By Josh Siatkowski | Lead Writer
An on-campus event featuring two prominent conservative Christian commentators has been postponed after organizers said higher-than-expected security costs, alongside attendance and marketing policies, made the event infeasible.
Baylor’s chapter of Ratio Christi, a nationwide Christian apologetics organization, planned to host its keynote fall event this past Monday in Waco Hall, featuring Ratio Christi CEO Dr. Corey Miller and Dr. Frank Turek, founder of Cross Examined, another Christian apologetics group. When security costs came in higher than the group expected in the days before the event, and marketing was limited because the event was designated “expressive” under Baylor Student Activities policy, Ratio Christi postponed the event over the weekend.
“The event was canceled because we received a last-minute charge at 4:57 pm on Friday,” Carl Schubert, Ratio Christi’s chapter director at Baylor, said via email. “We were previously quoted $2,600 on [Aug. 19] for labor associated with Waco Hall; on Friday, I received a new invoice for $8,500. This last-minute charge exceeded our budget, and we could not afford it.”
In a statement, the university said the higher invoice was because Ratio Christi failed to submit necessary documents in time, making it impossible to estimate security costs until close to the day of the event.
“University policies for student-led events require submission of documentation well in advance to determine the support needed to ensure a safe, caring and educational environment for all students, faculty and staff,” the statement reads. “Ratio Christi did not submit this documentation as requested by University staff on several occasions. As a result, security costs associated with Waco Hall could not be determined until late in the planning process.
“Upon receipt of the full security estimate, the student organization decided to postpone, rather than work with campus leaders to identify a different and possibly less expensive location,” it continues.
Miller, Ratio Christi’s national leader, took to social media to comment on the postponement. He said that he and Turek, who has approximately 1 million subscribers on his Cross Examined YouTube channel, “may do a podcast on it” and that “We are more than disappointed with Baylor.”
He contrasted the challenges of hosting the Ratio Christi event with democratic Senate candidate James Talarico’s recent visit to campus, which occurred after he and Republican opponent Ken Paxton — who declined, citing scheduling conflicts — were invited to speak in September.
“This is the university who invited James Talorico [sic] on campus, who believes that God is non-binary and that there are six genders, and yet 3 weeks later inhibit conservative Christian speakers, whose advertised talks were simply addressing the issue of whether Christianity was true and good,” he wrote. “It’s a university that seems to coddle-left-and-punch-right.”
Miller also said that Baylor “created the conditions making the event hard and not worthwhile” by labeling the event as “expressive,” which put limits on attendance and marketing.
Baylor’s Student Activities department has long held stricter policies for events deemed “expressive activity,” which it defines on its website as “any form of organized communication or conduct intended to convey ideas, perspectives, or information.”
These limitations include submitting documentation at least five days before the event and limiting the event to the Baylor community only. All events, including expressive activities, must also advertise with Student Activities-approved flyers, which can only be posted in certain parts of campus.
The event’s flyer highlighted a Christian focus to the address, reading “Is Christianity true? Is it good? Come find out.” Although the event was rooted in religion, Turek was labeled an expressive speaker as some of his involvements have stretched beyond theology. His apologetics organization, Cross Examined, frequently partners with Turning Point USA for events and links the organization on its website. When TPUSA held an event at Baylor in April, it was also labeled as “expressive.”
Schubert, a Baylor alumnus from 2023, said that his peers at non-religious institutions didn’t have similar challenges facilitating events with either speaker. Given Baylor’s Christian mission and what he described as a recent amicable relationship with Ratio Christi, he didn’t expect any challenges.
“For the last three years, our ministry has had a friendly relationship with the university and no problems,” Schubert said. “As an alumnus, it was incredibly difficult to hear that my coworkers at UNT, UT Knoxville and other secular campuses had fewer restrictions on hosting Frank or Corey than I did at my Christian alma mater.”
The university said that, despite the postponement, Baylor is “committed to ensuring open dialogue and the robust exchange of ideas” and looks forward to welcoming speakers for future Ratio Christi events.
“We understand this is a disappointing outcome for those who were scheduled to speak and attend, and campus leaders stand ready to support our Ratio Christi student leaders on another event in the future, provided appropriate information is shared in a timely manner,” the statement reads.
Schubert left his post at Ratio Christi this week for a ministry role in Iowa, and this week’s keynote address was meant to be his last event with the group. He said that after his departure and the recent issue, the organization will keep its mission front of mind.
“Ratio Christi at Baylor will continue to serve cheerfully on campus, honoring God in all that we do,” Schubert said.
Miller, however, said Baylor was an institution “experiencing drift” and that “R1 status should not drive [Baylor’s] mission.” He also encouraged Christian donors to contact the university’s advancement office and “speak with wallet in mind.”
No date has been set for a potential rescheduled event.
