Equality Ride Preaches Open Dialogue
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TEXAS BREAKS OUT PAYING FOR EXPERIENCE: FAMOUS PIANIST THE BROOMS ON UNPAID INTERNSHIPS CAN COST BRINGS MELODIES TO BAYLOR PAGE 7 STUDENTS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS PAGE 4 MUSIC SCHOOL PAGE 9 ROUNDING UP CAMPUS NEWS SINCE 1900 THE BAYLOR LARIAT TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2007 Equality ride preaches open dialogue “I feel like they can reject any organization that asks to come here, and it does make sense that they chose to reject this particular organization since it appears to be contrary to Baylor’s ide- Matt Aaker als, as they would call Laguna Hills, Calif., them.” freshman “As a college, we’re sup- posed to be open to dis- cussion and things like that, so I wish (admin- istrators) were a little Henry Chan/Contributor more accepting.” Kacia Huddleston Gay student advocates writers in the Bible didn’t necessar- Chandler, Ariz., ily understand the issue of orienta- freshman spread message of love, tion and they just saw it was deviant acceptance at Baylor behavior.” “Baylor has held a pure, Matthias said she also believes Christian point of view By Claire St. Amant the historical context and the audi- Staff writer ence of the verses about homosexu- since the opening of ality are important factors to look at the school in 1845, and Twenty-six members from the in interpretation of the Scriptures. they’re not looking to Soulforce Equality Ride visited “A lot of what the writers of the campus Monday to dialogue with Bible are speaking against we are change or divert from students and the community about opposed to as well,” she said. “We that original viewpoint, issues of homosexuality and faith. are not OK with using sex within Baylor marks the fourth stop at religious practices or anything like which is not promoting private Christian universities and that.” the gay and lesbian Brandon Clark colleges across the Eastern United Matthias said the groups are ad- lifestyle.” Houston soph. States for the group, which also has vocating for monogamous, loving, a Western counterpart. same-sex relationships. The group’s mission is to “en- “To tell someone based on those courage reconciliation between les- few passages that any expression of “I do want to be open- bian, gay, bisexual and transgender who they are as relational beings is minded about it, individuals and faith communities,” invalid and can be very damaging,” Henry Chan/Contributor especially because I said equality rider Mandy Matthias, she said. About 60 people gathered Monday at Heritage Square in downtown Waco to have have gay friends here at an alumna of Eastern University. While Baylor did not grant the a discussion with members of Soulforce Equality Ride, a group that advocates gay Group members attended Cha- group an officially sanctioned dia- student rights. Baylor and I don’t want pel with students Monday morning logue, Vice President of Student Life and spent the rest of the afternoon Dr. Dub Oliver said the administra- students Monday explaining the speak here.” them to feel like they’re walking around campus and meet- tion had no problem with the rid- university’s stance on sexuality and Equality rider Amanda Harris, a being excluded just ing people, she said. ers visiting campus “as long as they notifying students of the presence senior at the University of Central because of their Amanda “We do feel that God loves and conducted themselves in a manner of the equality riders on campus Arkansas, said several groups, indi- McClendon affirms us just as we are as LGBT consistent with the university’s mis- scheduled for Monday and today. vidual students and faculty mem- sexuality.” (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans- sion.” “This is a private campus,” he Houston senior gender) people,” Matthias said. “The Oliver sent an e-mail to current said. “You have to be invited to Please see EQUAL, page 10 Baylor, Soulforce tackle Christianity, homosexuality By Claire St. Amant clusive one bit. day where they said that Baylor They have to be so careful Q: How should a Christian Christians of all people should and Melissa Limmer Oliver: There is a difference is very comfortable having about who knows that they are university treat students who recognize the discrimination Staff writers between orientation and engag- dialogue on human sexuality. gay, lesbian, bisexual, transeg- are homosexuals? the LGBT community faces and ing in homosexual behavior. Every student I have talked to ender, whatever. they should open their hearts to Dub Oliver, vice president for The bottom line for me is that today said that they never talk Oliver: Institutions in gener- Harris: I think that a Chris- them. Student Life and