By Jacquelyn Kellar | Broadcast Managing Editor The Medical College Admissions Test, or the MCAT, has been evaluating future medical school students since 1928, when it was called the Moss Test. It has since morphed several times to fit the needs of the changing culture in medicine. The latest of these changes comes 25 years after the previous one, effective in 2015. The changes that come with the newest exam are far from subtle. The test has almost doubled in length from 3 hours and 20 minutes to 6 hours and 15 minutes. Three new subjects of course material were…
Author: Baylor Lariat
Cartoon by Joshua KimBaylor has an absolutely gorgeous campus. Here, students enjoy lush green grass, resolute red brick buildings and perfectly manicured gardens and hedges that are always brimming with color. While we enjoy all of the perks that come along with the campus aesthetic (cute Instagram photos, scenic views and lots of space to run), we do not enjoy being accosted by the smell and appearance of dog poop. Owning a dog in college seems to be a growing trend in recent years, and along with that comes the chance of a leaving a mess. Letting your dog roam…
Thomas and Jacob talk rookie QB’s, the least impressive win and the state of the Big XII.
By Morgan Kilgo | Broadcast Reporter Orangetheory is the latest fitness facility to hit Waco. Located in the Lake Air Shopping Center, Orangetheory is a different kind of workout compared to what Waco has seen before. Each member is given a heart rate monitor to wear during the workout. The monitor is then connected wirelessly to the TV screens around the room. Members are able to monitor their heart rate and how many total calories they are burning while working out. “I would say that Orangetheory Fitness is the closest you can get to a perfect workout,” said James Ratfliff,…
Video by Morgan Kilgo | Broadcast Reporter, Story by Nathan Keil | Sports Writer Baylor’s defense was not tested much a week ago against Northwestern State, having allowed less than 100 total yards of offense. However, SMU was up for the challenge. The Mustang offense was able to flip the script on Baylor and find success by spreading the field and putting their athletes in space. Despite allowing more than 200 yards of offense in the first quarter and a half, the Baylor defense consistently stepped up on third down and forced the Mustangs to settle for field goals inside…
Let’s talk about sex. Or not. Baylor is really great at starting conversations. There’s endless discourse about serving God, engaging the community, pursuing academic excellence and finding one’s purpose. But we’re only really good at talking about things that don’t challenge the traditional Christian mission. When it comes to the topic of sex, it’s like the university reverts to an awkward teen fumbling to have an honest discussion about what sex is while avoiding words that are too anatomically correct`. Sex is almost never mentioned out in the open, and finding on-campus resources about healthy sexual habits is kind of…
By Rose Brugger | Guest ColumnistSince returning to school this fall, I have felt a change in Baylor’s atmosphere. Within my first three days on campus, I read multiple Title IX announcements in my syllabuses, received several mini-lectures on the importance of reporting assault and opened numerous emails mentioning Baylor’s “progress” in implementing the Pepper Hamilton recommendations. A heightened awareness of assault is hanging over the entire campus. Of course it’s important for Baylor to reform the way the administration handles assault allegations, but administrators aren’t the ones who can “fix” the problem of assault. They can’t look into our…
The Bears’ season rocketed into victory with their win against Northwestern on Friday. Excitement sparked among fans at the staggering 55–7 blowout. Yet the excitement was tainted for some with frustration over Ishmael Zamora’s three-game suspension. When the athletic department announced Zamora’s punishment in response to an animal abuse charge, students, alumni and others across the nation criticized the punishment as being too lenient. We agree that Zamora’s suspension was too lenient, yet this stance is not based on the severity of the punishment in relation to what Zamora did. Zamora was convicted of a Class C misdemeanor, and is…
By Katie Mahaffey | Broadcast Reporter Students got a chance to get away from schoolwork and float on Waco’s Brazos River during the first annual Brazos River Float. The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce held this event in order to get students engaged in the Waco community. “One of our strategic initiatives is to help retain college students within our community. Having a really well-educated workforce is important to us and it’s a major economic driver,” Kris Collins, Senior Vice President-Economic Development of Greater Waco Chamber, said. The Waco Chamber of Commerce wants Baylor students to stay in the area…
Thomas Mott and Jakob Brandenburg sit down to talk the Northwestern State game, Bradford trade, NFC East and college football reaction.
