• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

STAY CONNECTED >> The Baylor Lariat @bulariat @baylorlariat Baylor Lariat WE’RE THERE WHEN YOU CAN’T BE FEBRUARY 23, 2018 FRIDAY BAYLORLARIAT.COM Opinion | 2 Arts & Life | 5 Sports | 7 Public Access Loud Words Legendary Board of Regents Common Grounds Coach Mulkey is a finalist meetings should be open hosted a slam poetry for the Naismith Hall of to the public. event. Fame. Death to Life Former student now faces life prison sentence DIDI MARTINEZ Digital Managing Editor With the fate of an inmate on death row in his hands, Gov. Greg Abbott has decided to grant clemency to Thomas “Bart” Whitaker who was scheduled for execution Thursday. Lariat Archives LOOKING BACK When Billy Graham spoke at Baylor in 1962, classes were dismissed from 9:40 a.m. to noon so students could attend. The service was held in Marrs McLean Gymnasium because it could hold 1,500 more people than Waco Hall, but it still filled to capacity. Thomas “Bart” America’s pastor left big impact on BU Whitaker The governor’s decision THOMAS MORAN died from natural causes in his home said. “He spoke of the University’s with whom he would have five was made at 4:55 p.m. Staff Writer in Montreat, N.C. commitment to faith and learning and children. Graham pastored several yesterday — almost one Baylor President Dr. Linda to helping our students understand different communities and began to hour before Bart Whitaker’s After humble beginnings growing Livingstone released a statement, their responsibility to be the hands gain momentum as an evangelist, execution via lethal injection up on a dairy farm in Charlotte, N.C., sharing her condolences with and feet of Christ and serve others preaching throughout the United was scheduled to take place. no one could have predicted that Graham’s family members and throughout the world, a commitment States and in Europe. The decision was placed on William “Billy” Franklin Graham Jr. highlighting the close relationship to which Baylor remains faithful.” In 1949, Graham led a revival the governor after the Texas would become the most influential between the university and the According to his website, Graham in Los Angeles that would launch Board of Pardons and Paroles Christian evangelist of the 20th notable religious figure. first felt called toward evangelism his ministry toward unprecedented unanimously voted in favor century. Remembered fondly by “We are deeply grieved to learn at the age of 15 after attending a success. Now called “The Los of clemency for the 38-year- the Baylor community and millions that the Rev. Billy Graham has series of local revival meetings lead Angeles Crusade,” the meetings were old inmate. At the time, Bart of followers, Graham passed away passed away, yet we rejoice that by traveling evangelist. After being originally scheduled for a span of Whitaker’s attorney, Keith Wednesday at the age of 99. he has been called home as a good ordained a Southern Baptist minister three weeks but a nightly overflow Hampton said he feared Graham’s health had been and faithful servant of our Lord and and completing his education, of crowds filling the tent motivated the opportunity to spare declining for several years and he Savior Jesus Christ,” Livingstone Graham married his wife Ruth, Whitaker’s life would “close GRAHAM >> Page 4 rapidly” should the governor deny the move but was “hopeful” that Abbott would rule in favor of the board’s recommendation. Bart Whitaker was initially sentenced to death after it was revealed that he planned to have his family killed through a staged burglary and murder-for-hire scheme in order to receive a $1.5 million inheritance, according to court documents. The Lucinda Yang December 2003 incident Sadie Perry Kayla Kemp Elijah Tanner, took place after the family Charleston, Tenn., Niwot, Colo. sophomore Copperas Cove senior Keller theology student had returned home from doctoral candidate celebrating Bart Whitaker’s graduation from Sam Houston State University — the school he had transferred to after The only thing that I heard I got the chance to go to his legacy I think his death is a great time for He really impacted my parent’s attending Baylor University “about his passing was in a quote on “museum, and I think it’s a testament “the newer generations to pay respects generation.