Baylor University Chamber of Commerce - Changes

Changes

The most notable change of late came when women were allowed to rush and pledge as part of the membership accession process. As an organization, the Chamber has experienced its ups and downs; most notably in its history, the Chamber has mourned two deaths.

The first was that of John Clifton, a pledge from Crosby, Texas who died of asphyxiation during pledge activities in the fall of 1967. A scholarship was created in his honor.

The second death occurred on April 5, 1990 just at the conclusion of Diadeloso, a holiday unique to Baylor University students that takes place every Spring. Spanish for "The Day of the Bear", Diadeloso is hosted by Chamber, and consists of a day-long festival of events on the Baylor campus. The 1990 Diadeloso was chaired by Scott Adams, a senior religion major from Edmond, Oklahoma. As the event wound down late in the day, a group of Chambermen, including Scott, were sitting in the bed of a pickup truck while breaking everything down and unloading from the day’s events. As the group was driving down University Parks Drive, the sign Scott was sitting on was lifted by the wind. Scott and the sign were blown out of the bed of the truck. Scott fell head-first to the ground, and never regained consciousness. He was pronounced dead several hours later. Reports indicated cause of death as a punctured aorta caused by a fractured collarbone. Scott, who intended on going into ministry, had planned on staying at Baylor for a fifth year to train and take care of a cub in preparation for becoming the next Baylor Bear trainer. The cub was subsequently named "Judge Scotty" in remembrance of Scott. Just days before the accident, he had also been named the Chairman for the fall 1990 Homecoming celebration.