Author: Baylor Lariat

With new businesses coming to Waco, it can be a challenge to balance city development with the needs of a community. As the city continues to grow, the disparity between income levels will have to be an issue of continual consideration. With a population of more than 130,194, nearly 29.4 percent of the population is in poverty, according to the United States Census Bureau. This statistic should come to no surprise to anyone who lives in the area. Lower-income areas are scattered all around the city and are especially stark in contrast to Baylor University’s expanse over one side of…

The gender pay gap: a phenomenon some say doesn’t exist. However, the recent lawsuit filed by the US women’s national soccer team is shedding new light on an old controversy. On March 29, five women from the national team– Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn and Hope Solo – filed a wage-discrimination action against the U.S. Soccer Federation for being paid substantially less than the comparable U.S. men’s national soccer team. Members of the women’s team earned about one-fourth of what male soccer players earned in 2015, despite winning their World Cup and bringing in $20 million more…

The annual Diadeloso held on Fountain Mall was a welcomed break from class for all students. Archery tag, a zip line, food, and exotic animals made this year’s Dia was one for the books. Students from all around flocked to Fountain Mall to celebrate the day. While the Baylor events were a plus, many students were more excited about the chance to have a Tuesday off from school. With finals quickly approaching, this day was much needed for those stressing about the end of the school year. Erin McGrew, a sophomore from San Antonio said, “It’s just a great day…

We hear it every year. “Why can’t Chamber ever book any good headliners?” While the relevance of Diadeloso headliners could be debated, we’re more concerned with the student response than the choice of music artists. The Baylor Chamber of Commerce is made up of students who tout the slogan, “Anything for Baylor.” This group works to uphold that banner, organizing Traditions Rally, Diadeloso, Homecoming, Family Weekend and more. In addition to arranging events, Chamber members are also doing what each of us often struggle to do: balance classes. In spite of the fact that they are just students like the…

Two weeks ago, there were three bomb incidents that have been reported to have been connected with terrorist groups. The attacks in Belgium and Iraq have been linked to ISIS (also referred to as ISIL or IS), while the Easter Sunday bombing in Pakistan is reported to have been done by the Taliban. The Brussels attack was the first and most widely reported attack of the three in American media from two weeks ago. Piling on to his controversial trip to Cuba, President Obama found himself receiving even more criticism after the Brussels attack for the way he responded to…

It’s time we talk about something, Baylor. Something that threatens the precious lives of us students on a daily basis. Something that plagues the campus every day. It’s time we talk about parking garages. No, this is not another whine-fest about the lack of parking on campus. This is about the danger that lurks around every parking garage corner. For far too long, students have mistaken these structures for NASCAR racetracks. They are not, in fact, NASCAR racetracks. They are parking garages, where cars park and pedestrians walk. Just so we’re clear: parking garage ≠ NASCAR racetrack. It’s no secret…

The Lariat’s Editorial Board sat down with the candidates running in the Student Government Elections to hear their platforms and how they plan to impact campus if elected.

The Lariat’s Editorial Board sat down with the candidates running in the Student Government Elections to hear their platforms and how they plan to impact campus if elected.

The Lariat’s Editorial Board sat down with the candidates running in the Student Government Elections to hear their platforms and how they plan to impact campus if elected.

The Lariat’s Editorial Board sat down with the candidates running in the Student Government Elections to hear their platforms and how they plan to impact campus if elected.

The Lariat’s Editorial Board sat down with the candidates running in the Student Government Elections to hear their platforms and how they plan to impact campus if elected.

For the 2016-17 student government elections, the Lariat editorial board is endorsing Port Barre, La., junior Lindsey Bacque for student body president and Katy junior Amye Dickerson for external vice president. Old River Winfree junior Joel Polvado is running unopposed for internal vice president.The board conducted interviews with each of the candidates and heard their platforms and aspirations for student government. These endorsements are based upon who we believe will best serve the campus and represent the student body.Student Body PresidentThe race for student body president is between Bacque and Tomball junior Alex Plott. Both candidates bring well-thought-out plans to…

By Helena Hunt, Lariat A&L Editor 10,000 glow sticks, 100 beach balls and one DJ will paint Fountain Mall neon when producer Elephante takes the main stage of this year’s Diadeloso. Elephante is an up-and-coming electronic dance music producer out of Los Angeles, who has moved from remixes of John Mayer and Calvin Harris to producing original songs like “Age of Innocence.” Elephante makes big beats and anthemic, pop-influenced dance tracks that get people moving. He will play at 7 p.m. next Tuesday on Fountain Mall after a yet-to-be-determined opening act. “We want people to know it’s not going to…

