Baylor University’s morality…
Baylor University is a Christian school known for its sports programs. It is also a school known for scandals involving members of the sports programs. While their success of their sports remains unquestionable. What is questionable is their morals as a school. Despite having a successful program this school has had a history regarding crimes committed by players. Baylor is known to turn a blind eye to these crimes to protect the reputation of the school and its programs.
Very recently Baylor tried to sweep the recent media storm regarding accusations and criticisms about how poorly the school handle’s rape and sexual assault allegations.
Baylor University released a letter by the school’s president and chancellor , Ken Starr, yes the same Ken Starr who led the impeachment of former president Bill Clinton. In summary he said, “our hearts break for those whose lives are impacted by execrable acts of sexual violence” and that “no one should have to endure the trauma of these terrible acts of wrongdoing.” He goes on to say, “ Let me be clear: Sexual violence emphatically has no place whatsoever at Baylor University.” I think that most people would agree with everything he said. However, I believe most would not agree when he delivered this speech. This letter was released on February 7, 2016 two hours before the Super Bowl, arguably America’s most watched event. Everyone would be focused on the Superbowl. People who don’t even watch football watch the Superbowl. The point is they addressed the situation at a time where no one is paying attention, just to say they tackled it. It’s like they non nonchalantly brushed off rape from their shoulders. This was most likely a response to the big article published by ESPN, regarding rape victims.
To sum up the story, Tanya a freshman at the time, attending Baylor was raped by a football player named Tevin Elliot. Tanya asked for help from police but could not handle it because it happened off campus. Her mom then approached school facilities and services asking for any kind of help. They responded with : Sorry. No resources are available. Even “if a plane falls on your daughter, there’s nothing we can do to help you.”
The school pretty much refused to help her. She happens to be 1 of 6 victims raped/assaulted by the same person. This school has had other cases of the same nature that haven’t been heard publicly. This shows that Baylor University is consistent with brushing crimes under the rug.
How I see it, the school treats the victim as an “evil” that must be punished. In Nietzsche’s essays, Geneology of Morals, we see the idea of Ressentiment, which as Nietzsche describes it as : to negate the other to define the self. Here the success of the school is “good,” while the victim, who was assaulted by a contributor of that success, is “evil”.
“As a community grows in power, it ceases to take the offence of the individual quite so seriously” -Nietzsche
We also see that the school is a powerful community. The institute grew in power from the success of its sports programs.
“Instead the wrongdoer is carefully shielded by the community from this anger, especially from that of the immediate injured party, and given protection.” -Nietzsche
So anything that threatens that continuation of success should be silenced. And that is what they did with these rape cases. They’ve constantly sweeped rape under the rug. They have done nothing for these victims.
Ironically they advertise themselves as a Christian school even though their morals and actions say otherwise. The biggest criticism in my book, is the fact that the president is Ken Starr. He was a man who upheld the law at the highest form of government yet he chooses to not do anything for these victims.
Sadly, this isn’t the only school where this happens. It happens everywhere and is unfortunate. To me the body of the school is more important than the institution itself. If not only the students but the rest of the world thinks what the school is doing is wrong, I highly suggest that schools need to reevaluate their definitions of morality. Either restructure the school legislature or clean house in the administration.
