Author: Ava Dunwoody

Welcome to Bear’s Declassified: School Survival Guide! I think Ned would be proud to see us all grown up and tackling life in college on our own. After all, he prepared us well, didn’t he?

Hey Bears!Welcome back to Waco and the start of the second semester. Despite the dropping temperatures and the stress of classes, I cannot tell you how much joy I have found in being back on campus.Every time I return after a break, I am reminded of the many lessons I am learning so far during my time here. The most recent of these is that we are here to grow. College is an incredibly formative time of life, and while the fun parts are awesome, there are a lot of challenges and adversities we face every day.Whether it’s a difficult…

Baylor will return to campus in person as scheduled on Jan. 18 for the Spring 2022 semester. Additional protocols such as testing and face coverings for at least the first two weeks will be in place, according to an email sent out by President Linda Livingstone on Jan. 3.

There’s nothing like the joy of taking in a “little,” but the stress of making the perfect baskets for basket week can sometimes overshadow it. Have no fear. Here are three tips from a self-proclaimed basket expert that will ensure your little will feel loved and spoiled this upcoming big/little season.

What has five bedrooms, a giant teddy bear and is nearly impossible to get pizza delivered to? The Allbritton House — home of Baylor presidents and the first families since 1973.

In addition to Drew, President Linda Livingstone and junior center Flo Thamba were in attendance for the presentation, where Thamba gave Cornyn a commemorative basketball.

By Ava Dunwoody | Arts & Life EditorWhat do you get when you mix laser tag, s’mores, a scavenger hunt and mini golf? The perfect summer birthday party for a 10 year old? Maybe so. But you also get the perfect late-night adventure for a college kid experiencing her first Diadeloso.On Saturday, I attended the last day of Diadeloso Week and had an absolute blast going around to all of the activities amid a buzzing crowd of students enjoying the weekend festivities.Earlier that day, I joined a team of four to participate in a campus-wide scavenger hunt hosted by Waco…

By Ava Dunwoody | Arts & Life EditorDiadeloso: Games and Food Trucks | April 23 | 5 – 8 p.m. | Fountain Mall | Free | Enjoy games and great food from your favorite food trucks and snap a photo with friends in the photo booths!Diadeloso: Outdoor Concert | April 23 | 8 p.m. | Fountain Mall | Free | Enjoy an outdoor concert with your friends, hosted by Baylor Diadeloso. Artist to be announced soon.Social Spring Market | April 23 – 24 | 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. | The Phoenix, 401 S 3rd Street | Free | Attend…

By Ava Dunwoody | Arts & Life EditorBaylor Theatre presents “Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery” | April 15-17 | 7:30 p.m. | Virtual | $15 or $10 with Baylor ID | Watch five actors portray more than 40 roles in a reimagined comedy version of a classic Sherlock Holmes tale. Uncover the mystery as Holmes and Watson investigate a curse plaguing heirs of the Baskerville fortune.Pop-up Vendor Night Market | April 16 | 6 – 9 p.m. | Rogue Studios, 715 Washington Ave | Free | Attend a special pop-up market for an evening of shopping unique vendors…

Improv Jam | April 9 | 6:30 p.m. | Brazos Theatre, 7524 Bosque Blvd. | Free, reservations required | Love to watch improv and always wanted to try it in a judgment-free zone? Participate in the first improv jam, no experience needed. Learn the basics and try it out! Night hike at Lake Waco Wetlands | April 9 | 7:30 – 9 p.m | Lake Waco Wetlands, 1752 Eichelberger Crossing Rd. | Free | Join the Cameron Park Zoo staff every Friday in April as they lead a hike through the wetlands and teach about local wildlife. Comfortable clothes and…

By Ava Dunwoody | Arts & Life EditorUrinetown Production at Baylor University | March 25-28 | 7:30 p.m. | Virtual | $10 with Baylor ID | Get your tickets on ShowTix4U for Urinetown: the musical and enjoy this Tony Award-winning satirical performance about greed, class and revolution.Comedy Night | March 26 | 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. | Rogue Studios | $15 | Enjoy a special night of comedy featuring Terry Bluez, John Mann, Alex Berrios, Tripp McNeely and X Sanchez.Waco Downtown Farmers Market | March 27 | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | 500 Washington Ave. | Free |…

By Ava Dunwoody | Arts & Life EditorWaco Downtown Farmers Market | March 20 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | 500 Washington Ave. | Free | Variety of vendors featuring local agricultural producers and artisan vendorsUrinetown Production at Baylor University | March 25-28 | 7:30 p.m. | Virtual | $10 with Baylor ID | Get your tickets on ShowTix4U for Urinetown, the musical and watch this Tony Award-winning satirical performance about greed, class and a revolution.Light Up the Dark 5k | March 27 | 5 – 10 p.m. | Cameron Park Zoo | $35 | Join Unbound in their…

By Ava Dunwoody | Arts & Life EditorCameron Park Zoo Spring Break Scavenger Hunt | March 12-20 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Cameron Park Zoo, 1701 N 4th St. | $20 per team, plus zoo admission | Using a mobile device, go on a scavenger hunt around the zoo and work as a team to solve clues. A stuffed animal is included in the purchase.Waco Downtown Farmers Market | March 13 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | 500 Washington Ave. | Free | Variety of vendors featuring local agricultural producers and artisan vendorsSpring Break Luau Late Skate…

