BATTER UP: BASEBALL, SOFTBALL TEAMS ENTER 2007 WITH LOFTY GOALS PAGE 6 ROUNDING UP CAMPUS NEWS SINCE 1900 THE BAYLOR LARIAT FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2007 Regents searching for answers about alumni Probing questionnaire and the Baylor Alumni Associa- zine since 1998, called the to Baylor, a group which called reunion and commencement “My interest isn’t in expos- tion, said Todd Copeland, edi- 2004-2005 turmoil centered on for Sloan’s firing prior to his tent programs. ing wrongdoing at Baylor or demands responses tor of Baylor Line magazine and the magazine “puzzling.” 2005 resignation. Copeland said some discus- launching investigative stories; regarding ex-president alumni association director of According to a Thursday The document also ques- sion has been set into motion it’s about celebrating things at communications. Waco Tri- tions the editorial authority of by the actions of regents — some Baylor. It’s a great school,” Co- By Jon Schroeder The alumni association pub- bune-Herald the alumni as- alumni even peland said. “When there have Staff writer lishes Baylor Line magazine article, the sociation over became mem- been dips in the road, we’ve had quarterly, and the feature article q u e s t i o n - Baylor Line “We’re not in the bers of the to acknowledge that and cover it When members of the Baylor of its winter 2004 edition was a naire given magazine, ac- business of stirring up alumni asso- in a way that hopefully generate Board of Regents asked Presi- profile titled “A Turning Point?” to Lilley by cording to the ciation Thurs- alumni support for the school, dent John Lilley to answer some It examined the “heated debate” regents asks Tribune-Her- controversy.” day and cited to rally around it.” questions about the Baylor around the office of then-presi- very direct ald. the controver- Bill Nesbitt, alumni asso- Alumni Association, a contro- dent Sloan and the controversial q u e s t i o n s Baylor Line Todd Copeland sy specifically ciation president-elect, and versy of the past suddenly was Baylor 2012 proposal. about the magazine is Editor, Baylor Line as a reason for Jeff Kilgore, alumni associa- shoved into the present. “We’re not a muckraking relationship 100 percent joining. tion executive vice president, The January 2005 resignation publication,” Copeland said. b e t w e e n alumni-fund- He did not questioned the motives of the of Dr. Robert B. Sloan Jr. was not “We’re not in the business of Lilley the alumni ed, Copeland said. Although the comment on any questionnaire “five, six or seven” regents they without its arguments, and one stirring up controversy.” association alumni association does receive the regents may have posed to believe authored the question- of those was a sort of falling-out Copeland, a ’90 Baylor alum- and specific members of the money from Baylor for its Heri- Lilley’s office or questions Lilley between the board of regents nus who has edited the maga- Committee to Restore Integrity tage Club, legacy, homecoming asked the alumni association. Please see LILLEY, page 4 Students Super Bowl, Super Crazy push for policy change Senate passes bill that Members of the Cirque could pave way for du Soleil cir- non-Baptist groups cus perform Thursday during a press By Kate Boswell conference in Staff writer Miami outlining the group’s In a 15-12 vote, the Student planned Senate passed a controversial bill pre-game fes- Thursday asking for change in tivities for the Baylor’s policies on chartering non- Super Bowl. Baptist Christian organizations. Associated Press The bill recommends that the Baylor Board of Regents change the current policy, which allows only Baptist organizations to be chartered, to allow other Christian Game brings out dysfunctional fans groups to enjoy the same privileges as Baptist ones. By Claire St. Amant which contributes to their explosive demeanor. The bill’s authors said they hope Staff writer Wakefield added that dysfunction can occur on the bill will be presented to the re- a smaller scale without the abuse of alcohol if fans gents at Thursday’s meeting. Foam fingers, painted chests and team jerseys are “highly identified” with a team. “I’m just enthusiastic that the will overrun sports bars and local residences Chicago sophomore Casey Quinn had hoped students were encouraged by the Sunday night. It’s Super Bowl time. And while to make it home for her family’s big party but has student body to express their views the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts will decided to cheer on the Bears from Waco. and I’m just encouraged that they play at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, many fans “I plan on getting really dressed up in my Bears represented the 60 