As Baylor students, we have the privilege of being part of an institution that provides us with a nearly endless number of resources that can help further both our education and future careers.Are you utilizing as many campus resources as you could be?It’s easy to get caught up in our day-to-day responsibilities. Whether it’s running from class to class, studying or taking part in other extracurricular activities, we have crazy schedules.Getting caught up in your daily obligations might be holding you back from participating in programs or meeting with people that could help you maximize your success and efficiency as…
Author: Baylor Lariat
Have you ever heard your parents or grandparents tell you “they just don’t make them like they use to?” In the case of Apple and its immensely successful iPhone smartphone line, they do, but it is not with the latest iPhone model.Apple released its first iPhone in the summer of 2007 and has since released 23 additional iPhone models. The introduction of the iPhone propelled us into the age of the smartphone. Smartphones would quickly become an irrevocable part of our everyday lives.But, following the original iPhone, there has only been one other iPhone that has lived up to the…
There is a policy stating that students must attend 75% of their scheduled classes or they will receive a F in the class. On top of this, teachers are able to use their discretion to make the attendance policy stricter. This policy, while made with good intentions, is unnecessary and possible even harmful for students. Students, regardless of circumstance, are being penalized for missing class. At this point in our lives, we are all adults who are paying a significant amount of money to attend this university. If we cannot motivate ourselves to go to class and be successful, then…
Matt Rhule’s time at Baylor will go down in the books as a triumphant underdog tale. Every era must come to an end, and once it is over, it is up to the people who lived through it to tell its story. In this transition between Rhule and the next coach to come, we must write a fair narrative of Rhule’s legacy. When Rhule signed to the Carolina Panthers, many Baylor Bears were shocked. After all, he had just extended his contract with Baylor to 2027 in Sept. While fans may feel hurt or betrayed, it is important to acknowledge…
I believe that Baylor needs to ditch the redesign of Marigold and revert back to the original mascot head. I lived with a Baylor mascot last year, and I spent a lot of time up close with the mascot heads for both Bruiser and Marigold before and after the Baylor United rebranding. While they both changed in their own ways, I have issues with the changes made to Marigold. When you look at the new Marigold, it’s pretty apparent that something is off with her new face. The first thing I notice is her eyes. The eyes have gone from…
Wake up. Study. Maybe eat. Sleep. Repeat. During finals season, it can be easy to fall into a monotonous cycle. A veil of stress falls over the way we perceive everything around us. Moody’s architecture appears less like a cozy study hub and more like a jail. Hitting the books often necessitates kicking our social life to the curb. The natural tendency during finals season is to fixate on what we have to do, and in the process, we neglect to appreciate what we have already done. Take time this finals season to appreciate the semester coming to a close.…
Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 37, stands as the fourth most popular democratic candidate for the 2020 presidential election, according to democratic polls last updated Dec. 3.However, Buttigieg is the youngest democratic candidate and his age has shown to be a concern for some citizens. By basing their opinions on the presidential candidate on his age alone, people are not considering him as a candidate holistically.Since he launched an exploratory committee in January and his official campaign in April, the mayor of South Bend, Ind. has been judged on his age rather than his experience or campaign.Opinion columnist for the New York…
By Bri Boland | ContributorAlthough recycling helps in the fight against environmental negligence, research suggests a more impactful lifestyle change: eating less meat. However, this may be a challenge for some.Meat consumption has always been an integral aspect of American culture. Recent estimates by The Organisation for Economic Co-operation show Americans eat about 60 pounds of beef or veal per capita per year, while the world average stands around 32 pounds per year.Asbury, N.J. freshman Emerson Hershfeld exemplifies the American taste for savory products.“It would be difficult to stop eating meat because it is a food I’ve been eating since…
By Sydney Scheckel | ContributorThe students at Baylor University are in desperate need of a sidewalk between the science and business buildings. Students currently trek across a dirt path that is spotted with grass that leads them to either the BSB or the Hankamer Business School. Adding a sidewalk would lead to a great amount of convenience for both students and staff.Between the amount of time students spend cleaning their dirty apparel and staff mopping and sweeping up debris caused by this inconvenience, the sidewalk would be worth the cost. This grassy area spotted with some large trees deserves a…
Currently, Baylor has no non-Christian religious organizations chartered. Although Baylor does have the right, as a private institution, to disallow these organizations, the university advertises the inclusion of all religions in this community, encourages broadening one’s horizons and emphasizes understanding a “rich cultural diversity.” The organizations present on campus should reflect these values.As stated, the Baylor family includes a diverse group of students from many different faith backgrounds, so why is there no official organization or organizations allowed that can reflect that diversity? Baylor does have the “Better Together” program, but this is not a specific faith-based organization. It is…
