By Morgan Harlan | Digital Managing EditorThe male gender has been dominating the field of best director since the Academy Awards were founded. In 92 years, only five women have been nominated in this elite field. This year’s Oscar “Best Director” line-up is no exception, with zero women in the running. Frankly, we all need to take a stand from the blatant misogyny that female directors face and give them the support they clearly deserve. The 2019 adaptation of “Little Women” was a cinematic masterpiece and box office success. Worldwide, the movie has grossed $131,331,595.In addition, “Little Women” has racked…
Author: Morgan Harlan
Morgan Harlan | Assistant News Editor, Video by Igor Stepczynski | Broadcast Reporter The Grove at Waco Apartments is responding after a deadly shooting occurred at a Halloween party last Thursday, leaving Dairse Holder dead and another injured. The incident occurred sometime before 12:30 a.m. at The Grove at Waco Apartments, 2826 S. University Parks Dr, where neither of the victims were residents. On Friday and Saturday, the Grove released a statement to their residents regarding the shooting. “We wanted to update you on the events surrounding the shooting that occurred Halloween night. According to police reports, it appears none…
By Morgan Harlan | Assistant News EditorHalloween is a holiday dedicated to transforming into someone or something else. Despite the fun of dressing up as someone else, there are limitations to how far one should go with their costume. Dressing in a costume that appropriates another culture, no matter the way you intend it, can be both offensive and an inaccurate depiction.In the past year, many celebrities, television personalities, and politicians have come under fire for either condoning dressing in “blackface” or participating in it themselves. Blackface is applying dark makeup to appear as a different skin tone or ethnicity.Finally,…
By Morgan Harlan | Assistant News Editor Baylor holds the crown as the oldest collegiate Homecoming in the nation, and the celebration would not be complete without its royalty, the Homecoming queen and her court. Since 1934, Baylor has crowned one female student to be chosen as university royalty. On Thursday night, Baylor’s 2019 Homecoming queen was announced as Spring senior Kaylin Blancas, a marketing major nominated by Student Foundation, for which she also serves as copresident. “The court” consists of four Homecoming princesses. The 2019 Baylor Homecoming princesses are Houston senior Amelia Tidwell, nominated by Phi Alpha Theta; Scottsdale,…
By Morgan Harlan | Assistant News Editor500 million copies. 68 languages. 7 books. Two words: Harry Potter. The Harry Potter series is a worldwide phenomenon and holds the crown as the best series ever written. The first novel, in the seven-book installment, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” written by J.K. Rowling, was released on June 26, 1997. Since then, children, teens and adults alike have fallen in love with the wizarding world. Years before the first book was released, J.K. Rowling was a single mother whose first Harry Potter manuscript was rejected 12 times.Rowling now sits at no. 13…
By Morgan Harlan | Assistant News EditorGreek recruitment is a defining moment for many college students — especially for freshman girls. Baylor rushes later than other universities, holding recruitment in the spring semester rather than the fall. This extra semester can cause freshman girls to constantly be on their toes. Slipping up or “making mistakes” during the first few months of college carries more pressure when it means sororities are watching.Freshman year is the first time in your life that you are fully independent. It is a time to try new things, find new friends and have a couple bumps…
By Morgan Harlan | Assistant News EditorKick start the semester with Late Night, After Dark and Movie Mondays.During the first week of classes, Baylor freshmen have many opportunities to meet fellow classmates and find activities to join. Late Night is an event hosted by Baylor that will be held Aug. 30 from 9:00 p.m. to midnight that allows students to browse different clubs and activities they can get involved with on campus. The event will take place at the McLane Student Life Center, Russell Gymnasium, the Bobo Spiritual Life Center, Moody Library and the Bill Daniel Student Center (the SUB).…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff Writer A man convicted in the 1998 dragging death of James Byrd Jr., a black man in East Texas, will be executed at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Huntsville at the Texas State Penitentiary. John William King, 44, played a role in one of the most high profile hate crimes in United States history. On June 7, 1998 King and two other men dragged James Byrd Jr. behind a truck for three miles until he was killed and dismembered. Before he was chained to the truck, he was beaten and spray painted. Most of Byrd’s body…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff Writer Beginning on April 28, the Texas Department of Transportation plans to start construction in Waco on Interstate 35 from 12th Street to N. Loop 340. The construction will start with the main lanes on the interstate. The northbound lane and shoulder will be closed to rehabilitate and widen the shoulder and then overlay pavement in preparation for mainline work. The road construction is expected to continue through 2024. