Ever since Starbucks announced plans in July to remove plastic straws from all of its stores, the company’s actions have reverberated throughout the United States. For example, Baylor dining halls will no longer offer plastic straws to students. This effort is in part prompted by student interest in sustainability and in part by Aramark’s move towards eliminating some of its plastic waste. Other global corporations and even some state governments have considered banning straws.Of course, any conversation or action regarding sustainability benefits the environment, and It’s better to move towards plastic elimination in small steps than to do nothing at…
Author: Baylor Lariat
By Alison Rogers | Guest ContributorThe cell phone in your pocket could be funding atrocities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the site of the deadliest conflict since World War II. It is estimated to have killed over 5.4 million people. But Congo is also a major source of the minerals used in cell phones, laptops and gaming systems. The companies that produce these devices are directly fueling the conflict. Armed groups coerce miners, exploit children, assault women and use our consumer money to make hundreds of millions of dollars yearly.There are ways to…
Nearly a third of women are sexually assaulted at some point in their lives, but less than half will seek medical care for their injuries, according to a Boston University study. For those who do, emergency care often fails to have adequate knowledge to share with the victim regarding the procedure and options available to them.Procedures for how to handle sexual assault victims and sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) exams should be a required part of education in medical schools, followed by quarterly training for professionals.Emergency room doctors are not currently required to have training regarding the sexual assault nurse…
Story by Madalyn Watson | Reporter, Video by Savannah Cooper | Broadcast ReporterThe Boundary Breaking Women’s Panel: Redefining Womanhood Thursday featured 10 panelists who shared the stories of 10 women in history who broke down gender roles and resisted the confines of their time. The event was sponsored by the Baylor’s Women’s and Gender Studies on Thursday afternoon .The first panelist, Dr. Lorynn Divita, told the story of Amelia Bloomer, an American social reformer and suffragette. Bloomer encouraged a dress reform called ‘Freedom Dress’ through her newspaper, which popularized wearing Turkish trousers underneath a knee length dress.“We see [freedom dress]…
Increasing awareness of unhealthy relationships is a hot topic in social circles these days. Since rapper Mac Miller passed away of a drug overdose on Sept. 7, commentary surrounding his drug abuse and his relationship with pop singer Ariana Grande has turned to hate. Many fans of Miller’s music claim Grande had a role in Miller’s death, due to their public breakup and her whirlwind romance with her now-fiance Pete Davidson. While nobody wants to leave a person they care deeply about between a rock and a hard place, Grande’s choice to leave her relationship due to Miller’s unhealthy drug…
In this week’s episode, our anchors cover how Baylor police plan to crack down on bike laws on-campus, how a new pair of pastors at a local church plan to reach college students and how a Baylor women’s basketball player was dismissed from the team just last week.
Story by Bridget Sjoberg | Staff Writer, Video by Caroline Waterhouse | Broadcast ReporterBaylor students, faculty and staff, as well as Waco residents were treated to a lecture Thursday from Mark Lach, the designer of Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, a traveling exhibit that will remain at Baylor’s Mayborn Museum until Jan. 6. Lach’s successful Titanic exhibition has been visited by over 14 million people around the world and is created to be an immersive experience for visitors. A highlight of Lach’s lecture involved his stories of traveling on a Russian sea vessel to visit the Titanic wreckage site himself. Lach…
Although Title IX is extremely important to college students, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is considering making drastic changes to the way the system currently operates. According to the New York Times, DeVos is preparing new policies regarding campus sexual misconduct that would increase the rights for students accused of assault, harassment or rape and reduce liability for universities. DeVos has not publicly announced these policy changes yet, but the New York Times obtained a copy of her proposal. It is not too late to demand that DeVos not restrict victims’ rights, but rather increase support, resources and rights for…
The United States stubbornly refuses to join hands with the rest of the world in one simple area: measurements. The metric system is used everywhere in the world except for America, Myanmar and Liberia. Why? No one knows! Try asking an Englishman how far away the tube station is, or asking an Italian how tall he/she is. We, as Americans, wouldn’t be able to fully understand their answer without pulling out our phones and doing a units conversion. It makes travel much more difficult for Americans, and it must cause foreigners a lot of stress when they come to America…
Many millennials were taught to say “yes, ma’am” and “yes, sir” to our elders at a young age. Many of us were taught to hold the door open for our seniors and to help them when they need it. However, respecting your elders is so much more than this, and respect is not a one-sided issue. As much as we need to respect our elders, our elders should also respect the younger generation. In terms of respecting our elders, there are many ways we can improve our respect to those who have come before. While the basic values of respect…
