Worries Over Idea of Merging Medical School With Baylor U.

Many who are affiliated with the Baylor College of Medicine -- which has for years been independent of Baylor University -- are worried about discussions going on to merge back into the university, The Houston Chronicle reported. A petition and many faculty comments raise questions about Baylor University's religious ties and whether they would interfere with work at the medical college that is based on evolution or deals with sexual orientation or uses stem cells, to name but a few of the concerns. Baylor College of Medicine officials say that the talks with the university would not change the medical school's non-sectarian status. The medical college is facing serious financial challenges, and the current talks follow the collapse of merger talks with Rice University.