Garland: Baylor intends to ensure student safety

Baylor University's priority is to "make our campus, and beyond, safe for our more than 16,000 students," Interim President David Garland said in an open letter to the university's constituency. (Photo: Baylor University)

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WACO—Baylor University’s goal is to achieve the highest standards of safety for its students, Interim President David Garland pledged in an open letter addressed to “Baylor Nation.”

“Baylor’s priority is to make our campus, and beyond, safe for our more than 16,000 students. We acknowledge our failures in the past and take responsibility for them,” Garland said, noting the university has taken steps to comply with federal and state student-safety laws. “Our aim is to set the highest standards in this area.”

david garland130David GarlandThe Baylor board of regents named Garland interim president May 26, when the board fired Kenneth Starr as president in the wake of the Waco school’s sex-abuse scandal. The same day, the board announced its intention to fire Art Briles, Baylor’s head football coach, and sanctioned Athletic Director Ian McCaw, who later resigned.

Commitment to student safety “has animated the entire course of action pursued by the board of regents during the past year,” Garland said. He noted the regents hired the Pepper Hamilton law firm “to conduct an external and comprehensive review of the university’s response of sexual and gender-based violence.”

Pepper Hamilton briefed the board and Starr in both February and May, he said. The board took action on Starr, Briles and McCaw about two weeks after the May presentation.

Despite widespread calls for Baylor to release the “full report” from Pepper Hamilton, Garland said that would not happen. (The Baptist Standard has joined in that call. Click here, here and here to read those requests.)

“Pepper Hamilton’s report was delivered in the form of an oral presentation that fully and comprehensively presented the individual and aggregated findings and the evidence supporting the findings,” he said. “The ‘Findings of Fact’ and recommendations, which were released publicly in a format that protected the privacy of individuals, fully reflect the facts and core failings identified in the investigation. The findings revealed clear opportunities for Baylor to improve.” He invited readers to click on links and see the “Findings of Fact” and Pepper Hamilton recommendations.

Pepper Hamilton’s investigators were free to seek, follow and determine facts without interference by either Baylor’s administration or board, Garland stressed.

“Pepper Hamilton’s report was impartial and objective, and they did not hold back in their assessment,” he said. “They had access to all requested documents and any Baylor employee they requested to interview. They independently reached out to and heard from brave survivors who assisted the investigation by sharing their experiences.


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“We respect survivors’ freedom to choose whether, when and how to share their experiences and will support survivors who choose to share their experiences publicly. The details of these individuals’ experiences will not be discussed publicly by the university. We hurt for these students and deeply appreciate their willingness to speak with Pepper Hamilton as part of this review. Their insights and participation will help us better address these issues in the future.”

Baylor regents and administrators “have been as forthright as is possible and are fully committed to presenting the truth of these findings to Baylor Nation and the world,” he said. “We are also committed to reconciliation with those who have been harmed.”

Garland commended the regents for addressing the Pepper Hamilton findings and for investing in the university’s Title IX compliance office. Title IX is the federal law designed to provide protection from sexual discrimination in education.

That investment “demonstrates their unwavering dedication to do what is right for our students, both today and in the future,” Garland said. He described Baylor’s Title IX office as “capable, compassionate, professional and working hard to care for the needs of students.”

Baylor is working to implement the Pepper Hamilton recommendations, he said, noting, “All possible resources are being deployed to foster a culture on campus that is characterized by dignity, integrity and respect for others, including the awareness and prevention of sexual assault.”

Two executive-level task forces will follow up the Pepper Hamilton report, Garland said.

Reagan Ramsower, senior vice president and chief financial officer, will lead implementation groups composed of faculty, staff and administrators to “build on significant improvements made in recent years by acting promptly to address Pepper Hamilton’s recommendations,” he said.

Greg Jones, executive vice president and provost, will lead a group to “focus on spiritual life and the cultivation of character across the university.”

“When I first served as interim president of Baylor, from 2008 to 2010, one goal served as my guidepost for each day’s decisions—to strengthen Baylor’s mission of educating men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community,” Garland said. “This remains my goal.”


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