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Feb. 12, 1999Shirtless joggers endanger
women's rights movement
Women running around the Bear Trail only wearing sports bras without T-shirts really hurts the movement towards equality for women. Because women have historically been considered property and objects, women today have to struggle to have men think of them in terms of attributes other then their looks and sexual appeal. When girls run without a T-shirt, they reinforce the idea in men's minds that women are objects.
When a guy drives by and sees a girl with only a bra on, they don't think, 'wow, I bet she gets good grades in her 4000 level physics class' or 'she is a promising business major' or 'she probably really wants to share with people about Jesus' power to forgive sins.'
By not wearing a shirt, the attention is directed to their body, thereby entrenching the patriarchal view that women are objects (specifically sexual objects) instead of people. How hard is it to wear a shirt? The wind resistance can't be that great. Surely, it is not so hard that it's worth making oneself only a sexual object and supporting the position that women are property, not people.
Jim Hawkins
Philosophy '00
Chapel experience leads to
student prayer gathering
I walked out of chapel today, and my heart ripped. I can't explain it, but I felt like my heart was being poured out onto the sidewalk holding me up (one of those 'warm fuzzy' feelings!) I had previously sat in chapel and watched as a brother shared about . . .hold on Baylor! He preached the gospel! He preached that Jesus loves us and died for us! My first 'Amen' caught in my throat, and my second one came out, yet seemed so quiet (although still annoying one of my neighbors.
It suddenly hit me, 'Jesus, we're ashamed of you . . .I'm ashamed of You.' Once I got outside and ran to a place where I could be alone, I just began to weep. Haven't done that for a while.
My reason for writing this letter is simple. I'm asking you, my dear brothers and sisters (some whom I know and others I eagerly await knowing) to join me for a time of prayer and fasting at 12 p.m. on Monday afternoons. I will be at the Baptist Center (it's the only place I could think of at the moment), and we can find a place to pray.
We will pray for the lives on this campus that are perishing and hurting. We will pray for the awakening of our hearts. The time is short and the time is now! Revival is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit of God on his Church . . .hey, that's us! And then, oh yes, the awakening of the lost! I'm excited! Jesus has great plans to apprehend this campus for himself and his purposes. 'Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.' Isaiah 55:6
Helen Eisert
English '00
Recycling efforts necessary,
but easier said than done
In the spring of 1998, Caroline Eklund and Michelle Maddox helped create the Baylor Recycling Committee (BRC) through Student Congress. For almost a year now the committee of administrators and students has been working to increase recycling on campus. However, the BRC has faced many obstacles.
It actually costs more for Waco Construction to pay for the driver and gas to haul the recycling to Sunbright, the local recycling company. Sunbright refuses to come to campus and pick up the recycling from all the buildings.
Furthermore, who is going to pay for more bins? Where should the bins to be located, especially considering fire code and limited office space? Who is going to move the materials from the bins to the three or four recycling dumpsters? Who is going to stop students from throwing trash in the blue recycling bins?
All of these questions are still unanswered. Recycling is not going to be profitable, at least not initially. In the long run, however, recycling will reduce the costs of waste disposal and prolong the life of the Waco landfill.
Increasing recycling on campus will take a combined and significant effort by students and administrators; it is not as simple as some people might think. The BRC needs dedicated students to work with the administration and design a plan of action. The next Baylor Recycling Committee meeting will be Thursday, Feb. 25, at 2p.m. Everybody's input is welcome. If any one is interested, they should contact Nece Romines at 710-4384.
Nece Romines
Environmental Studies/Anthropology '99
Measurement of character
includes more than money
I am writing to clarify my position in regards to the Founder's Day speech by Ms. Abigail Pfiester on Feb. 1 in Chapel-Forum.
In my previously printed editorial, I criticized Ms. Pfiester's 'Thanksgiving Testimonial' as an embarrassment to herself, the students present and the Jeanes. After receiving feedback from fellow students, I believe that I was unclear in my position and also ignorant as to the basis of the entire celebration. My intentions were in no way geared towards an all-out bashing of Ms. Pfiester and after hearing responses from others about how they perceived the editorial, I am afraid that I may have presented her in an incorrectly negative light.
I was raised on the concept that money should not be a grounds by which to judge someone, but when I heard the speech, I felt uncomfortable because it seemed to contradict this belief.
In response, I wrote to The Lariat to express these concerns. I was under the impression that the Founder's Day Celebration was centered on thanking two wonderful people for their committment of time and service to Baylor, which was not totally true.
The night that the editorial was printed, I talked with Ms. Pfiester and she informed me that the celebration's purpose was to show gratitude towards the Jeanes for their donations. With this evidence, I disagree with the entire purpose of Founder's Day, but recognize the fact that Ms. Pfiester made an appropriate speech for the occasion.
I realize that my comments may have seemed brash and caustic, but I was not attempting to humiliate Ms. Pfiester in any way. My intention was to express that money should not be a measuring stick for a person's worthiness.
Unfortunately for Ms. Pfiester, she presented the most accurate interpretation of the purpose of Founder's Day, so she was therefore the target of my discontentment.
I sincerely apologize to Abigail Pfiester for my comments, and also to anyone who may have misunderstood the aim of my previous letter.
Brad Pritchard
'01 Undecided
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