percent of the will be celebrating their favorite team from jersey and hat,” she said. “I don’t know where I’m non-Baptist Christians,” said Lau- wherever they are. going yet, but I will go out somewhere with friends ren Micek, an Irvine, Calif., senior Dr. Kirk Wakefield, chairman of the mar- to watch it.” and one of the bill’s authors. keting department and head of the sports, Quinn said if the Bears win, she doesn’t know The bill was hotly debated. Op- sponsorship and sales program, said the Su- what she’ll do. ponents of the bill expressed con- per Bowl creates a high-energy environment “I would go crazy!” she said. cerns that this move would open across the nation. Wakefield said he suspects there will be some the school to secularism or betray Wakefield published an article in Volume dysfunctional fans in Waco, but the real danger Baylor’s Baptist identity. two of the 2006 Journal of Leisure Research lies near the home bases of the Bears and Colts. “If you think of Baylor, you which examined the behavior of dysfunc- “If you’re watching the game somewhere be- think of Baptist,” said Skyler Her- tional sports fans. tween Chicago and Indianapolis, you could end ring, a Roswell, N.M., sophomore. He said the Super Bowl is “not just an- up with a mixed crowd,” he said. “That is the per- “Would the founders of Baylor ever other game” and will bring a certain level of fect environment to find dysfunctional fans.” have recognized a revolt against enthusiasm to watch parties. Chicago freshman Lucy Wenk is traveling Baylor’s Baptist heritage? The an- Wakefield generally defines a dysfunc- home to attend a family Super Bowl party where swer is no.” tional fan as someone who is confrontational both the Colts and the Bears will be represented. Will Simmons, a Frisco junior, to the opposing team, has obsessive behavior “It should be pretty intense,” Wenk said. “Chi- said he was worried that allowing and suffers from some type of social disor- cago fans are hard core.” these groups to be chartered would der. Wenk said her party will have around 30 require Baylor to make theologi- He also has found most dysfunctional cal judgments about which groups fans consume alcohol during the game, Please see WILD, page 4 were Christian and which weren’t. Please see SENATE, page 4 Senate approves wage increase, small business tax breaks By Jim Kuhnhenn and symbolic consequences. It onciled with the House version job training,” said Sen. Michael The Associated Press would be one of the first major passed Jan. 10 that contained Enzi, R-Wyo., who helped man- legislative successes of the new no tax provisions. House Demo- age the debate for the GOP. WASHINGTON — The Senate Democratic-controlled Con- crats have insisted they want The bill presents a challenge voted overwhelmingly Thursday gress. a minimum wage bill with no to Democrats who must navi- to boost the federal minimum “Passing this wage hike rep- strings attached, though some gate between the demands of wage by $2.10 to $7.25 an hour resents a small but necessary have conceded the difficulty of labor and other interest groups over the next two years. step to help lift America’s work- passing the legislation in the and the realities of the Senate, Packaged with the increase ing poor out of the ditches of Senate without tax breaks. where Republicans hold 49 of were controversial tax cuts for poverty and onto the road to- Republicans stressed the 100 votes. House and Senate small businesses and higher ward economic prosperity,” said importance of the business tax Democrats will try to negotiate taxes for many $1 million-plus Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. breaks in the bill, though it a way out of the potential stand- executives. President Bush urged the was a significantly smaller tax off. The increase in the mini- House to support the measure, package than Republicans had House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, mum, the first in a decade, was including the tax help for small sought during previous attempts D-Calif., has said she supports approved by a 94-3 vote, capping business. to raise the minimum wage. some of the tax provisions in a nine-day debate over how to He said, “The Senate has tak- “The Senate’s reasonable ap- the House package, but she also balance the wage increase with en a step toward helping main- proach recognizes that small has said she would prefer they the needs of businesses that em- tain a strong and dynamic labor businesses have been the steady be put in a separate, House-initi- ploy low-wage workers. market and promoting contin- engine of our growing economy ated tax bill. Associated Press A top priority of Democrats, ued economic growth.” and that they have been a source Sens.