Families Separated As Houston Floods
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STAY CONNECTED >> The Baylor Lariat @bulariat @baylorlariat Baylor Lariat WE’RE THERE WHEN YOU CAN’T BE AUGUST 29, 2017 TUESDAY BAYLORLARIAT.COM Opinion | p. 2 Arts & Life | p. 6 Sports | p. 9 Faculty diversity Grab a shovel Rugby begins More diversity leads See how McLennan The rugby team starts to a better educational Master Gardeners help the season at our highest experience. students stay green. ranking, No. 25. Associated Press DEVASTATION Hurricane Harvey, the strongest hurricane that has hit the United States in 13 years, delivered catastrophic winds and flooding to the South Texas area over the weekend. The tumbling storm killed at least three people, injured at least 14 people and ruined a multitude of homes. Hurricane Havoc Families separated Students aid storm victims as Houston floods PHOEBE SUY Staff Writer KALYN STORY during this time. It’s heartbreaking to News Editor see the pictures of my entire hometown Hurricane Harvey hit Texas on Friday AJ KEY underwater and there’s nothing I can night and continues to leave behind historic d o.” Reporter levels of flooding and rainfall in several Other students are having a hard coastal towns, the nine-county metropolitan Since Hurricane Harvey’s landfall, time focusing on their studies because area of Houston and the Southeast Texas some Baylor students have shifted their of the hurricane, not because they are region. focus from school to the safety of their being affected directly but because of Baylor offices and organizations are loved ones. their family members and peers. anticipating involvement in response to In fall 2016, Bothell, Wash. senior Pavithra severe weather conditions. 1,605 students Srinivasan said All updates will be posted on the Baylor were from Har- HOW TO HELP it’s hard to see “Response to Harvey” website as they ris County, 486 her friends go become available. students were through such “ Our hearts are heavy at the devastation tragic events from Fort Bend Donate clean, gently used along the Texas coast and in Houston and County and while being away southeast Texas from Hurricane Harvey.,” 374 students- clothing, blankets and other at school. Baylor president Linda Livingstone said in were from items “I have a a statement. “Our deepest prayers are with Montgomery friend that lives the families and communities who have in Katy and her County. Donate to the Hurricane experienced loss, and we pray that in the entire family is coming days they will be filled with hope, That totals Harvey Relief Fund over 2,000 living on the sec- reassurance and restoration. We encourage students in the ond floor of her our Baylor Family to stay safe and join Baylor family For more information, go house because it together in prayer for God’s comfort, mercy that have been to http://www.baylor.edu/ is flooded. They and protection for those impacted by this are afraid that the impacted by response/ devastating storm.” the hurricane. roof will cave in.” Rockport senior Steven Merrell is Katy junior Srinivasan said. collecting items to be donated to his Kristen Echevarria said her family hasn’t In some parts of southern Texas, gas hometown. Some requested items include been able to leave their house since prices have gone from $1.99 to $3.29. clean clothing, shoes and socks, battery- Saturday due to the flooding. While Central Texas is running low operated fans, coolers, batteries and “The whole situation is really scary as everyone is traveling further away blankets. for me and my family,” Echevarria said. “It’s really hard not to be there with them HARVEY >> Page 8 Associated Press HELP >> Page 5 CHIS organization serves Waco for over 60 years HELPING COURTNEY SOSNOWSKI the community with the purpose of “encouraging HANDS Reporter campus friendships and fostering a cooperative Clasped Hands spirit between university and community,” as in Service is a Baylor has always been service-oriented. For stated in the organization’s mission. The Greek service sorority over 60 years, the women of CHIS have made a letter X was chosen as the name, representing that volunteers difference around Waco. around Waco, the acronym ‘Clasped Hands In Service.’ helping the Every week, the women of CHIS, Clasped CHIS members can be found in a different community Hands in Service, service sorority branch out of part of Waco every Saturday morning. The by doing the Baylor Bubble to meet needs in Waco. World Hunger Relief Farm, The Waco Humane weekly service “It’s really a great way to grow during Society, Quality Care Waco, and Keep Waco projects. The college,” Oklahoma City senior Jenna Hampton, Beautiful represent a few of the organizations sorority has the president of CHIS, said. “It exposes you to that CHIS work with. While members are now been a lot of different ways you can volunteer and it not required to serve every Saturday, they are around for 60 shows you that volunteering can be fun.” required to complete a minimum of 