By Morgan Kilgo | Broadcast Reporter Church Under the Bridge has been serving Waco’s homeless community for the past 24 years. According the church’s website, the church was started by a Christian couple and a Baylor student as a place for “black, white, brown, rich and poor, educated in the streets and in the university, all worshiping the living God, who makes us one.” The trio developed the idea after befriending and worshiping with a few of the men who were living under I-35 near Baylor’s campus. “Most Baylor students come from faith backgrounds but haven’t been exposed to the…
It is safe to say that the parking changes implemented for students prior to last Friday’s football game against Northwestern State were disastrous. When Baylor decided to transition from the off-campus, decidedly inconvenient Floyd Casey Stadium to the beautiful, brand-new McLane Stadium right across the river, the students rejoiced. When Saturday games began and signs appeared instructing students and faculty to vacate certain parking garages by 6 p.m. Friday night, students were disgruntled, but flexible. But for Friday’s game, Baylor required students to move their cars out of the Dutton Parking Garage by 6 p.m. Thursday and prohibited them from…
Gin Blossoms headlined the first pregame concert in the series before the game against Northwestern State. A new initiative from Baylor Athletics, the pregame concert series will give football fans another form of entertainment at the tailgate. It is free and open to anyone who wants to enjoy some music before the game. “We went back to our fans and asked them what was missing to truly make Baylor football the best gameday experience in the country,” Assistant A.D. of Marketing and Fan Engagement Jay Luksis said. “So we thought ‘What can we do as a department to step up…
An unexpected rainstorm caused a drastic change of plans for the annual Traditions Rally on Thursday. All of the preconcert events were cancelled and the concert itself, set to end the night on Fountain Mall, was moved to the Student Union Building in the Barfield Drawing Room. The Department of Student Activities and the members of the Chamber of Commerce converted the Barfield Drawing Room into a small concert venue in a frenzy. “We felt that it was the safest decision to bring out students indoors,” said Matt Burchett, Director of Student Activities. “Although it modifies the event significantly, we…
By Christina Soto | Broadcast Reporter Baylor University is a campus that is not known for being racially diverse. According to Baylor IRT, 64 percent of students identify as white while the remaining 35 percent of the student body identify as minorities. Although these numbers seem large, there is a discrepancy in cultural competency on campus. “Coming to Baylor — it was kind of a shock to see such a small black community, coming from Atlanta,” Georgia senior Darren Samuels said. However, Baylor is working hard to create a more diverse campus and educate students about other ethnic backgrounds. The…
Road closures will be in effect for gameday. The map below indicates these closures, as well as the location of available parking garages.