By Kaitlyn McMillan | ContributorIn the months leading up the what I liked to refer to as the “big move,” questions such as “Are you excited?” and “Are you ready?” were hurled at me left and right. I would smile and nod my head without saying much, because on the inside I was experiencing an increasing sense of dread. Upon moving away from home, I heard these same statements over and over again. People won’t hesitate to tell you what a big change it is, or how your first semester is always the worst. Hearing these types of statements repeatedly…
Being the oldest continuously operating university in Texas, Baylor is deep in its religious roots. But with a recent increase in a progressive and diverse student body, should the academic institution uphold its morals when hiring staff or is a change required? It wouldn’t make sense for a southern Baptist university to employ a member of a different faith for not only any position, but also specifically one that requires the fostering of relationships and a Christian community. Almost always will a religious establishment hire qualified staff who hold the same morals and values, but at Baylor many are beginning…
It’s that time of the year — along with finals, projects and last-minute assignments, students are able to partake in one of the semester’s most loved and equally dreaded activities: course evaluations. These evaluations allow students to rate the quality of their professors, courses and overall semester academic experience. Some questions are asked on a scale, with students ranking categories from a one to a five. Others are more open-ended and allow for comments about ways teachers or courses created a successful learning environment or can be improved. The system allows students to comment on how much they enjoyed their…
By Elijah Lindsey | ContributorFor me, the scariest part of Halloween is knowing that the very next day I can expect to hear the dreadful “All I Want for Christmas is You” playing on the majority of radio stations and shopping centers. I understand there really is no genre of Thanksgiving music, but can we please celebrate one holiday at a time?The so-called “Christmas creep” has begun. For the next two months, people feel the need to start blasting Christmas music non-stop. How did we get to this point in our holiday culture? Have we overshadowed the warm gathering of…
Everybody is familiar with the terms “climate change” and “global warming,” but society needs to start understanding the impact those words have on society. Climate change is becoming an issue that immensely affects the future. If people don’t continue to call for change, it will defeat society and permanently change the world. In order to spread awareness about the impact of climate change, the nation’s public education systems need to emphasize the importance of climate change.The fate of society and the environment lie in the hands of the youth. Current generations will face more difficulties associated with global warming than…
Over the past weeks, Multicultural Affairs has commemorated Hispanic Heritage Month and Asian & Pacific American Heritage Month, but I am wondering why they have not done anything for Native American Heritage Month in November. Because there is no student organization for Native Americans, those who identify with that ethnicity have nowhere to express themselves and no one to encourage campus wide events like presentations or powwows. If anything, by not hosting any such events or even acknowledging the existence of Native American Heritage Month, it reinforces the notion that there are no more Indians in the United States or…
Video streaming services are at an all-time high. Cable has transitioned into adding Netflix, which has transitioned into adding one, two, three or maybe even more new subscription-based services. Although options can be nice to have, what some have dubbed the “streaming war” can make it difficult for consumers to know which purchases are worth it and which aren’t. The overall idea of streaming services is great — for just a small monthly fee, subscribers have access to a wide variety of content that would have cost a large amount if purchased individually. Although investing in these services can be…
Thanksgiving Break is approaching, and you’re most likely counting down the days. While many students will be traveling home to reunite with their loved ones, it is important to keep in mind that this is not the case for all.Distance can be a distinct barrier between students and their families, which can be especially hard during the holiday season for various reasons.Some have lost loved ones during this time or are met with anxious feelings when talk about Thanksgiving or Christmas is exchanged. While holidays stir up excitement and fun among many, grief and pain do exist for others.Some may…
By Sadie Hopkins | Contributor Being a heterosexual 19-year-old female, my opinion regarding whether Baylor should or should not establish an official club for its LGBT student community wouldn’t typically be valid. However, as a Christian, I have the right to voice my opinion. I was raised in a loving and supportive home that practically lived the southern Baptist church. Challenging the ideas in the Bible was considered questioning Christianity as a whole. My church held tight to the traditional interpretation of what scripture had to say on this subject. Nevertheless, as I have gotten older and encountered more perspectives…
By Emily Cousins | ContributorThe Bible belt is an easy place to be a Christian, but it is not always an easy place to be educated on sensitive topics. Specifically sex education. In Texas, it is not required for public schools to teach sex education in schools. When it is taught, the majority of public schools only teach abstinence. According to the 2016 Texas Freedom Network study, 58.3% of schools teach abstinence, 16.6% teach abstinence-plus and 25.1% do not teach sex education at all. Teaching students only about abstinence is problematic and unrealistic. Many parents want to see Christian values…
