Baylor Warns Coeds Against Posing for Playboy
Baylor has told its students that posing for Playboy would have serious consequences.
The world’s largest Baptist university warned students that they could be disciplined if they pose for Playboy magazine, but some still showed up to meet photographers, a publication spokeswoman said. Playboy spokeswoman Theresa Hennessey declined to say how many Baylor University students were interviewed when the photographers set up at a hotel for two days this week, but said the turnout was less than at other schools “because Baylor is a religiously affiliated school.”
Baylor sent an e-mail reminder to students last week saying that “associating with a magazine that is clearly antithetical to Baylor’s mission would be considered a violation of the code of conduct.” Possible sanctions could range from a warning to expulsion, said spokeswoman Lori Fogleman.
Hennessey said Playboy was “not looking to get any of these women at Baylor in trouble or kicked out of school.”
Reaction among Baylor students was mixed. “I don’t know that they’re necessarily overstepping their bounds because when students come to Baylor, they’re agreeing to the rules in the handbook,” said Sarah Tinsley, a 23-year-old graduate student. “But I do think it’s a little ridiculous for the school to try to dictate what people do outside of school.”
But it’s a Baptist school! Indeed, to the extent having a religious denomination run a university makes any sense at all it is precisely to shape what sort of people its students are outside of school and after graduation.
Why would you go to Baylor if you wanted to pose naked for a magazine?
You might want to go there because it’s local and you want to live at home while going to school rather than add commuter costs.
You might want to go there because the school has a strong course curriculum in the area you wish to study.
You might wish to go there because one of your parents is an alum or an instructor there and you can attend for discounted tuition rates.
You might wish to go there because you earned a Baylor-specific scholarship.
There are a few possibilities.
Roger: It’s not like there aren’t plenty of good schools in Texas. Sure, there are reasons to go to a religious school that don’t involve religion but, surely, those who go to Baylor are aware of its standards. Not embarrasing the school by posing naked in magazines is among the least of the restrictions imposed.
I understand it is a “religious school” but how many religious schools really are adhering to religious norms these days. I’m sure students at Baylor do a fair share of sinning while being typical college co-eds.
Not that I disagree with Baylor’s stance on this but the kids probably didn’t expect “real” religion to be anywhere near campus.
Trust me, as a Baylor alum, the students who go there know what they’re getting into…there’s a great deal of pride that the school has maintained its religious character, unlike other Christian schools that have secularized over time (SMU, TCU, etc.).
That’s not to say that there’s not partying, drinking, carousing, etc., at Baylor…just that its more low-key.
And when we got nekkid, we made sure there were no Playboy photographers around!
I distinctly remember at least one Baylor girl posing in Playboy when the mag ran pictures of girls (oh, all right, women) from that area aroung 1980. Googling “Playboy +Baylor” turns up some indications that this story recurs every couple of years
So what has more earning power in the marketplace, a Baylor degree or a resume that includes playboy playmate?
Hey! Maybe they were just posing for the articles! Er…
Heh. Ask Anna Nicole Smith…
>I distinctly remember at least one Baylor girl >posing in Playboy when the mag ran pictures of >girls (oh, all right, women) from that area >aroung 1980.
That’s true, it caused quite a stir. The girl was expelled and the editor of the school newspaper was fired for publishing an editorial in opposition to the administration’s position.
>So what has more earning power in the >marketplace, a Baylor degree or a resume that >includes playboy playmate?
Well, I’m fairly certain that I’ve done much better with degrees from Baylor and Alabama than I ever would have had I been forced to rely on my looks!