By Morgan Kilgo | Broadcast Reporter While Baylor fans have been awaiting the upcoming football season, the Golden Wave Marching Band has been in preparation for weeks. The band has been a Baylor tradition for the past 100 years and with that tradition comes a high level of pressure and expectation. While their biggest performance occurs at halftime, they are also expected to keep the stadium loud and the Baylor spirit high the entire game. “We are out there for them playing our hearts out just for them,” said head Drum Major Walker Karstens. “We are there for their entertainment,…
Due to Baylor’s massive growth in the past few years, registration for classes has gotten much more difficult. The Baylor Lariat intended to write this editorial on the process of enrolling in classes as a studio art minor. Studio art minors are barred from registering for 3000 and 4000 level classes until the majors have registered for their courses. The following was pulled from the story that was originally going to be published: “Senior year is a dichotomous mixture of graduation parties and paper-writing. It is a daze of getting classes lined up in order to graduate on time, making…
For many Baylor students living off campus, transportation to and from campus can be expensive, and owning a car may not be feasible for many. The public transportation system that Baylor provides is a free alternative to the financial burden of keeping a vehicle. However, with all the new off campus housing being developed, the bus system is becoming overcrowded, inconsistent, and inconvenient for students to use. Due to the rise in applicants to Baylor in recent years, many changes have been taking place to restore and rebuild the campus. Dining halls and dorms are being updated each year, including…
By Jacquelyn Kellar | Broadcast Managing Editor After a full academic year of renovations, the Cashion Academic Center, the new home to the Speech Pathology Department, is now open for classes. The building reopened August 22 for the beginning of classes and will begin clinic appointments again on September 6. The entire inside of the building was gutted and refinished, thanks to a generous, anonymous gift of $10 million. The facilities include new rooms for clinic appointments furnished with all of the necessities ranging from educational toys for children all the way up to top of the line technology and…
It’s no secret that attending Baylor is expensive. In order to maximize the efficiency with which they move through their college years, many students save time and money by taking non-essential courses at community colleges or online. Unfortunately, one of Baylor’s summer policy changes now prohibits students from transferring in upper-level courses. According to Baylor’s “General Policies on Transfer Credits” online, “No course at or above the ‘3000’ level may be taken at a community/junior college, and no community/junior college course will be evaluated as an advanced course.” Baylor has always had fairly stringent policies on transferring credits from other…
Morgan Kilgo | Broadcast Reporter The Big Event is one of the ways the incoming freshmen class gets to know their fellow bears. A Welcome Week Tradition, the Big Event is annually held the first Saturday before the start of classes in the Ferrell Center. “I wanted to meet some people,” Conway, Ark. freshman Matthew Sweere said. “Meet the rest of my 2020 class, and have a good time.” This year’s event was safari-themed and featured an exotic petting zoo. The main part of the event was a live performance by the band “Intensity.” This was Intensity’s fourth time performing…
Jacquelyn Kellar | Broadcast Managing Editor Baylor University brought its Welcome Week celebration to a close Sunday evening, welcoming thousands of young freshmen with worship and song. The service was held in the Ferrell Center, where less than 24 hours before the group had been dancing, mingling and eating pizza at the safari themed Big Event. This time, the tone was much different. “First and foremost, we want them to see that at the heart of what Baylor is all about is a deep connection to God,” said University Chaplain Dr. Burt Burleson. “So we are framing this very important night…
Bradi Murphy | Arts & Life Editor 1. The Pullin Family Marina Located right across the street from Baylor’s main campus, the marina provides kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddle boards, sunfish sailboats, sand volleyball and a grassy area to lay down and relax in. A Baylor ID is required to check out the equipment, but this is a great place to enjoy the warm weather. Located on the Brazos River, the water feels great and it comes with some pretty great views as well. 2. Waco Downtown Farmer’s market On S. University Parks Dr. every Saturday morning , the Waco Downtown…
Baylor sophomore takes the crown as Miss Texas 2016.
Guest Column by Interim President David E. GarlandI count it a tremendous privilege to welcome the more than 16,000 men and women who have come to Baylor University from across America and around the world to prepare academically, socially and spiritually for their future endeavors. Along your journeys, you will encounter exemplary faculty and staff who care deeply for you as individuals and challenge you to become all God intends you to be. I am honored to serve for a second time as Baylor’s interim president. “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” (Revelation…
The 2015-2016 academic year at Baylor University had its fill of disappointments, heartbreak and negative media attention. It seemed as though losing our two starting quarterbacks to injury was the biggest tragedy we’d face at the beginning of the fall semester. However, after an ESPN report brought to light some serious sexual assault allegations surrounding several members of the Baylor football team and the athletics program at large, the rest of the year was a collection of investigations and controversy. It seems impossible to move on from these blows to the school’s leadership, reputation and morale, but time doesn’t stand…