25 hours of years. Created in 1955 by a group of service-minded Courtesy Art women, CHIS was founded to serve Baylor and CHIS >> Page 8 Tuesday, August 29, 2017 2 The Baylor Lariat opinionbaylorlariat.com GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? We want to hear it. Send us your thoughts: [email protected] EDITORIAL Rewon Shimray | Cartoonist Liesje Powers | Multimedia Editor Future faculty should exhibit more diversity As a college student, you Institutional Research and groups like the LatinX have to look back and think the same cultural background have the privilege to attend become much more aware Testing. Sadly, this is not Coalition, Black Student about how many professors and ethnicity, then we are Baylor during the university’s of people and perspectives equal to the diversity in our Union and the Asian Coalition. we’ve had that are women or not going to be exposed to first female presidency. We that are different than you’ve student body, which sits at 36 There have also been efforts to people of color, that is an issue. different perspectives. To fulfill are excited to see where experienced. A major part percent. Of the roughly 1,062 increase the minority faculty Diversity is more than the university’s mission of this university goes under of your college experience is faculty members, 40 percent numbers by increasing the hiring professors that are being global leaders, we have President Linda Livingstone’s undoubtedly your teachers. are women. We applaud the number of faculty candidate women or minorities; it is to be equipped with faculty leadership, but the work is not Students unconsciously Baylor administration’s effort interviews, creating search about including voices that are and staff from various cultures. done. become reflections of the to emphasize the need for committee funds and a search traditionally not represented. For diversity to be We are proud to be instruction we receive from inclusion among students, committee “toolkit,” according As students, we have an increased, we must foster an attending a university that our mentors. but we hope that the same to the Baylor Diversity and opportunity to learn from environment that is welcoming is taking strides to increase We need variety among our initiative will be taken for Inclusion website. a variety of professors with to multicultural faculty. diversity with students, but professors to challenge and faculty members as well. When discussing this topic complex backgrounds, and Faculty could engage students now is the time to stand for encourage us to wrestle with Baylor has taken steps to in our editorial board meeting, that is not being capitalized on. in worldly conversation it within our faculty. Baylor’s what we believe. By getting increase diversity through we all thought back on the We need various and can also advocate for brightest days are soon to different perspectives, we are initiatives like the campus number of faculty members backgrounds in our faculty hiring diverse peers in their come, and our faculty will play able to form our own opinions diversity committee, the we have had who were women so that we leave Baylor with departments. an instrumental role in it. from varying backgrounds. appointment of Dr. Elizabeth or minorities. Between the a well-rounded perspective As students, we should be To learn more about As of fall 2016, 14 percent Palacios, special assistant to seven members of the editorial that will prepare us for a advocates for our education these Baylor initiatives, of the faculty identifies as a the president on diversity, and board, we could each only global society. If we are being and stand up for diversity go to http://www.baylor. minority, according to Baylor established affinity community recall just one or two. If we educated by professors with all among faculty as well. We edu/diversity/news. COLUMN More editorials online Hurricane aftermath Become a champion for shows humanity’s best tolerance Over the past five years, our campus has seen an increase in the diversity of our student body. Students are coming DIDI MARTINEZ the very moments that make and women who have already to Baylor from all over the world, representing a variety of Digital Managing Editor life worth living. lost so much, but are willing socio-economic backgrounds, races and religions. With this Shelters are opening to aid to help their neighbor. This is increase in diversity comes a new skill that we all need to Over the weekend, those affected by the storm, a transformation. God’s power embrace—tolerance. Hurricane Harvey swept people online are asking for isn’t in making things go away, From the classroom to the dorm room to the dining hall to Chapel, as Baylor students through Texas, in what has donations and strangers are but transforming difficult we have an incredible opportunity to learn and grow from people that show us different been a devastating blow to the meeting for the first time as moments into ones that touch perspectives and experiences.