Author: Kalyn Story

By Kalyn Story | Print Managing Editor“Come and show me another city with lifted head singing so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning.” – Carl Sandburg, “Chicago.” If you know me, you know I am completely in love with the city of Chicago. Here are just a few reasons why I believe Chicago is the greatest city in the world. 1. Public transit The L is the best mass transit system in the United States. Not the fastest, nor the most reliable. Not the newest, nor the longest. The best. Yes, it has its drawbacks. It’s…

By Kalyn Story | Print Managing EditorBefore moving to Texas for college, I lived in Chicago my whole life. I have always loved Chicago, but when I left, I understood for the first time the phrase “you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” In leaving Chicago, I fell in love with the city in a way I hadn’t before. And I started noticing all of the small things I missed when I left the city. I did everything I could to stay in touch with my hometown. I continued to read the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun…

By Kalyn Story | Print Managing Editor Last year my new year’s resolution was to try my best to not support credibly accused abusers of any kind. I tried for the entire year to actively rid my life and my media consumption of anyone who has been credibly accused of abuse, violence, sexual misconduct or assault. This meant no Woody Allen movies, no listening to Chris Brown, R. Kelly, Eminem, etc. I didn’t watch when Addison Russell was up to bat for my beloved Chicago Cubs or when Patrick Kane took the ice for the Chicago Blackhawks. I didn’t watch…

In 2016, then-Baylor student and Phi Delta Theta president Jacob Walter Anderson was indicted on four counts of sexual assault after being accused of raping another Baylor student at a fraternity party. Last week, he pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of unlawful restraint after being offered a plea deal that did not include any prison time nor require that he register as a sex offender. With this sweet deal, Anderson would get off essentially scot-free. It would dismiss the four counts of sexual assault, result in a $400 fine, give him three years of deferred probation and require…

By Kalyn Story | Print Managing EditorU.S. District Court Judge Robert Pittman issued an order Wednesday unsealing testimony and evidence in the Jane Doe 1-10 case as well as settlement agreements between Baylor and Art Briles, Tom Hill and Ian McCaw. Baylor filed a motion in September asking the court to issue a protective order prohibiting discovery regarding several matters including, · Baylor’s implementation of Pepper Hamilton’s recommendations in the summer of 2016 disputes among Regents and/or administrators relating to the general operations of the University, · Financial conflicts of interest and investment matters pertaining to the Board of Regents…

By Kalyn Story | Print Managing Editor Patty Crawford, the former Title IX Coordinator at Baylor, said in an Aug. 2 deposition. The deposition was released to the public Tuesday, stated that a group of faculty members viewed Title IX regulations as “not biblical” and that the regents were not on board with her position existing. Crawford said Baylor would not provide her with IT resources she requested to be able to implement a software program to track assault complaints and witness interviews. She said she was also prevented from providing brochures to sexual assault victims who reported to the…

By Kalyn Story | Print Managing EditorIn response to a civil lawsuit by former Baylor student Delores Lozano, former Baylor head football coach Art Briles claims that he acted “quickly and consistently” to either suspend or remove players accused of sexual assault and domestic violence. In a court filing Thursday, he claimed that he dismissed 30 players for disciplinary reasons over his last six seasons at the school. In the high-profile case of Tevin Elliott, who is currently serving 20 years in prison for two rape charges against a female Baylor athlete, Briles claimed that Baylor’s administration was aware of…

By Kalyn Story | Print Managing EditorJane Doe 1-10Over 400 motions have been filed in the main sexual violence case remaining against Baylor, known as “Jane Doe 1-10.” The latest one, filed by Baylor on Aug. 13, asks U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitman to limit the scope of questioning in depositions to focus on the purpose of the case.The motion highlights that this Title IX case is about whether the 10 Jane Doe plaintiffs were sexually assaulted, whether Baylor responded with deliberate indifference to their alleged assaults, if female students before them were mistreated such that a “heightened risk”…

by Kalyn Story | News EditorBaylor ended its four-month search for a new Title IX coordinator, announcing Thursday in an email from President Dr. Linda Livingstone that Dr. Laura Johnson will take on the role beginning June 11. Johnson is currently the vice president for student life/dean of students and Title IX coordinator at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Ky. “She has a wide range of experience in student services overall and in the prevention, investigation and management of sexual violence on college campuses,” Livingstone said in the email. “As we await Dr. Johnson’s arrival, the University will continue to provide…

By Kalyn Story | News Editor Students living in Texana House were evacuated late Wednesday night after a student set off the smoke alarms while cooking. According to a Baylor University spokeswoman Lori Fog a Baylor Police officer discovered that boiled-over food on a stove had generated a lot of smoke and set off the fire alarm, although there was never a fire. Austin freshman and Texana resident Emmy Frigo said she was in her dorm when the alarm went off. She said once she exited her room she could smell the smoke. Once sitting outside the dorm waiting for…

