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So, if you don't follow Baylor news like I do (which I understand if you don't. I wouldn't if I didn't go here.), Ken Starr is the new president of Baylor University. Ken Starr is best known for the Starr Report which is blamed as the reason for Bill Clinton's impeachment. What many in the LGBTQ community know him for is being the lead counsel defending Prop 8 in California.
When I fisrt heard on the grapevine that Ken Starr was going to our next president, I called and texted everyone who I thought would care. The usual response that I got was first, "Ken 'Starr Report' Starr?" followed by "WTF?!"
The next morning it was official and the entire campus was talking about it. On of my professors said the mood of most of the professors was one of shock and dismay while another very politically vocal professor asked not to asked about Starr. When Starr was announced as our new president, the campus was invited to "Dr. Pepper Hour" (essentially Baylor makes bucketloads of cash from having an exclusive deal with Dr. Pepper) and welcome him to the Baylor family. That night, there were facebook groups made, the most important of which was the protest.
When "Dr. Pepper Hour" started, 15 students stood outside our student union building to protest his appointment, mainly on the grounds of his defending Prop 8. Many of the observers thought it was political, especially the hecklers sponsored by the Young Conservatives of Texas. The protesters stood outside until the speech was over. We got heckled a bit by those inside who said that Starr stressed in his speech that he was pro-academic freedom, that he wanted all sides at the table. They just didn't understand.
Baylor University currently has rules agaisnt joining a group that advocates a view on sexuality contrary to Baylor's own interpretation of the Bible. Ken Starr is the lead counsel of the defense of Prop 8! Allowing a QSA on campus would be the definition of academic freedom, but all those whose gender identity or sexual orientation does not meet the Baylor "norm" know that they won't get that freedom. They won't be brought to the table. SO while everyone else lives in a fantasy that Baylor is academically free, the ignored will continue to be repressed.
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