By Brooke Hill | Staff Writer
Southern Living Magazine recently named Baylor as one of the South’s most beautiful college campuses.
“This private, Baptist-affiliated college showcases buildings designed in the style of Oxford and Cambridge universities,” wrote Jennifer Chappell Smith for Southern Living. “The Burleson Quad is a great photo op; it’s the centerpiece of campus and home to the school’s first four buildings. The Armstrong Browning Library honors poets Robert Browning and his wife, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, with stained glass windows depicting lines from their poems. A newer addition to campus is the football stadium, where students cheer on the Baylor Bears.”
Baylor was the only Texas school named one of the South’s most beautiful campuses.
“It is an honor to be recognized by Southern Living for the majestic beauty of Baylor’s campus, from our gardens and grounds to the architecture of buildings, both old and new,” said Lori Fogleman, assistant vice president for media relations and crisis communications. “Not only are current and prospective students and their families drawn to Baylor by its mission and educational opportunities but also by the aesthetics of a beautiful campus.”
Baylor students and tour guides shared what they thought was the most beautiful spot on campus and explained how they emphasize Baylor’s beauty when showing prospective students around campus.
“My favorite spot on campus is the area right in front of Judge Baylor with Founder’s Mall right behind it,” said Cedar Park junior Lisa Ruffcorn. “It is always so much fun to talk about the history of Baylor and how he loved to meet every student which shows how caring for others has always been part of the Baylor tradition. Just seeing Pat Neff behind and all the flowers and greenery is something I haven’t gotten tired of in three years.”
Lake Charles sophomore Emma Griffin said that Founder’s Mall and Fountain Mall are the two stops the visitors center have scheduled into campus tours where they like to show off the beauty of campus.
“My favorite view is when you stand next to the Judge Baylor statue and look up at the gold dome of Pat Neff, and you have all the gardens and the flowers in between,” Griffin said. “It’s just a really nice view. That’s actually a specific stop on tours. We stop there so you can see Pat Neff and we talk about the traditions of Baylor.”
Southern Living recognized 21 colleges. Other campuses include the University of Virginia, Oklahoma State University, Duke University, University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), University of Georgia and the University of Alabama.