Amanda Har- we’re all sinners and saved by about human sexuality in any al, as supported by case law, can tian university should treat les- Oliver: I hope we will always ris, a Soulforce Equality Ride grace. There are many ways that of their classes or in general. restrict time, place and manner bian, gay, bisexual or transgen- respond to all of our students member from Lonoke, Ark., Christians fall short. So, I’m wondering what comfort of speech. We’re a private insti- dered students just like they with Christian grace and love. who attended Baylor in the fall Q: What rights does a private they are talking about because tution affiliated with the Baptist treat any of their other students. Several students wrote back of 2003, answered a series of Christian university have to it just seems to me that it’s really General Convention of Texas, They should affirm them; they to me today (from the e-mail questions for the Lariat. control dialogue on campus? not discussed at all. and we have the right to restrict should welcome them in. They to undergraduate students) in Q: Is it a conflict to be a I’ve gotten several letters activities on campus, particu- should act just like Jesus did. support of Baylor’s stance, and homosexual and a Christian? Harris: They have every right from Baylor students who are larly in public forums. If you look at Jesus, he reached several students wrote back in as a private university. It’s inter- gay and they just talk about how We do control the forum that out to the people who were seen opposition. Harris: Not at all. I don’t esting — I don’t know if you got they fear physical violence, they is Baylor University. Our mis- as the pariahs of society: wom- think that they are mutually ex- the letter that they sent out to- fear being beaten up. sion is unique. en, children, differently abled. Please see BUS, page 10 Bullets rip through Dems want out of Iraq; home near campus Bush pleads patience By Ben Feller 21,500 additional U.S. troops to By Melissa Limmer only one round penetrating the The Associated Press secure Baghdad and Iraq’s trou- Staff Writer residence.” bled Anbar Province “will need Lewis’ vehicle was also WASHINGTON — With Dem- more time to take effect,” espe- While many students were struck by a bullet on the pas- ocrats pushing for an end to the cially since fewer than half of away on spring break, some senger-side door. Iraq war now entering its fifth the troop reinforcements have houses near campus became Pearland junior David Belek year, President Bush pleaded for not yet arrived in the capital. targets for break-ins, and for also lives at the home. more patience Monday, saying Bush added: “There will be good one house, even gunfire. He said a few of the bullets success is possible but “will take days and bad days ahead as the According to Waco Police had penetrated so deep into months, not days or weeks.” security plan unfolds.” Department spokesman Steve the house that they could not The war has stretched longer Democrats are bringing up Anderson, a home located at be removed. Belek said police and with higher costs than the this week in the House a war the 2600 block of Third Street told him the gun used to shoot Henry Chan/contributor White House ever predicted. On spending bill that would effec- was fired upon at about 11 p.m. the house appeared to be an as- Pearland junior David Belek’s home was the target of gunfire March 12 while the fourth anniversary of the tively require the withdrawal March 12. sault rifle. he was inside. day Bush directed the invasion of U.S. troops from Iraq by the John Lewis, a resident of Belek said crime is not un- to begin, the president made a fall of 2008, on top of providing the home, was inside when the common in his neighborhood, televised statement from the funding for the wars in Iraq and shooting took place.. especially over long breaks. trolling enough or what.” the neighborhood over spring White House Roosevelt Room to Afghanistan for the year. The Anderson said police dis- “There are a lot of people that Belek said street lights along break. Anderson said three defend continued U.S. involve- White House has been pushing covered at least five shots had get robbed out here,” he said. “I Third Street do not work. residences were broken into on ment. been fired at the home, “with don’t know if they are not pa- This is not the only crime in Third Street as well. He said his plan to send Please see IRAQ, page 10 VOL. 106 No. 81 www.baylor.edu/Lariat © 2007, BAYLOR UNIVERSITY 2 The Baylor Lariat OPINION Tuesday, March 20, 2007 Gore’s home energy usage is as green as can be Al Gore must be feeling like think tank) recently issued a The Tennessean, they purchased the only thing they were doing ing to the majority consensus of Michael Corleone.