Protests and public activism or demonstrations are newsworthy, and it is the job of journalists to report news to the public – to share what people are fighting for and the affect that may have. When college journalists at Northwestern University covered protests on their campus earlier this month, the news staff received backlash from students for covering the event – especially for photographing protesters and using the college directory and social media to try and contact potential sources. Caving under the pressure from their fellow students, The Daily Northwestern took down and amended their news coverage (which the Lariat…
By DJ Ramirez | Sports Editor On March 24, 2012, during a Saturday afternoon game against Kansas, Baylor baseball was looking to claim the series after a 10-2 win the previous night. The Bears had scored a run in the second inning to take an early 1-0 lead. In the third, with first baseman Max Muncy at the plate, sophomore pitcher Josh Michalec called out to the future LA Dodger the chant that would define the 2012 baseball season. “Feed the Beaver!” Muncy blasted that ball into the Brazos River, breaking a 15-game home run drought. Beaver Magic It was…
College newspapers, just like any other form of journalism, have a duty to inform and report the truth. This civil responsibility should never be compromised in an effort to please people.Recently, journalists have criticized Northwestern University’s student newspaper for apologizing for their report on student protests. Although the editors of The Daily Northwestern should have defended their practices rather than kneeling to student complaints, the journalists criticizing them should take a step back and remember what it was like to be a student.Former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke on campus after being invited by the University’s College Republicans to…
By Lucy Ruscitto | ContributorImagine this: You are a student at Baylor University, and as a liberal arts major, you have classes in nearly all of the buildings on campus. You are looking for a new place to study because as per usual, Moody is too loud and the Starbucks line is too long. So you pop into the Hankamer School of Business for a hot sandwich from Au Bon Pain and a secluded study spot among the modernesque, private study cubicles with your business friends. As soon as your foot hits the shiny marble floor, you are astounded, not…
What do you think of when you hear of Thanksgiving break? For most, they think about spending a week at home with family, not thinking about school and recharging their brain. Baylor students are only granted three days of break this year and many aren’t happy about it.Baylor University has a total enrollment of 17,217 students. Of those students, 65% are from Texas. Many Texas school districts and districts all around the nation normally have a week off to celebrate Thanksgiving break. Thus, many students, especially the 3,366 new freshmen are used to having a week off to spend time…
There is nothing more welcoming than pancakes and coffee.The IHOP by Baylor campus was an iconic location for many generations of Baylor students. The university recently forced its closure and demolition to begin construction on the new Mark and Paula Hurd Welcoming Center.The IHOP had 24/7-hour service, which was great for many Baylor students. They also served unlimited free coffee refills, which was another appealing factor. Having it right across the street from the campus is a college student’s dream come true. The location, hours, pancakes and coffee refills will be missed.Baylor students loved the pancakes that were served but…
Named one of the most secure colleges in America, Baylor University continues to stand ahead of the curve on safety innovation and proactive improvements to provide for the safety and security of our students. Our Department of Public Safety has a highly committed staff of more than 100 personnel who are assisted by a large network of live security cameras, 24-hour patrols, 81 emergency call boxes and 152 emergency telephones. A Tuesday Lariat Letter calling for more call boxes around campus implied that Baylor’s current campus safety measures are inadequate. I would instead ask that our campus community think outside…
We get meme culture. But sometimes meme culture can perpetuate toxic ideas, stereotypes and cancel culture, no matter how harmless or truly representative a meme trend can seem. And often a meme isn’t the actual point of toxicity— it’s the attitude. The “OK, Boomer” meme has exploded recently. What started out as a funny and relatively relevant response by younger generations has turned into a dismissive and cancel-culture-engaged stereotype that’s plastered throughout social media and seeping into the real world. The phrase “OK, Boomer” has been used by millennials and Gen Zers in resentment toward Baby Boomers and how they…
By Kyle McCulloch | ContributorChemical warfare, terrorist attacks and mass genocide are included, among other war crimes, in this year’s soft reboot of Infinity Ward’s “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.” Is the campaign’s emphasis on violence necessary to provide players with a memorable experience?Modern Warfare’s controversial campaign is a true return to form for the franchise, unapologetically provoking its players to reflect on the subject of modern warfare. The campaign depicts an unpredictable and escalating cold war between NATO and a ruthlessly violent anarchist regime.War has changed since the events of 9/11. The battlefield is not bound to any specific…
What comes to mind when you think of America’s national parks? Escape, natural beauty, adventure and freedom are generally what pop up in the brain. The need to connect to Wi-fi or get your Amazon Prime package delivered do not typically fall under the realm of thought when it comes to national parks — nor should it become that way. According to an article by the LA Times, the Trump administration has been working on proposal to privatize national parks and even commercialize them with WiFi, food trucks and Amazon deliveries. To begin allowing private business such as these into…