By Kalyn Story | News EditorInterim Provost Dr. Michael McLendon announced his resignation because of personal and health matters. McLendon, a Baylor alum and former dean of Baylor’s School of Education, took on the role of interim provost last July. “I am announcing my resignation as Interim Provost of Baylor University, a beloved institution at which I spent my undergraduate years and the past three seasons of my academic career, due to personal and medical concerns that will no longer allow me to fulfill the responsibilities and requirements of this important academic leadership position in a manner I believe this…

By Kalyn Story | News Editor Baylor police are actively investigating the report of an assault on campus early Thursday morning and are asking for help from the Baylor community identifying the suspect. At approximately 12:10 a.m., a male assailant came up behind a woman and grabbed her around her waist, according to the “Baylor Timely Warning” email. The victim reported breaking away and running from the assailant before calling the Baylor Police Department. According to the victim, the assailant fled the area, running south on South Fifth Street away from campus. Baylor’s police department conducted a thorough search of…

Story by Kalyn Story | News Editor, Video by Meredith Aldis | Broadcast Reporter Ryan Reynolds ate lunch in his car while listening to ESPN radio almost every day his first semester at Baylor. He befriended more professors than classmates during his first year on campus. The 30 year-old Oakland, Calif., native is not your traditional Baylor student; he commutes two hours a day to get to campus, he’s married and a veteran. While Reynolds was stationed at Ft. Hood, he fell in love with Texas. When he left the military in 2013, he knew he wanted to go to…

By Kalyn Story | News EditorFor the first time since 1994 the NHL did not send its players to the Olympics. This was a decision based largely on money and is negatively affecting NHL players, hockey fans and the sport as a whole. Before the 1998 Winter Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the NHL agreed on a deal that would bring NHL players to the games with their costs and insurance covered by the IOC. As reported in the National Post in 2016 the IOC had paid for the travel, insurance, accommodations and other costs for NHL players…

By Kalyn Story | News Editor A lawsuit filed Thursday in regard to an alleged rape at an off-campus Phi Delta Theta Fraternity party in March 2016 claims the fraternity was negligent in its distribution of alcohol and its handling of sexual assault. The suit names the fraternity, the owner of the house where the party took place and six members of the fraternity who were officers at the time. The suit also names former Baylor student Jacob Walter Anderson, who was president of the fraternity at the time. Anderson was indicted in May 2016 on four counts of sexual…

By Kalyn Story | News Editor Baylor filed a response Monday to the latest motion in a Title IX lawsuit brought against the university by multiple women.Last week, Waco attorney Jim Dunnam, representing women using the pseudonyms “Jane Doe 1-10,” filed a motion in a pending Title IX lawsuit against Baylor. The motion requests a comprehensive list of reported assaults not filtered based on any determination by Title IX, Judicial Affairs or Student Conduct. He also requested in the motion that the term “sexual assault” be clarified. Initially, the Lariat incorrectly reported that U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman signed the…

Several hashtags were trending following the Golden Globes on Sunday night, among them #MeToo, #TimesUp and #Oprah2020. “Oprah 2020” is a phrase that has been floating around social media and news outlets this week; this movement suggests talk show host Oprah Winfrey run for president of the United States in 2020. The suggestion is hypocritical in a sense – many from opposing parties were quick to criticize President Donald Trump for lacking political background and experience when he first began campaigning, but people with similar political leanings are quick to treat Oprah 2020 legitimately. Winfrey received the Cecil B. deMille…

By Kalyn Story | News EditorBaylor University confirmed that former Title IX Coordinator Kristan Tucker has resigned. The change will be in effect starting Jan. 2, 2018. Former Auxiliary Title IX Investigator Maureen Holland will serve as interim until a replacement is found. The university stressed that the Title IX office’s operations will not be impacted by this change and that Baylor is still committed to the safety and security of its students and campus. “Our students can be confident in the policy and procedures that have been put in place,” university spokesperson Lori Fogleman said.On Oct. 5, 2016 Baylor’s…

Kalyn Story | News EditorBaylor filed a petition Tuesday to the Fifth Court of Appeals to block U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitman’s order that Baylor disclose certain confidential medical and counseling records information under limited conditions.Unless the petition is granted, Baylor will release 6,200 FERPA notices to students informing them that their records will be submitted in the Title IX lawsuit. The Court signed a Confidentiality and Protective Order requiring Baylor to notify current and former students their records have been requested, and students have the option to consent or object via email. If students object to their records…

By Kalyn Story | News EditorPresident Linda Livingstone, Interim Provost Michael McLendon and Chair of the Board of Regents Joel Allison made it clear during a panel Thursday evening that they are committed to making Baylor a tier one research institution. During the inaugural “Baylor Conversation Series,” a dialogue about Baylor’s progress, Livingstone said she believes the world needs a university that is unapologetically Christian, takes its academic mission seriously and has influence in the world because of that. “We are really the only place across the world that is positioned to be able to do that,” Livingstone said. “[Becoming…

