NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH NINE QUARTERBACKS, THERE WILL BE A FIGHT TO START PAGE 4 U.S. POSTAGE BATTLE FOR THE BALL: PAID BAYLOR UNIVERSITY ROUNDING UP CAMPUS NEWS SINCE 1900 THE BAYLOR LARIAT FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2008 Professors Keston to discuss Institute war issues unveils An open dialogue led by Baylor religious alum and Dr. Ellis to talk about Christian perspectives abuse By Stephen Jablonski Reporter A collection of When Dr. Marc Ellis, director of the Center communist memorabilia for Jewish Studies and universtiy professor, put on display in mentioned a lack of discussion on the moral dilemma of war in Christianity last semester, Carroll Library the notion rang true with Baylor alumnus Adam Urrutia. This proposal culminated a presentation and discussion of topics relevant By Anita Pere to Christians in a world at war. Staff writer Baylor professors will discuss “Being Chris- tian in a Nation at War … What Are We to Say?” Oppression resonates at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 12 in the Heschel Room of through history as a bruise on the Marrs McLean Science Building. Co-spon- the face of humanity. sored by the Center for Jewish Studies and Many of the world’s citi- the Institute for Faith and Learning, the event zens, grappling with constantly was first conceived by Urrutia, who, Ellis said, changing political regimes and took the initiative to organize the discussion. civil unrest, have never known “This issue is particularly close to what I’m civil liberties. interested in,” Urrutia said. “I’m personally a But one cornerstone of all pacifist and I thought this would be a good societies has survived the test opportunity to discuss this with people.” Associated Press of oppression: religion. The presentation will be pertinent to Baylor The Keston Institute holds University as a Christian institution estab- Year of the Rat more than 8,000 books, 100 lished in a country at war. journal titles, 3,000 photos and “The war is an extremely important issue, People celebrate the Lunar New Year Thursday, in Chinatown in New York, ushering in the Year of the Rat. The rat is the first of 12 450 copies of official secret- animals in the Chinese zodiac, each representing a lunar year, and many Chinese consider it an honor to be born under the rodent’s police documents chronicling Please see WAR, page 6 sign. religious persecution under Communism. The institute is now located at Baylor University under the J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies, occu- pying a space on the second Roberts: Iraqi death toll significant floor of the Carroll Library. The collection contains works Roberts, with teams of Kansas City, Kan. senior “It turned out that we in many languages, from many Lynn Ngo American and Iraqi research- Thomas Herndon expressed ended up with a lot more countries, including the former Reporter ers, conducted two surveys that US culture has stopped deaths and a lot more statisti- U.S.S.R., Germany, Hungary, in Iraq using cluster samples demanding news from the cal power,” he said. Bulgaria and China. Materials “Our leaders have not of random households taken media. The death count in The date back to the 1920s, the early been adequately contrite throughout the country. From “I don’t think we demand Lancet study differed from days of Communism, according about what has been going the information gathered, that. I think the market that of the “Iraqi Body Count.” to Dr. Wallace Daniel, Ralph L. on in Iraq,” Dr. Les Roberts, the researchers concluded demands it,” Roberts said. There’s a reason for this Rob- and Bessie Mae Lynn Professor lead researcher in The Lancet that there have been about “The numbers were dis- erts said. of History, who played a cen- Journal studies of Iraqi death 655,000 Iraqi deaths since missed by President Bush “The vast majority of tral role in bringing the Keston tolls since the invasion, said the start of the war. who said that it was not cred- deaths that we encounter Institute to Baylor. Thursday at a Waco Friends The high death toll results ible,” Alan Northcutt, event weren’t on the ‘Iraqi Body Daniel emphasized the gran- of Peace event. of the studies were initially organizer for Waco Friends Count’,” he said. deur of the assemblage of docu- In the Outback room at met with criticism in the US. of Peace, said. The numbers of Iraqi ments, books and publications. Poppa Rollo’s Pizza, a crowd “It was amazing how this They predicted that their deaths are significant Rob- “It is an extremely rich col- of about 100 people attended study that came out in The second survey would yield erts said. lection on religious liberty in a David Poe/Lariat staff the event to hear the Colom- Lancet received different a number four times greater “It matters a lot in terms key part of the world. It is