As A Female Baylor Student, I Am Ashamed Jacob Anderson Will Avoid Jail | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Survivors

His Name Is Jacob Anderson And We, The Students Of Baylor, Do Not Claim Him

As a female Baylor student, I am ashamed of us.

1027
baylor university

Brock Turner was witnessed raping an unconscious woman behind a dumpster and sentenced three months in prison.

Cyntoia Brown was kidnapped at 16, forced into sex trafficking, and sentenced 51 years without parole for killing her assailant in self-defense.

On December 11, former Baylor Phi Delta Theta President Jacob Anderson who allegedly drugged, raped and choked a female student at a party was given no jail time and did not have to register as a sex offender as part of a plea deal.

All of the above are gross miscarriages of justice and a reflection of our values as a nation.

Judge Ralph Strother of Waco, a former Baylor undergrad and Law School alumni, accepted a plea deal from Jacob Anderson. ADA Hilary LaBorde, also a Baylor alumna, agreed to dismiss four counts of sexual assault as part of Anderon's plea deal. Anderson's punishment for one of the most heinous crimes a human being can commit is a slap on the wrist in comparison to the punishments of people like Cyntoia Brown. Anderson has agreed to get counseling and pay a $400 fine in return for nothing on his record relating to his probation.

The victim of Jacob Anderson's case immediately took action and contacted the appropriate authorities, submitted a crime report, and even agreed to a rape kit which confirmed she had been raped.

Despite doing everything a victim should do in this case, she is not given justice with Anderson's verdict. Since then, a petition with over 25,000 signatures has been launched opposing the plea agreement. Judge Ralph Strother claims the signers are "misinformed."

Looking at cases like Brock Turner and Jacob Anderson, where money and power are potential sources of abuse to get what they want, is our justice system only open to the highest bidder?

As a female Baylor student, I am ashamed of us.

I am ashamed that rape and sexual assault has a home and history on our campus. I am ashamed that there can be people on campus that are capable of crimes like Jacob Anderson. I am ashamed that Baylor alumni like Judge Ralph Strother and Hilary LaBorde made the decision they did, and I am ashamed at the values and morals they have chosen to showcase through their actions after having gone to a Christian school.

On behalf of the majority of Baylor students, I want to say that people like Jacob Anderson are not reflective of our student body and that we do not claim him as one of our own.

We stand in support of all victims who have not been served justice, though I cannot speak for anyone else who is affiliated with Baylor and not a student.

Jacob Anderson is currently enrolled in UT Dallas and attending until his graduation next week.

He has been given a job offer by BDRC Real Estate Firm.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
smiling girl in pink and white stripe shirt

I'll never forget the day that someone told me these words: "Madison, I think you're a good friend to everyone but yourself." I stood there completely in awe of that statement. Before that day, I never really thought about being a friend to myself, and at the time, I didn't really know what it meant. Now, I realize that you can't fully be there for other people unless you're there for yourself, too. You can't show up for others until you're willing to show up for yourself.

Here are five things everyone should learn in order to be a better friend to themselves. These steps are hard, but they're so worth it.

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas decorations
YouTube

Finals, exams and papers - oh my! The only thing keeping you sane at the moment is the thought that Christmas break is near. Need a mid-week pick-me-up? Here are some simple things you can do to stay motivated and get into the Christmas spirit.

1. Play Christmas Music

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

21 Things We All Love About Winter

Despite the cold, you might find that there is a lot to love about winter.

358
pine cone winter
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

We all have a love hate relationship with winter, lets be real here. The snow makes people forget how to drive, its cold, the roads are bad, and chances are, you will be spending a lot more money than you do during the other months of the year. If you’re from the Midwest, it seems to be that winter lasts for what feels like forever. But despite the struggles that winter brings, there are so many things to love about it.

Keep Reading...Show less
christmas shopping bags

Shopping for your family and friends can be expensive. So why not make something small and cute while not emptying your bank account?

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The Post Thanksgiving Panic And Anxiety

It happens to all of us, the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas the catch up with you.

1674
studying

Thanksgiving Break is most likely everyone’s favorite break during the fall semester. You get to go home and reminisce with all your high school friends. That diet you’ve been on for the past month goes out the window, and you get to eat until you put yourself into a food coma. There’s no rush on homework and you can just lie in bed and Netflix to your heart’s content. To me that sounds like an ideally wonderful break, and totally stress-free.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments