friends from OSU who’ve seen the [Facebook] posts and they’ve been really thankful for it. They can really feel the love that’s being outpoured,” Newcomb said.
After as many students as possible get the chance to sign the book and send their messages to OSU, student government will send it to the university on Tuesday. Student Senate is also preparing a bill to officially recognize Baylor’s support of OSU.
“[The book] represents a camaraderie that we have. Just because we’re rivals on the field doesn’t mean that we can’t come together and experience these tragedies together,” said Longview senior Kristen Ritch. “It was supposed to be such a happy and uplifting event. I think we should support them in any way we can.”
Those who do not have the opportunity to come to the SUB, may sign the book if they contact student government.
“We want as many people to have the opportunity to sign the book as possible,” Newcomb said.