“ My whole family was in 2011, but never actually Instagram about living on in heaven to his impact on the world and just to his legacy. Graham is one of the talking about [Graham’s passing], graduated from. At the house after death, and I thought that related how much God was able to use him. few people in popular culture who and my mom sent me a text and a two of Bart Whitaker’s to him and was really impactful It’s a different time, and I don’t think was really devoted to living a life of link to an article about it. I grew up friends, Chris Brashear and because he really tried to point out we’ll see someone who had such an integrity. In his 99 years, there was no hearing about Graham, but I’m not Steve Champagne, staged the through his life that we’re alive impact on the world in an honorable scandal or drama. He just really lived really familiar with his sermons.” robbery and Brashear opened eternally through the lord.” way like he did in our lifetime.” life for the Lord.” fire, killing Bart Whitaker’s 53-year-old mother, Patricia Whitaker, and 19-year-old brother, Kevin Whitaker. Only Bart Whitaker and his father Kent Whitaker survived the attack. 16 defendants added to fraternity lawsuit But around 5:20 p.m. today, Hampton got the call that he had been waiting for, MICAELA FREEMAN local and national chapters allowing Donna Doe to be arrested and later indicted on and therefore the university and said he was the first person Staff Writer of the fraternity and students drugged, “failing to discover, four counts of sexual assault declines to comment. to deliver the news to the who were officers of the develop and/or implement and is awaiting trial. He is The McLennan County convict’s father, who has been Sixteen defendants have Baylor chapter. basic safeguards designed currently out of jail on a District Clerk’s office has at the forefront of the battle for been added to the lawsuit According to the arrest to prevent and/or minimize $5,000 bond. not been notified that any of his son’s life. against a Baylor University affidavit, the victim, called incidents of sexual assault,” In May 2016, Phi Delta the defendants have hired “I’m glad the governor fraternity regarding an Donna Doe in the civil suit, and “failing to have adequate Theta suspended its Baylor attorneys at this point. followed the recommendation alleged rape that occurred said a man took her “to a policies and procedures in chapter after the indictment The Lariat reached out and did the right thing,” at an off-campus Phi Delta secluded part of the grounds place to prevent the provision of Anderson and the incident. to Phi Delta Theta’s national Hampton wrote to the Lariat Theta party in February behind a tent in order to get of alcohol to persons under University Spokeswoman chapter for a comment and via email. 2016. some air ... once away from the age of 21.” Lori Fogleman said six of was not able to receive one As for the inmate, Bart The civil lawsuit, which everyone else attending the One of those named as the 16 new defendants are by the time of publication. Whitaker told prison officials now includes a total of 24 party” and sexually assaulted a defendant is Jacob Walter current Baylor students, nine The lawsuit is asking he is “thankful.” Phi Delta Theta affiliated her. Anderson, a former Baylor are Baylor graduates and one for more than $1 million in “I’m thankful for this defendants, was filed in the The suit alleges the student who was president of is a former student. damages for physical injury, 414th State District Court on fraternity’s members at the Phi Delta Theta at the time of Fogleman said Baylor mental anguish and pain and CRIME >> Page 4 Feb. 8. That list includes the incident were negligent, the incident. Anderson was is not a party in the suit suffering. Vol.118 No. 38 © 2018 Baylor University Friday, February 23, 2018 2 The Baylor Lariat opinionbaylorlariat.com GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? We want to hear it. Send us your thoughts: [email protected] EDITORIAL True Transparency Baylor Board of Regents should adopt an open meetings policy As a private institution, Baylor’s obligation to Texas law differs from that of a public university’s concerning the rules and regulations that govern open meeting policies. This directly relates to Baylor’s Board of Regents, which to this day conducts its meetings behind closed doors. Just because Baylor’s Board of Regents is not strictly bound to Texas’s open meeting laws does not mean Baylor should not adhere to them, anyway. The Board held its first meeting of the year last Friday in the Hankamer/Cashion Academic Center. Behind closed doors, the Board discussed the implementation of Phase II of Baylor’s Pro Futuris vision, which included the Academic Strategic Plan called “Illuminate” and President Dr. Linda A. Livingstone’s future goals for the university. In contrast, a Baylor Magazine article outlined the Feb. 17, 2017 Board of Regents meeting, claiming the Board approved multiple measures for increased transparency: “The Baylor Board of Regents adopted new bylaws at their February meeting that will improve University governance by increasing diversity among the Regents, provide voting privileges to a second-term student Regent and give the public a more complete view of Board operations and decisions.” A statement from then Board chair Ronald D.

Load more

  8

Copy Link