Baylor identified almost 4,000 students whose hometowns are in the Harvey impact zones across Texas and Louisiana. Martha Lou Scott, associate vice president for student life, reached out to each of the 3,972 students via email to offer comfort and prayer to those affected.“I am reaching out to you because your home is in one of the areas most greatly affected by the extreme weather,” Scott said in the email. “What we want most is for you to know that Baylor cares and that we are here to help in any way that we can.”The email, titled “Praying For You,”…

By Kalyn Story | News Editor and Aj Key | ReporterSince Hurricane Harvey’s landfall, some Baylor students have shifted their focus from school to the safety of their loved ones.In fall 2016, 1,605 students were from Harris County, 486 students were from Fort Bend County and 374 studentswere from Montgomery County. That totals over 2,000 students in the Baylor family that have been impacted by the hurricane. Katy junior Kristen Echevarria said her family hasn’t been able to leave their house since Saturday due to the flooding.“The whole situation is really scary for me and my family,” Echevarria said. “It’s…

By Kalyn Story | Staff WriterBaylor has a club for everyone, and on Monday, the student organization list expanded by 19. Hutto junior Victoria Ellison noticed other schools had a group she felt was missing from Baylor’s campus. Through social media, she saw other universities have clubs celebrating natural hair, so she started one at Baylor.ROOTS Natural Hair Club is a club that will celebrate diverse hair textures with a special focus on people of African descent, Ellison said.“Often, the natural state of black people’s hair is seen as unprofessional or as a reflection of poor grooming,” Ellison said. “This…

By Kalyn Story | Staff WriterFor the first time, the Baylor Police Department is participating in a Drug Take-Back Program today. On Friday and Saturday, faculty, students and staff can stop by the Baylor Police Department in the Speight Parking Garage and drop off any old prescription drugs or expired over-the-counter drugs. Lilly Ettinger, Baylor’s recovery support coordinator in the Wellness Department, is helping organize the event.“It is generally not a good idea to keep drugs around that no one is using,” Ettinger said. “It leaves the opportunity for pets and children to get into them accidentally, and it is…

By Kalyn Story | Staff Writer Mansfield junior Sierra Smith testified at a Texas House of Representatives Committee on Higher Education hearing with the goal of helping representatives understand what it is like to be a woman in college who was sexually assaulted. “I was terrified to testify,” Smith said. “There were only two women on the committee, and I was afraid the men wouldn’t be able to understand where I was coming from. But in the end it was worth it, and I am so glad I shared my story.” Smith testified regarding House Bill 3142, which would require…

By Kalyn Story | Staff Writer Baylor filed a response on Friday evening to one of six Title IX lawsuits the university faces, denying all allegations against Baylor in the suit and saying that the claims failed to prove injury traceable to the university’s actions. Eleven plaintiffs named in the suit as Jane Doe 1-11 allege sexual assaults at Baylor in cases between 2004-2016. “Baylor exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct promptly any harassing or discriminatory conduct, and one or more of the plaintiffs unreasonably failed to take advantage of any preventive or corrective opportunities provided by Baylor or…

By Kalyn Story | Staff WriterWith tourist attractions like Magnolia Market at the Silos bringing in 25,000 to 35,000 visitors each week, as the city of Waco reported in 2016, Waco’s downtown area is seeing a lot more traffic than it’s used to. One area seeing the wear and tear downtown is sidewalks. The Waco Tribune-Herald reported that the city of Waco does not regularly maintain or fix sidewalks with the understanding that property owners have the responsibility to maintain the sidewalks next to their property.The downtown Public Improvement District board has noticed these downtown maintenance needs that are not…

By Kalyn Story | Staff WriterAn external review of the Baylor Police Department by Margolis Healy & Associates resulted in the reorganization and enhancement of the Baylor University Police Department, including the hiring of a new police chief.Baylor’s vice president for facilities and operations, Brian Nicholson, sent an email to students, faculty and staff Wednesday afternoon with information about improvements Baylor’s Department of Public Safety has made since commissioning the review.“One of our critical goals is to ensure the campus community is up to date with [Baylor University Department of Public Safety’s] latest accomplishments and current projects, which demonstrates our…

By Kalyn Story | Staff Writer Baylor has announced Linda A. Livingstone as the university’s 15th president. Set to take office June 1, she will be the university’s first female president. She is currently the dean and professor at the George Washington University School of Business. Baylor Media reported in an email that Livingstone was the unanimous choice of the Board of Regents and was recommended by the Presidential Search Committee. Before she was at George Washington University, she served as a dean of Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management and associate dean and associate professor in Baylor’s…

By Kalyn Story | Staff WriterThe Texas Senate passed three bills regarding sexual assault on college campuses this week.Senate Bill 968 would require all colleges and universities to have a link on the school website’s homepage that allows students to report sexual assault, harassment, stalking and dating violence anonymously. Senate Bill 969 would require colleges and universities to grant students who report assaults, as well as witnesses, amnesty from punishments for breaking other university rules, such as underage drinking. Senate Bill 970 would require colleges and universities to have policies on sexual assault that define prohibited behavior, list punishments and…