(ICYMI: Rice University's Sept. 16th halftime show included references to Title IX and former Baylor president Ken Starr. Full video here.)
To Whom it May Concern,
You're right. The buzzwords surrounding Baylor University over the last several months include many of the things you referenced in your show: Ken Starr, Title IX, and sexual assault. I'm sure you thought everyone would have a good laugh, and everyone would remember that Baylor screwed up...and maybe the show would attract some major press.
You were right. Baylor has had a rough few months, and we have made some mistakes as a university. We turned the other way when faced with blatant evidence of sexual assault. We are constantly accepting responsibility for these mistakes and swallowing the bitterness of its various outcomes. The least of these was losing some iconic leaders here at Baylor. The most is the women who no longer feel safe on this campus because of the way they were treated by university officials. I recognize that my university has some serious work to do.
However, sexual assault should never be a laughing matter. It isn't a cheap trick to exploit to make your audience laugh. Rivalry is one thing, but this was far different. When women were attacked at Baylor (and subsequently ignored), the aftermath of that sin was destructive to our university. You took that aftermath and turned it into entertainment. I want you to realize how inappropriate that halftime show was. It was unprofessional. It poked fun at some very serious issues faced not only by our university, but by many universities around the country.
Here's the thing though: you can say whatever you want about my university, or any university that doesn't adequately handle sexual assault. Maybe we deserve it. My problem is with the sensitive nature of these crimes you're joking about. Presenting jokes about sexual assault on such a large platform affects somebody out there immensely. I don't know the women who were on the other end of the sexual assault scandal at Baylor, but I'm certain that they weren't laughing tonight about your performance. Don't take serious matters lightly. We may have messed up colossally on that account, but we're working on it. Presentations like tonight's works against that.
Sincerely,
A frustrated Baylor student