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the purpose of the construction is to improve safety, add capacity, incorporate technology, and improve aesthetics. The improvements will…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff WriterBaylor student government elections are officially open for voting, as Baylor seeks to elect its newest student body leadership team, class officers, and class senators. Voting is open for students from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 11 and 12 on Connect. Current External Vice President Sloane Simpson, a junior entrepreneurship and marketing major from San Antonio, is currently running unopposed for student body president. The student body president is the chief executive officer of student government and official spokesman of the Baylor student body to all Baylor constituencies, the public and media and…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff Writer Greek Life is a prominent part of Baylor’s campus, with 25% of its student body involved in a sorority or fraternity. However, the abundance of students involved in the greek system isn’t new. In fact, in the 90s, Greek Life was very much apart of Baylor’s culture. While social media had yet to exist, the Stacy Riddle Panhellenic building was a parking lot, and date event photos were taken on polaroid cameras students still wore their letters with pride. Looking back on Greek Life two decades ago, many things have changed on Baylor’s campus…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff WriterFormer Democrat El Paso congressman Beto O’Rourke officially launched his campaign for the 2020 presidential election Saturday in El Paso. He announced his bid for 2020 earlier this March In the first 24 hours of Beto’s public campaign announcement, he broke the record for the most donations in a 24-hour period for the 2020 presidential field, with $6.1 million. Beto is leading a grassroots campaign and relying on individual donors. Beto’s donation website, Act Blue and Beto for America, says, “Our campaign will be different. We won’t be taking a dime from lobbyists, PACs, or…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff WriterTaylor Swift is, simply put, a badass. After rising to fame as a 16-year-old country singer and songwriter, the now 29-year-old pop musician’s legacy and impact has continued to cement her as one of the world’s most popular musicians. Not only does she write all of her own music and remain in creative control of her work, but she also, most importantly, serves as a strong female role model for her fans. In 2013, Swift was allegedly groped by Denver country DJ David Mueller during a meet and greet, when he reached under her skirt…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff WriterBaylor University refuted parts of a federal lawsuit filed against the school on Wednesday by a former member of the Baylor equestrian team, who claims her sexual assault investigation was not handled properly under federal Title IX law.The plaintiff, who the lawsuit refers to as Jane Doe, was a freshman at Baylor during the 2017-18 school year. She claims she was assaulted by two Baylor football players on Nov. 11, 2017, and that a third football player filmed the assault and shared it with a freshman football Snapchat group and others.The plaintiff’s attorneys, from the…
A former member of the Baylor equestrian team filed a federal civil lawsuit on Wednesday against Baylor University on claims her sexual assault investigation was not handled properly. The plaintiff, who the lawsuit calls Jane Doe, was a freshman at Baylor during the 2017-18 school year. She claims she was assaulted by two Baylor football players on Nov. 11, 2017. She claims a third football player filmed the assault and shared it with a freshman football Snapchat group and others. The plaintiff’s attorney, Dallas-based lawyer Julie E. Heath, wrote in the lawsuit Baylor’s actions violated federal Title IX laws. It…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff WriterKathy Khang, an Asian-American writer and speaker, was presenting at Chapel on Feb. 18 when Denver freshman Joe Napierkowski stood up to correct Khang on what he viewed as an inaccurate statement. Napierkowski was then removed from Baylor Chapel’s audience.A video was posted by Baylor’s Young Conservatives of Texas on YouTube on March 4, where Napierkowski tells his side of the story about Khang’s speech. “While I disagreed on some of the points she made, I felt no need to object. That is until she began relaying a recent news story out of Florida,” Napierkowski…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff WriterA man was shot by a Waco police officer who was responding to a disturbance call at the Deluxe Inn, off of I-35. Another man sustained stab wounds in the altercation.At 9:40 p.m. on Friday night, the Waco Police Department received a disturbance call from the motel, which involved two male individuals. Waco police officer Garen Bynum said the two males were fighting at the motel when it then spilled into the street on Speight Avenue. Waco police dispatch arrived at the scene, at which point the altercation had become physical.Bynum said during the physical…
Story by Morgan Harlan | Staff Writer and Sarah Asinof | News Editor, Video by Kennedy Dendy | Broadcast Reporter A McLennan County jury found former Baylor football player Shawn Oakman not guilty Thursday afternoon of sexual assault. The jury deliberated for about two hours after listening to 10 state witnesses, including testimony from law enforcement, medical and psychological examiners, the alleged victim and of her friends. The defense called six witnesses to support their claim that Oakman and the woman had consensual sex. They included three friends the football player who saw him and the victim that night. The…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff WriterThe trial of former Baylor football player Shawn Oakman began Tuesday with jury selection, following the appointment of visiting judge, Michael R. Snipes, a retired former Dallas County Criminal District Court Seven Judge. Snipes appointment comes after the original presiding judge, 19th District Court Judge Ralph Strother, recused himself from Oakman’s trial on Monday.Tuesday morning, Oakman’s defense attorney, Alan Bennett, and prosecutors, made their cases about an alleged ex parte interaction between the prosecuting attorneys and Judge Strothers. Bennett had filed three motions on Feb. 25, to dismiss the case, recuse the judge, and disqualify…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff Writer and Kalyn Story | Print Managing EditorThe sexual assault trial of former Baylor football player Shawn Oakman started Monday morning with defense attorneys filing a motion asking the judge to recuse himself, and 19th District Court Judge Ralph Strother agreed. On Tuesday morning a visiting judge will be called in to preside over the selection of jurors for Oakman’s trial.Oakman’s lawyers filed court documents on Monday that said the judge unsealed 11 sets of medical records for prosecutors on Feb. 20 and did not notify defense attorneys of the move. Consequently, they said Strother…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff WriterHailing from the Pacific Northwest corner of the United States, I was terrified and ill prepared for my attendance at a private Baptist university in Texas. During my senior year of high school, my favorite hobby was silently judging people wearing “Make America Great Again” hats. Plus, I had never read The Bible … which was further inadequate preparation for my future Baptist higher education. (In retrospect, maybe Texas wasn’t the most logical college destination.) I was randomly matched with my freshman roommate. At first glance, the differences between my roommate and I seemed to…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff WriterApproximately 200 potential jurors were summoned to the McLennan County courthouse Friday afternoon to fill out surveys to test potential bias against former Baylor football player and defendant Shawn Oakman. Oakman has been indicted on sexual assault charges and awaits trial in the county. Out of the jurors, 137 said they were available for jury duty the week of the trial and filled out the questionnaire, according to the district court clerk’s office. 19th District Court Judge Ralph Strother and attorneys for both sides will be examining the jurors’ questionnaires to determine if there is…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff Writer Two rapes, one sexual assault and one case of fondling have been reported in the last 10 days, according to the Baylor crime and fire log. All of the cases are being handled by the Title IX office. This is in addition to the five rape allegations The Lariat reported on in the last two weeks. All of the reported incidents occurred near, but not on, Baylor’s campus. One of the alleged rapes occurred in August 2017 in the 1100 block of Speight Ave. and was reported to the crime log on Feb. 6,…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff WriterWhile many universities have reached an equal gender enrollment, many majors are still considerably top heavy with one gender. For example, mechanical engineering is one of the heaviest male concentrated majors and nursing is one of the most female dominant majors. San Angelo junior Lanie Williams is a mechanical engineering major who is one of the 20 percent of females enrolled in the engineering department at Baylor. “I never think about being in the gender minority because that’s not my focus,” Williams said. According to Data USA 93.1 percent of mechanical engineers are male. In…
Morgan Harlan | Staff WriterAn alleged rape was reported at 11th Street Flats, an off-campus apartment complex at 1700 block of S 11th Street. According to the Baylor Clery Report Crime Log, the incident occurred on Jan. 26 and was reported on the crime log on Jan. 30. The reported assault at 11th Street Flats is the fifth reported rape on the Baylor crime log in the last two months. Baylor spokesperson Tonya Hudson provided a statement saying, “This incident occurred off-campus but has been reported to Baylor’s Title IX Office. As with all incidents reported to Title IX, this…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff Writer An alleged robbery was reported on Monday morning at the residence of six male Baylor students. According to the residents, on Sunday night, while they were asleep, someone broke into the house and stole an Xbox, all of the Xbox games and a suitcase full of clothes. Cloquet, Minn. senior Christian Pritchett said that four of the six roommates have lived there since their sophomore year, and this is their third reported robbery. In June 2017, Pritchett and some of his roommates were playing basketball in the area behind their house when they saw…
Story by Morgan Harlan | Staff Writer, Video by Kennedy Dendy | Broadcast ReporterThe 19th State District Judge, Ralph T. Strother, postponed the decision on a change of venue for Shawn Oakman’s sexual assault trial until a larger than normal pool of potential jurors can be questioned about their ability to be impartial toward Oakman. The former Baylor University football player appeared in court last Friday for a motion to move his sexual assault trial out of McLennan County. Oakman and his attorney believe they cannot get a fair trial due to the negative publicity surrounding recent similar cases in…
Morgan Harlan | Staff WriterThe Baylor University Police Department has expanded its popular security escort program by adding two hours of service. The security escort program will now be running from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., seven days a week. The security escort program offers safe rides to Baylor’s students, staff and visitors. Anyone who is on campus can call to get a ride from a Baylor security officer. Baylor Chief of Police Brad Wigtil said the time of highest demand for the security escorts is from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. In addition, Tuesdays through Thursdays are the busiest…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff Writer and Sarah Asinof | News Editor Baylor University has assured South Russell residents that they are assessing the three cases of rape that were reported to the hall earlier this week. According to the Baylor Police crime log, the rapes occurred on Dec. 2, Jan. 19, and Jan. 20. All of the cases were officially entered into the crime log on Jan. 28.“These incidents are all related and involve the same individuals,” according to the crime log. According to a Baylor media spokesperson, “The rape charges fall under Title IX jurisdiction, and all information…
By Morgan Harlan | Staff WriterThis month, the Baylor Center for Christian Music Studies, in the Baylor School of Music, received a four year 1.2 million dollar grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., a private philanthropy foundation. The grant was awarded in part of the company’s Strengthening Congressional Ministries with Youth Initiative.The mission of Lilly Endowment Inc. as stated on their website is, “Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private philanthropic foundation based in Indianapolis. The Endowment was created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family – J.K. Lilly, Sr. and sons Eli and J.K. Jr. – through gifts of…
