Former Baylor student Jasmin Hernandez plans to file a Title IX lawsuit against Baylor University for the way they handled her case. Hernandez was assaulted by Tevin Elliott, former Baylor student and football player in 2012. Elliott was sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined $10,000 in January of 2014 for two counts of sexual assault. “Individual incidents are deeply personal matters that do not benefit from our public statements. Even if a survivor chooses to speak or take other actions to support their healing, we must not publicly comment in a way that could compromise student confidentiality or…

Former U.S. ambassador to Sweden and Baylor Law School graduate Lyndon Olson spoke Wednesday to public relations students about his extensive career, his work and research with the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library, and warned against the current rhetoric in politics today. Olson spoke Wednesday March 30 to the Advanced Public Relations class in Castellaw Communications Center. Senior lecturer in the journalism, new media and public relations department Dr. Cassy Burleson introduced Olson. “In a sentence, he is the kindest, most intelligent, most articulate, learned statesmen I have ever known,” Burleson said. Olsen was born and raised in Waco and…

There will be a discussion Friday on what it means to pursue racial reconciliation. In a collaboration among Asian Ministries InterVarsity, FaceTime with God InterVarsity, Unite InterVarsity and campus diversity committee, the event will take place at 7 p.m. Friday at the Bobo Spiritual Life Center. The event will include video clips about racism and testimonies from students about their experiences with racism. The discussion will start with a lecture from Dr. Jonathan Tran, associate professor of from the sociology. Tran initially declined the invitation to speak because of his schedule, but when the organizations asked him again he said…

Baylor University has a security escort program to help enhance student, faculty and staff safety on campus. The security escort program will pick up any student, faculty or staff who do not want to or do not feel safe traversing the campus at night. The escort will take the student, faculty or staff to their desired location on campus or within the Baylor police department’s patrol response area. The patrol response area extends to 18th Street and La Salle Ave. This includes the apartment complexes on La Salle such as Oso Verde, The Domain, The Loft and several others. “There…

Baylor’s department of multicultural affairs is hosting several events to celebrate Women’s History Month this March. The events include a “Rosie the Riveter” Ice Cream Social, a women’s history panel and a lunch-and-learn. The events are organized by the department of multicultural affairs, but many events are sponsored by other groups on campus such as the Society of Women Engineers, Student Activities, The Waco Hippodrome and the Women’s and Gender Studies minor program. The “Rosie the Riveter” Ice Cream Social was on Friday in the lobby of the Teal Residence Hall. The social was held by the Baylor Society of…

University deals with blown fuse Tuesday

Baylor running back and Burkburnett senior Devin Chafin was suspended from the football team after being arrested on marijuana possession charges at 8:05 a.m Friday in Oklahoma. Chafin was traveling with Madill, Okla., senior Jennifer Kerr. The two were stopped 13 miles west of Grandfield, Okla.,on Highway 70 in Tillman County, according to a Facebook post by Tillman County sheriff. The County Sheriff, Bobby Whittington, stopped the car for speeding and found marijuana. “We are deeply concerned of the conduct of these individuals. Although marijuana is legal in Colorado, it isn’t in Oklahoma,” said the post. “Also, the marijuana candy…

Baylor police department issues safety suggestions for students during break

Phi Delta Theta president and Garland junior Jacob Anderson was arrested and charged with sexual assault Thursday. He was released from McLennan County Jail on a $5,000 bond at 5 p.m. Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton of the Waco Police Department told the Waco Tribune-Herald that a female was at a party in the 2600 block of South Third Street on Feb. 21. She was handed a drink and told to drink it, according to police reports. She became disoriented and was taken outside, where a man forcibly sexually assaulted her, Swanton said. According to the arrest affidavit cited in the…

January 2016 marked a new advancement for women in a world that often still holds them back in certain aspects. As of Jan. 2, the United States Defense Department lifted all gender-based restrictions for military service. This opens 220,000 jobs to women, which is about 10 percent of the entire active and reserve force. The Army and Marine Corps will have the most job openings. Women have been able to serve in combat specialties for many years in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain and Sweden. With this advancement, two of the…

Baylor PD, parking services encourage bike registration

Parnell McNamara was re-elected as county sheriff Tuesday. He received 66.31 percent of the total votes in McLennan County as of 11:28 p.m. Willie Tompkins and Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton were also running on the Republican ticket. There was no Democratic candidate. Tompkins had 2.34 percent of the votes and Swanton had 31.35 percent of the votes. “Regardless of what happens tonight, my family just got bigger,” Swanton said at his watch party at The Olive Branch restaurant in downtown Waco. The Elect Swanton for McLennan County Sheriff Campaign held the watch party and over 70 people attended. McNamara held…