By Ava Dunwoody | Arts & Life EditorFirst Friday Waco | March 5 | all day | On the first Friday of every month, special events, deals and extended hours are launched in Downtown Waco. Check out @firstfridaywaco on Instagram to find out what’s happening this month.Waco Downtown Farmers Market | March 6 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | 500 Washington Ave. | Free | Variety of vendors featuring local agricultural producers and artisan vendorsLittle Free Library Scavenger Hunt | March 6 | 10 a.m. | All around Waco | Free | Celebrate the 12th Annual National Day of…

By Ava Dunwoody | Arts & Life EditorWaco Trade Days | Feb. 26 – 27 | 9:30 a.m. | Savage Finds, 1509 Austin Ave | Free | On the last weekend of every month, Waco Trade Days opens its doors to a vendor flea market that has been featured on the Travel Channel and other media outlets. Waco Downtown Farmers Market | Feb. 27 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | 500 Washington Ave. | Free | Variety of vendors featuring local agricultural producers and artisan vendorsSundown Sessions: Soap Making | Feb. 27 | 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. |…

As snow days turn into a snow week, students are taking to the streets and coming up with creative ways to have fun on their days off. One of the newest trends has been sledding behind vehicles using household objects like couches and rope.

By Ava Dunwoody | Arts & Life EditorBattle cries and flying snowballs hit Fountain Mall at 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening for a student-sanctioned snowball fight. After hearing about the gathering via social media, students flocked to the grass to participate and spectate.Santa Barbara, Calif., junior Travis Pierce said his friend told him about the event and they decided to check it out together.“Well, it seems some pent-up aggression is starting to show itself between the students here with the accumulation of the snow that I believe most of them have never actually seen before,” Pierce said. “They have lost…

By Ava Dunwoody | Arts & Life EditorValentine’s Market | Feb. 12 & 13 | 12 p.m. & 10:30 a.m. | Cultivate 7Twelve, 712 Austin Ave | Free | A one-stop shop for gifts for those you love! Local vendors will put together the ultimate Valentine’s shopping experience.Galentine’s Yoga and Flower Arranging | Feb. 13 | 12-2:30 | Cultivate 7Twelve, 712 Austin Avenue | $38 | Join the gals in the Cultivate 7Twelve upstairs studio for yoga, followed by a flower arranging instructional. Finger foods, juice bar and bubbly provided.Speed Date Escape Room | Feb. 13 | 6:45 – 9:15…

One of the things I have noticed most about growing up is that even though I am getting older and taking on more responsibility, a part of me will always feel like I don’t know what I am doing.

Ava Dunwoody | Desk EditorStudio Magic PACT Art Show | Now – Feb. 12 | 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Cultivate 7Twelve gallery, 712 Austin Ave | Free | Professional Artists of Central Texas exhibit and original fine art salesWaco Family & Faith International Film Festival Drive-in Movies | Feb. 4-6 | 7 p.m. | Location varies, see website wacofamilyandfaithfilmfestival.com/drive-in | Free | Watch student films, animations and feature films at local churches from the comfort of your car. See website for what’s playingFirst Friday Waco | Feb. 5 | all day | On the first Friday of every…

By Ava Dunwoody | Arts & Life EditorWith the recent reinstatement of the Office of Access and Learning Accommodation shuttle service, students have become more aware of the presence of chronic illness and disability on Baylor’s campus. But that doesn’t mean all problems are solved when it comes to accessibility — especially with the changes due to COVID-19.Granbury junior AB Boyd was diagnosed with her first chronic illness, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), two days before her 18th birthday. Since then, she has been diagnosed with three more and is often at doctor appointments or in the hospital.“My experience with…

FitWell classes, photography galleries, Mario Kart, and more!

By Ava Dunwoody | Arts & Life EditorBased on the 1983 novel by Walter Tevis, The Queen’s Gambit’s (2020) scripted limited series has taken the world by storm. On Nov. 23, Netflix posted a Tweet revealing the show broke a new record with 62 million households watching in the first 28 days, making it Netflix’s “biggest scripted limited series to date.” In only seven episodes, The Queen’s Gambit tells the story of Beth Harmon (played by the wonderful Anya Taylor-Joy), who was orphaned at the age of nine in the 1960s. While in an orphanage, she discovers her genius ability…

Baylor grad’s long journey to working in Washington boosted by childhood dreams and Baylor internship program.

While the initial increase in Zoom and video call technology was unappealing, it has had undeniable benefits that will last beyond the pandemic.

By Ava Dunwoody | Arts & Life EditorOn Baylor’s campus, Jan. 18 marked “a day on, not a day off” of school for students participating in the annual MLK Day of Service. From virtual fundraising opportunities to a drive-by collection site, faculty and students were encouraged to serve their community. “MLK Day of Service is intended to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, create solutions to social problems and move us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a ‘Beloved Community,’” according to Baylor’s website for the event. Doriann Beverly, senior coordinator for Baylor community services, volunteered with other members of…

By Ava Dunwoody | Staff WriterAs the semester comes to a close, the clock is ticking on the administration to make a decision about Don’t Fail Me Now, a proposed pass/fail bill. On Nov. 19, the student senate voted 37-2 in favor of the bill, and it is now up to the Provost office to make it official.Little Rock sophomore senator Ginger Gordon, academic affairs chair, helped present the bill during the initial student senate meeting and said the senate does its best to represent the student body as a whole. Gordon said she was surprised by the overwhelming support…

A bill to offer pass/fail grading to students this semester passed Student Senate in a near-unanimous vote. Now Baylor’s administration has the final say.

Tired of getting countless reminders to do your course evaluations in your inbox and on Canvas? Here’s why they are being pushed so hard.

Feeling trapped in quarantine? Baylor campus recreation has created a special time for non-COVID positive students to “Get Outside.”