a vast bia University associate pro- attention in Europe than in than the 2004 survey, but the of resentment, in terms of collection that deals with this Dr. Les Roberts speaks Thursday at Poppa Rollos Pizza. His controversial studies on the fessor and epidemiologist the US,” Roberts said. In the numbers of the 2006 study this culture where revenge is extremely important subject death toll in Iraq, drew close to 100 people to Roberts talk about the con- US, the studies “got almost surprised the researchers, over the last 50 years. Anyone the restaurant to hear him discuss his findings. troversial studies. no coverage.” Roberts said. Please see IRAQ, page 6 Please see CENTER, page 6 Romney drops out of race for White House By Liz Sidoti tant to call himself anything more dard-bearer. It was a remarkable aside, for our party and our coun- The Associated Press than the front-runner. “I certainly turnaround for McCain, whose try. think that we have enhanced our campaign was barely alive last sum- “If I fight on in my campaign, all WASHINGTON — John McCain chances.” mer, out of cash and losing staff. the way to the convention, I would sought to mend his tattered rela- Only Mike Huckabee and Ron “It is my sincere hope that even forestall the launch of a national tionship with conservatives and Paul remained in what has been a if you believe I have occasionally campaign and make it more like- unify a splintered GOP as he all but crowded and wide-open nomina- erred in my reasoning as a fellow ly that Senator (Hillary Rodham) clinched the party’s presidential tion fight for the past year. Both conservative, you will still allow Clinton or (Barack) Obama would nomination Thursday. Mitt Rom- have narrow voting constituencies that I have, in many ways important win.” ney, his former chief rival, dropped and are far behind in the hunt for to all of us, maintained the record Romney’s fate had been virtu- out, and a parade of prominent delegates to the GOP’s nominating of a conservative,” McCain told a ally sealed earlier this week when Republicans swung behind the Ari- convention this summer. gathering of the party’s influential he failed to stop McCain’s coast-to- Associated Press zona senator. Romney’s departure left McCain, right f lank on Thursday a few hours coast Super Tuesday rout in presi- “We’re continuing campaign- whose independent streak rankles after Romney appeared before the dential primaries; McCain and Republican presidential hopeful and former Massachusetts Gov. ing and not taking anything for many in the Republican rank-and- same group to announce he was Romney spoke by phone Thursday Mitt Romney waves to the crowd Thursday after making a speech granted,” McCain said in an Asso- file, poised to assume President suspending his faltering bid. but no endorsement was sought to the Conservative Political Action Conference to announce that ciated Press interview, still reluc- Bush’s position as the party stan- Said Romney, “I must now stand nor offered. he’s dropping out of the presidential race. Senate approves economic aid plan with rebates for most taxpayers The 81-16 vote capped more measure the House passed last effective,” Bush said in a state- up to $75,000 a year and couples ed to begin arriving in May. The By Andrew Taylor than a week of political maneu- month. ment. The compromise, he said, earning up to $150,000 would rebates would be based on 2007 The Associated Press vering that ended only when House leaders said they was “an example of bipartisan get rebates. tax returns, which are not due majority Democrats dropped would act as early as Thursday cooperation at a time when the People who paid no income until April 15. WASHINGTON — The Sen- their demand that the proposal night to send the measure to American people most expect taxes but earned at least $3,000 The bill had stalled for more ate passed an economic res- offer jobless benefits, heating President Bush. it.” — including through Social Secu- than a week in the Senate. The cue plan Thursday that would aid for the poor and tax breaks Bush indicated he would sign The Senate plan would rush rity or veterans’ disability bene- turnaround came after Demo- speed $600 to $1,200 in rebates for certain industries. the measure and said the Sen- rebates — $600 for individuals, fits — would get a $300 rebate. crats fell just one vote short to most taxpayers and $300 GOP senators blocked those ate made changes “in ways I can $1,200 for couples — to most If the House follows suit Wednesday of overcoming a checks to low-income people, ideas, but agreed to add the support.” taxpayers and cut business as expected and Bush shortly GOP filibuster and pressing including disabled veterans and rebates for older people and dis- “This plan is robust, broad- taxes in hopes of reviving the thereafter signs the measure, the ahead with their $205 billion the elderly.