While the current polarized political climate mobilizes Americans to use their dollars with scrutiny, consumers need to pay more attention to companies’ ethical practices, rather than just the political stances they adhere to. American consumers have spotlighted Nike due to its advertisement starring the leader of the 2016 #TakeAKnee movement, Colin Kaepernick, released Sept. 3. Rooted in political disagreement, people have taken to social media to protest the company. President Donald Trump tweeted “What was Nike thinking?” There has been an influx of videos destroying Nike gear and use of the hashtag #NikeBoycott. There have been tangible repercussions to the…
Nike sparked controversy last week with an ad featuring former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s face behind the words, “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything.” When corporations like take political stances on polarizing issues such as police brutality or LGBTQ rights, they often garner strong support or protest. Corporations exist because of consumers. Therefore, our response to their political agendas matters. Nike’s controversial ad campaign provides an opportunity for consumers to exercise intentionality in their purchases. Those in favor of Nike’s stance can support the corporation’s actions through their finances, and those against can boycott the company’s products.…
In this week’s episode, our anchors cover the security breach on-campus in the Hooper-Schaefer building, Cultivate 7twelve’s most recent exhibit on street art and head football coach Matt Rhule’s plans for UTSA this weekend.
Serena Williams, American tennis superstar, wore a catsuit to a tournament in the French Open in May. The catsuit was banned in August because, according to French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli, “You have to respect the game and the place.”The full-body catsuit defies tennis attire norms but can hardly be argued to be disrespectful to the sport.Williams has won a record 39 Grand Slam singles titles and four Olympic gold medals. She entered the professional realm when she was 14 and has played tennis since she was 3. It is fair to assume that Williams respects the sport.Her catsuit…
Last weekend, CNN reported that two journalists working for Reuters, a news and business website, from Myanmar were arrested and sentenced to seven years in prison for investigating and reporting on the massacre of Rohinga Muslims in the region. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo reportedly broke the Official Secrets Act by taking classified information from police officials, but Reuters is standing by the pair, claiming that they were within their rights to report on the war crimes. Also claiming that there have been claims of a set-up by police officials in order to entrap the journalists. This happened halfway…
As contemporary culture encourages us to view history as inherently interpretive, we can often find ourselves questioning the dominant narratives that drive historical memory. In attempts to revisit the past in a way that values more oppressed groups, a balance must be struck between preserving the past and glorifying it. In the United States, conversations surrounding the removal of Confederate statues have become heated debates. In August, protesters at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tore down the Confederate statue “Silent Sam.” The destruction of this statue could have been avoided if the public university, and the nation at…
When we think back on our favorite films, most of us will recall a particularly impactful storyline, an especially believable character or a memorable plot element. The truth is, for many years now, big budget films have fallen short in these regards. Also, it seems like every heavily marketed film falls into the category of unnecessary remake or un-asked-for sequel. In recent years, films that have continued to inspire audiences, raise provocative questions and illustrate a unique perspective are often not distributed to as broad an audience.Independent films, or indies, are typically produced with a relatively low budget, free from…
In the first episode of the semester, our anchors talk about the recently released Art Briles court filing, new ways in Waco to satisfy your sweet tooth and Baylor Athletics’ clear bag policy.
By Palmer Brigham | Guest Columnist As a Baylor tour guide, I understand the tradition of Chapel. Several times a week, I stand in front of Waco Hall and tell prospective students about Baylor’s pride in its Christian roots and its continued commitment to those beliefs. I talk about how Baylor students “get to” (purposefully avoiding words about compulsory attendance that could illicit complaints) attend two semesters of Chapel. I depict Chapel as a time to take your mind off the school day while talking about how nice it is to have a “class” with a simple attendance grade and…
Walking across campus, you’re sure to spot countless women wearing colorful T-shirts or jerseys with Greek letters plastered across the front. From an outsider’s perspective, Baylor sorority membership seems to consist primarily of themed dances, All-University Sing and a sense of sisterhood; however, behind the catchy slogans, color schemes and somewhat jarring chants are regular students trying to successfully make it to graduation and, for some members, that road is a little less smooth than for others. It’s common knowledge that sorority membership comes with a heavy cost. Each semester, members must pay dues to participate in their chosen organizations.…
Baylor athletic events now require clear bags to carry items.