Incumbent Sheriff Parnell McNamara, Willie Tompkins and Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton are running for the McLennan County Sheriff position. The primary election is Tuesday with a runoff March 24 if needed. Early voting began last Tuesday and the general election is November 8. Sheriff Parnell McNamara has been in office since 2013. According to his website he has increased the number of arrests by 450 percent, established an Organized Crime Unit, established a Fugitive Apprehension and Special Task Unit, increased frequency of patrols, increased SWAT team training, acquired new equipment, acquiring more drug dogs and secured new riot…

The Heart O’ Texas Fair and Rodeo scholarship fund is putting on its second annual Chili Fest this Saturday. The Chili Fest will take place in Heritage Square in downtown Waco at Third Street and Austin Avenue. The Chili Fest starts at 10 a.m., and there will be a public tasting and live band. Local band The Steve Smith Group will perform at the event. They played at the event last year as well. They classify themselves as a classic rock and country band and were founded in 2011. “We have a little bit of entertainment for everyone,” said Mike…

The Waco Crime Free Multi-Housing Program is an initiative that helps provide peace of mind and safety for Waco area rental housing. The program was implemented to help reduce criminal activity in communities and helps create a partnership between police and owners of rental properties. The Waco Crime Free Multi-Housing Program is part of the international Crime Free Association. Crime prevention officer Kandy Knowles said Baylor is the only university in the nation to have a program like this with student housing. “The main goal is getting tenants educated and getting them to work together,” said Waco detective Vincent Glenn.…

Police departments have started to use body cameras as another tool in fighting crime. McLennan County constables currently use body cameras. Precinct one currently has three body cameras and is working with the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office to get four more. Following suit, the Waco city council approved hiring a consultant to help the Waco Police department move toward buying body cameras in December 2015. The plan is to have the cameras implemented by October 2016. Precinct five has also started the process to get body cameras for their deputies. Police departments in Bellmead, Lacy, Lakeview and Moody have…

A woman was robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot of LL Sams Historic Lofts on Thursday morning. Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said the incident took place at 12:25 a.m. in the Lofts parking lot located at 2000 S. First St. Swanton said a man approached a woman from behind and then pointed a gun at her. He said something she could not understand and the woman threw her purse to the ground and ran. She ran to the apartment entrance and when she looked back, the man was picking up her purse. The gunman fled the scene…

Crazy M Cattle Dog Spay and Neuter Fund is holding its fourth annual virtual race to raise funds to provide free surgeries to dogs. The Be My Valentine virtual race is being held until Sunday. In a virtual race, everyone sets their own course and runs or walks their own pace wherever they are. Participants can sign up online for a one mile, 5K, 10K or half marathon. The registration cost is $25 and ends on Sunday. Participants will receive a custom medal of their own and they can also register their pets for $5. Four legged friends will receive…

In conjunction with the Title IX Office, Baylor Chapel and Baylor Department of Wellness, the Baylor Academy for Leader Development hosted Beverly Gooden on Tuesday evening to come speak in Jones Concert Hall of the Glennis McCrary Music Building. Gooden is a domestic violence survivor and advocate, as well as the creator of the #WhyIStayed movement. Gooden will speak in all three chapels today. Gooden spoke to a room of students, faculty and staff about how she left her abusive relationship and why she stayed for two years. Gooden got engaged to her boyfriend after dating for nine month, but…

Due to recent allegations of mishandling of sexual assault cases Baylor University board of Regents received and approved an action plan to improve treatment and services for victims of sexual assault. The plan has six points of action and the goal of the plan is to “ensure that incidents of interpersonal violence are reported and investigated promptly” and that “the educational, physical, emotional and spiritual needs of victims are given prompt and priority attention.” “We know we can and must do a better job to confront interpersonal violence in our campus community,” Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr said in…

Beverly Gooden, a domestic violence survivor and creator of the social media movement #WhyIStayed, will speak to Baylor students Tuesday. Gooden speak in Jones Concert Hall in the McCrary Music Building from 6 to 8 p.m. She will also speak in all three Chapel services Wednesday. The lecture is free and open to the public. The lecture is part of the Baylor Academy for Leader Development lecture series. The Academy for Leader Development is a group that provides curricular and extra-curricular opportunities for students to learn leadership skills. The academy sponsors and runs programs such like the Leadership Living and…

In response to the allegations of mishandling of sexual assault cases, a group of alumni have created a petition titled “An Open Letter on Responses to Sexual Assault at Baylor University.” The letter already has more than 1400 signatures from Baylor students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends. Faculty and staff, who do not wish to be named in the petition, are able to be counted as supporters of the letter and their identity will be concealed. Dr. Laura Seay, Baylor class of 2000 and assistant professor of government at Colby College, has been involved in and volunteered herself to be…

Baylor addresses criticism concerning sexual assault cases