Deck Is Stacked Against Hong Kong Protesters, Says Baylor Professor
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Baylor Lariat WE’RE THERE WHEN YOU CAN’T BE Friday, December 6, 2019 baylorlariat.com Opinion | 2 News | 3 Sports | 7 A&L | 6 Don’t let the Christmas on 5th Big 12 Waco’s stress infest dazzles Baylor battleground Winterland Don’t waste Baylor, OU to your finals See the Lariat’s photo spread meet again in Christmas of the night’s events week Post-season comes to town Deck is stacked against Hong Kong protesters, says Baylor professor MATTHEW MUIR environment with quite a bit more freedom Staff Writer than mainland China.” Kristen DeHaven | Multimedia Journalist Protests in Hong Kong are nothing Protests in Hong Kong have raged new, but the demonstrations swirling in CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION Confetti flew in the air over attendants of Christmas on 5th’s tree since June, and now two Baylor faculty the streets since June are different. The lighting ceremony Thursday. The tree lighting was only one of many festivities of the night. members are dissecting the situation and ongoing protests were triggered by the its potential consequences. introduction of an extradition bill, which Hong Kong’s history is that of a the professor said would have drastic territory juggled by two powers. Britain ramifications for the territory’s justice took over Hong Kong in 1842 and leased system if passed. Fire alarms interrupt surrounding land from China in 1898. “Being tried under the Chinese judiciary When the lease expired in 1997, Britain system is completely different from being transferred control of Hong Kong to tried in the Hong Kong system, so there China with an agreement of 50 years of was kind of a firewall that was built,” the near-autonomy for the territory. Now professor said. “Earlier this year the Hong Christmas on 5th event the territory’s values and governmental Kong leader decided in all her wisdom [to systems stand in stark contrast to those change] the law to allow China to extradite TYLER BUI were also able to enjoy described what occurred when of China, which is eager to expand its [people accused of crimes] from Hong Staff Writer performances from the Baylor the alarm sounded. control of the region before the autonomy Kong… People became very afraid— even Religious Hour Choir and the “At first the alarm lights agreement ends in 2047. a lot of people who traditionally supported Jingle bells weren’t the only modern languages and cultures started flashing and everyone A Baylor professor from Hong Kong the government, especially the business things ringing at this year’s carolers. was really confused, and then spoke about the protests on the condition sector, are very afraid of that.” Christmas on 5th. But even Although most activities you could hear a voice telling of anonymity. The professor said the Hong Kong was never a democracy. an accidental fire alarm didn’t played out typically throughout everyone to evacuate,” Strubhar demonstrations show how desperate the Hong Kong’s chief executive is chosen by deter the holiday spirit at the the evening, a fire alarm, which said. “Everyone was reluctant to protesters are to preserve their own way of a group of roughly 1,200. This group, the event, which brought between went off on accident around leave at first because they were life instead of conforming to the Chinese professor said, is how China is able to 5,000 and 8,000 members of the 7:50 p.m., caused an evacuation in the middle of writing letters system. exert control on the territory, as many are Baylor and Waco communities of the Bill Daniel Student to Santa, so the SUB members “There are a lot of Hong Kong people “handpicked” by China. While a recent to attend. Center. went around to confirm that who are fearful of the Chinese government, election yielded wins for pro-democracy Activities at the 54th annual Piedmont, Okla., senior everyone really did have to not necessarily the Chinese people but the district councilors, these officials have event included a petting zoo, Payton Strubhar, a member leave. Once the room cleared, Chinese government,” the professor said. little power. The professor said Hong bowling, pony rides, hay rides, of Baylor Union Board who we checked that hall to make “It’s still a communist government, it’s Kong’s judicial system is one of the only food trucks, photos with Santa was helping out in the SUB still an autocratic government… Hong and carnival booths. Attendees at the time of the evacuation, BELLS >> Page 4 Kong still maintains kind of a capitalist HONG KONG >> Page 4 Don’t sleep away study days, says academic support manager MATTHEW MUIR Baum said. “When you get the proper sleep Staff Writer and you’re eating right and you’re going out and getting exercise, it does a wonderful With finals approaching at an almost thing to your body. It rejuvenates you, it breakneck speed, Baylor’s studying experts rebuilds your immune system, it clears your weighed in with tips to survive the last weeks brain, it reduces stress - all of that is great.” of the semester. Even this late in the semester, Baum said, The staff members of Baylor’s Academic struggling students can still benefit from a Support Programs (ASP) specialize in meeting with the ASP staff, and ASP offers helping students succeed in their studies. services specifically tailored to preparing Sally Firmin, director of academic support students for finals. Photo courtesy of Gabriella Villa programs, said students need to avoid “One thing that we have, which is very cramming and break up their study sessions popular during this time, is our finals packet,” A PART OF THE FAMILY Spring Lake, N.C. freshman Gabriella Villa lifts her hand in a ‘Sic em’ instead. Baum said. “It is a resource that’s printed with the stone-faced statue of Judge Baylor, a tradition for many students on campus. “I have one really good piece of advice: out for the students. They can actually hold study in smaller chunks of time, like 45 to 50 onto it with their hands, and they can use minutes, followed by a 10 - minute break,” this to guide them throughout the finals Firmin said. “All the studies show when preparation. We prefer that they start doing Freshmen reflect on first year studying in shorter amounts of time followed this pre-Thanksgiving holiday, but a lot of by a break, students retain significantly more them come in at the last moment.” of the information and learn more deeply While waiting until December to get help MEREDITH HOWARD everything else. She said she found it important than if they study for long periods of time is not ideal, Baum said the ASP staff work Staff Writer to still go to football games and have a social life. without any breaks.” to the end of the semester to help as many “I think I’m doing OK finding that balance,” Trish Baum, ASP’s program manager students as possible. Many high school seniors can enter college Villa said. for resources, said students hoping to finish “It is a huge increase of students who with lofty expectations, but Baylor students Villa said one of her college expectations the semester strong need to make sleep a come in, and a lot of them are panicked and have their own unique perspective on balancing that was exceeded was the social community priority. stressed and worried and concerned, and we these expectations with reality. Baylor offers its students. “Sleep, but don’t sleep away the study see as many as we can,” Baum said. Spring Lake, N.C., freshman Gabriella Villa “I knew they had activities and things like days; they’re called study days for a reason,” For students continuing their studies, said she made an effort to come into college that, so in that aspect I was kind of expecting Baum said. “Pulling all-nighters is not a Firmin said developing proper study skills with a realistic assumption of what life in higher some, but not expecting as many opportunities good thing for you to do… When you get can yield a lifetime of benefits. education looks like, despite hearing stories or to meet so many different people,” Villa said. this great night’s sleep of seven to eight “Students that have been learning and stereotypes. Sweeny freshman Heaven Cranford also said hours, then it transports everything from developing their study strategies - that’s “I thought I would be super stressed - that it that Baylor’s community has been one of the short-term into long-term memory… When a lifelong thing,” Firmin said. “[Those would be so bad. But when I came here, it was a best parts of her first semester. you pull the all-nighters nothing really sticks students] are in a much better place to go lot better than I thought, honestly,” Villa said. “A “I’m in BIC, the Baylor Interdisciplinary into your brain.” into finals than a student that’s just trying to lot of people would tell you to study way more Core; it’s team-taught by professors from all Getting enough sleep is just a part of cram at the last minute, but we will help a than I think you need to. Of course you need around the university, and those professors looking after one’s health, which Baum said student wherever they are - We’re just glad to study, but I think you also need to find that are some of the most caring, insightful, loving is crucial, especially in the last weeks of a to see them.” balance.” professors I have.