New York University’s School of Medicine announced last week that it will be tuition-free for all current and future students. Such a prestigious institution addressing accessibility issues in medicine is a huge step forward in the move toward diversifying the medicine field and encouraging dedicated, qualified and passionate individuals to pursue a career in medicine.The program covers a yearly tuition of $55,018. Relieving students of this burden not only encourages them to go into the profession, but also helps them to remain in the field at a comfortable living rate once they’ve put in their time and done the work.…
Last week Ohio State University suspended its head football coach, Urban Meyer, for three games following the university’s investigation into his handling of domestic abuse allegations involving his former assistant coach, Zach Smith. A report made public by the university on Wednesday found that Meyer was aware of allegations of abuse before he hired Smith at Ohio State. The evidence against Meyer is damning — a three-game suspension is a joke and an insult to all victims of abuse. Either Meyer knew Smith was abusing his wife and did not report it or he didn’t know. If he did know…
This week, Cameron Stuart and Andrew Cline preview the college football season and dive deep into the Urban Meyer scandal and suspension at Ohio State. They are also joined by resident Spurs expert Thomas Marotta in the wake of Manu Ginobili’s retirement and discuss his Hall of Fame status.
By Clay Parham | Guest ColumnistThe latest round of indictments against President Donald Trump’s inner circle has brought forth an onslaught of criticism directed toward the United States Justice Department from our sitting president. We should do everything we can to make sure the judicial branch of our government remains strong. The president’s attacks on the Justice Department sets a dangerous precedent in American politics. Past scandal-ridden presidencies have remained distant from investigations. Admittedly, President Bill Clinton was unable to fire then special counsel Ken Starr due to a Watergate-Era Act titled the Ethics in Government Act. This act expired…
Story by Bridget Sjoberg | Staff Writer, Video by Melanie Pace | Broadcast Reporter Sunday afternoon, 106 racers traveled 3.9 miles to raise money and awareness for an important cause … in kayaks. This event marked the first year of Kayak for a Cause, a kayaking and paddle boarding race on the Brazos River to benefit the American Valor Foundation. Kayak for a Cause had single and double kayak categories, as well as a division for stand-up paddle boarders. Pokey O’s was served and iHeart Radio was a prominent sponsor, but the main goal of the event was to support…
By DJ Ramirez | ContributorIncluded in the list of new and exciting experiences happening during the first week of school, a new scuba diving club will be present at Late Night Friday. The SEA Bears were founded by Ft. Benning, Ga. junior Claire Costanza and San Antonio junior Noah Wiatrek early in the Spring 2018 semester. Costanza, a biology pre-med student from a military family, was inspired to start the club at Baylor because of her father, who had been part of a scuba program at the United States Military Academy. After her father underwent surgery to remove a brain…
By Melanie Pace | Broadcast ReporterHeavy rain did not stop freshmen from attending a Welcome Week worship service Sunday night at the Ferrell Center. Dr. Burt Burleson, university chaplain,said a worship service has been part of the Welcome Week tradition for several decades. The service included live music as well as recitations of scripture.Burleson said he hopes the experience at the Ferrell Center helps freshmen to have a “sense of belonging” and to “know that they are loved” in their new home at Baylor. As for students without a faith background, Burleson said he hopes the Christian community at Baylor…
On the first episode of Don’t Feed The Bears of the 2018-19 school year, hosts Max Calderone and Cameron Stuart are joined by Andrew Cline to recap the year that was in Baylor Athletics, talk this summer’s biggest sports stories, and preview the upcoming season for various Baylor teams.
Not knowing your grades and forgetting when your tests are can be the most frustrating moments of the year. As the school year begins, now is the time to think about organizational changes that need to be made. Professors expect respect and organization from their students—as they should—but it would help if professors were mindful about returning the favor.Canvas is a helpful tool for professors and students alike all throughout the year. Professors who lament the loss of Blackboard or still resort to paper copies of everything could open up a whole new world of possibilities simply by not remaining…
