Late Night is a fun kickoff to the fall semester, a night to see friends, collect fun club merch and connect with dozens of student organizations. What students do not see is the preparation that goes into the event by members of various organizations in attendance.

For nearly 50 years, WestFest has brought families together over Labor Day weekend with polka music, homemade Czech food, carnival rides and a celebration of tradition that keeps the small town’s heritage alive.

In their first of eight ranked matchups, the No. 20-ranked Bears stuck with No. 10 SMU through five back-and forth sets, falling 24-26, 28-26, 25-22, 21-25, 13-15 for their first defeat of the 2025 season.

The Class of 2029 ran the Line for the first time at the opening game against Auburn.

The Bears allowed over 300 rushing yards, a record-high figure under head coach Dave Aranda, in a 38-24 Friday night loss at McLane Stadium.

If Aranda, his coaching staff, and his players are as confident in the scheme as they say, we should prepare for game-altering plays not just every week, but every quarter, and maybe even every drive. Whether these fourth-down bets save or squander the Bears’ season is yet to be determined, but one thing is certain: they make every play matter.

As junior outside linebacker Matthew Fobbs-White streaked off the edge to wrap up junior quarterback Jackson Arnold on third-and-10 to cap off Auburn’s first drive as a three-and-out, it seemed as if Baylor’s front seven was ready for an SEC-sized challenge.

It’s a Baylor tradition for freshmen to wear their gold line jerseys and sign the very Baylor Line they’ll run across before the first game of the season. For the class of 2029, though, the event was particularly special. The excitement of the following day’s showdown against Auburn was palpable.

From the opening whistle to the final horn, Baylor set the tempo and walked away with its first home win of 2025, a 2–0 upset over No. 17 Mississippi State.

Although the war seems like it could be worlds away, it impacts Baylor students in a more personal way than most generally assume — particularly in the grocery store runs, Stolze said.

The Bears are set to host an SEC opponent at McLane Stadium for the first time.

David Bess, assistant vice president of planning and construction and university architect, said the construction includes two major parts — updated accommodations for the acrobatics and tumbling team and deferred maintenance for the entire building.

In the academic model, the measurement of success can become a bit murkier. One contributing factor to the lack of clarity is the issue of where you, as a student, sit in the flow of the academic transaction. You might see yourself as the customer or you might be the product. It presents a few questions: the first is who determines that and the second is what is the difference.

Generative AI’s like ChatGPT and Grok have filled in a lot of blanks for us in recent years – it’s been a list maker, homework helper, search engine and even a personal therapist for some. With this technological power at the tips of our fingers, many find themselves caught between remaining wary of the true power of AI and embracing it completely. In the education sector, it seems to lean toward the latter.

Coming into 2025, head coach Dave Aranda brought in 13 defensive transfers to help invigorate that side of the ball and lift Baylor to contender status.

Baylor women’s basketball just announced its 2025-26 nonconference slate Thursday, featuring 14 games, a trip to Paris and a showdown with Texas.

When people talk about the “college experience,” they usually think about late-night study sessions, game days or the freedom of living away from home for the first time. But if you ask anyone who looks back fondly on their time at Baylor, chances are they’ll tell you their most meaningful memories came not from the classroom, but from the clubs and organizations they joined.

Rebekah Lambert, a Baylor alumna, was appointed as music director and conductor of the Waco Symphony Youth Orchestra and co-assistant conductor of the Waco Symphony Orchestra. Waco freshman Lydia Gravagne, the new administrator of the youth orchestra, will work alongside her.

It’s Labor Day weekend, which means things will be slowing down a bit after a crazy first week of classes. If you’re looking to be a little lazy but still keep yourself occupied, here are some happenings around town to fuel your fun.

Back at Betty Lou Mays Field, the Bears look for their first home win as they set out to make a statement this season.

With a growing fitness culture at Baylor and across the country, the SLC needs to keep up with improvements in the quality of its equipment and amenities along with the space itself.

When people warn you about the “freshman 15,” they usually mean too many late-night snacks, Dr Pepper refills and dining hall desserts. But the scary version isn’t the number on the scale. It’s the freshman 15 of distractions — 15 clubs, 15 group chats, 15 events you swore you’d go to and 15 stressors you didn’t actually need.

No. 20 Baylor volleyball has rebuilt its roster with three transfers and four freshmen to follow new veteran leaders after losing major contributors from last season.

Baylor’s secondary has been a point of struggle for the past three seasons, but senior safety Devyn Bobby will not stand for that reputation anymore.

Baylor’s Pi Mu chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha is a two-time Mosaic Mixer Showcase champion, but this year, they’re not out for another trophy. They’re in pursuit of growing their sisterly bond.

To make the jump into college life less overwhelming, the Counseling Center offers advice and resources to help struggling students, including group and individual therapy sessions, dietetics for students needing a personalized meal plan and crisis appointments.

The rare Etruscan tomb was discovered by a team of professional archaeologists, graduate students and Baylor undergraduate students under the San Giuliano Research Project, a program exploring ancient civilizations through archaeological research on a site 70 km northwest of Rome.

If you’re looking for a matcha that is rich in flavor, but not too grassy; that is sweet enough to leave a good taste in your mouth; that has just the right balance of matcha and milk; I got you. Here are a few places in town to get matcha that will have you coming back for more.

Laufey has always had one foot in the past and one in the present. Her newest album, “A Matter of Time,” proves she’s not afraid to stretch that distance even further.

For Waco Salon Asylum owners, Jesse and Meagan Kruse, hairstyling is not just about a good cut and color: it’s about curating a welcoming environment dedicated to client connections and fostering a nurturing learning space for stylists.