Universities are a lot like gardens. Properly planted and carefully cultivated, they can produce inspiring growth that enriches society for years. But for gardens to flourish, pruning must allow for new growth. A common mistake for green gardeners, however, is to inadvertently mistake a thorny bush for an unwanted intruder. In this vein, some students of Baylor University have sought the removal of their garden’s centerpiece on the basis of how “uncomfortable” it makes them feel.
The last time I zeroed in on Baylor University in Waco, Texas in July 2020, the institution’s administration and faculty had started the ball rolling, placing Baylor well on the road to transformation from a once revered Christian university to a “politically-correct” but obscenely expensive version of their state school counterparts.