On March 22, a series of bombings in Brussels, Belgium, killed 31 people and injured 330. It was a tragic and horrific terrorist attack that was linked to ISIS and should have never occurred. However, the bombings in Brussels weren’t any more tragic than those that occurred later the same week in Iraq and Pakistan, but the way the media reported them, many people didn’t even know they occurred. In Iraq, on March 25, a man wearing a bomb walked into a soccer stadium and blew himself up, claiming the lives of 41 individuals and wounding 105. ISIS claimed the…

Since its founding in 1845, Baylor University has been a place of unwavering commitment to the Christian faith. Indeed, our devotion to Christ’s inspiring message of compassion and healing compels us to care deeply for one another, as well as for “the least of these.” In stark contrast, acts of sexual violence utterly contradict every value Baylor University upholds. As a caring Christian community, our careful focus on equipping each student to live out the promise of his or her future requires us to address – firmly and effectively – the scourge of interpersonal violence. We therefore join universities across…

Thomas Mott Broadcast Reporter The rock wall is the McLane Student Life Center’s main feature. However, many students pass up on this opportunity because they do not realize how easy it is to climb the wall. While most students come and have one of the employees at the SLC belay for them, Baylor also offers a quick and easy $5 class that teaches students how to climb on their own. Shoreline, Washington sophomore Danny Helms, who took the belay class said, “you have three check offs to do later on different days to show that you remember it and then…

Magnolia Market, a newly opened furniture and antique store by Chip and Joanna Gaines, also known as HGTV’s “Fixer Upper” couple, has sparked interest both in and out of Waco. An area that was previously just run-down, old property was converted into one of the best new tourist locations in Central Texas. The surrounding area of Magnolia, however, has perhaps felt the downside of this phenomenon in Waco. Although the area is small, the popularity and sheer mass of people trying to get into Magnolia has put a significant strain on parking and traffic in the couple of blocks affected…

Silencing and Shaming Benefits No One

For many students, regardless of classification, life after graduation is a sea of uncertainty. Some have their sights set on continuing in higher education. Others aim to go straight to work in their field. No matter the goal, once senior year hits, everything starts to feel scary. It’s no secret that some majors ensure more future job security than others. This is not new. Business Insider magazine released a list of the top 10 worst majors based on initial unemployment rates and starting salaries. The list is fairly predictable, with fine arts, liberal arts, philosophy and religious studies ranking high.…

Last Tuesday morning, more than 20 Baylor buildings lost power when a fuse blew on the overhead power lines on Seventh Street. Full power was restored by 2:30 p.m. that afternoon. Students received text and email alerts about the outage and were instructed to be in contact with professors in lieu of potential class cancellations. Many professors either canceled or move classes outside. Some, however, opted to carry on as usual and teach without power. For some, this meant trekking through dark stairwells and sitting in muggy classrooms. Apart from the stairs, no one was put at apparent risk by…

The Internet has made it easier to share images and ideas across the world. Publications that were once limited by the location of print products can now be distributed digitally for everyone to see. With easier accessibility comes the ability to be criticized on a global level. W Magazine recently learned this the hard way with their April issue. The magazine featured Zendaya, Willow Smith and Kiernan Shipka. Critics said the young women appeared to be whitewashed. A closer look at the cover would beg the question, however, just how far artistic license can go without being shut down by…

It’s a well-known fact that Baylor University is rooted in Christian values, particularly those of the Baptist denomination. Many students are drawn to the university for that very reason. This religious affiliation affects every part of the university. Students attend weekly chapel, university-organized prayer happens frequently and it’s not uncommon for students to see their professors at church on the weekend. Baylor has done a wonderful job of creating an environment where students can learn more about Christianity as it pertains to every aspect of life. However, the same cannot be said about Baylor’s relationship with other faiths. For this…

The Waco Chamber of Commerce has started the new Intern in Waco program to help match up students studying in the Waco community with local employers.

Ben and Jeffrey discuss another first round loss for Baylor men’s basketball and the Lady Bears’ chances of a Final Four appearance.

Regardless of party lines or political stances, there is one thing that all reasonable American voters should be able to agree on: the back-biting, immature behavior from presidential candidates has gotten old. This is not aimed at one candidate or even one party. Many, if not all, of the presidential candidates have given into the temptations of disparaging the competition. This is understandable, given the extreme differences of viewpoints among candidates, but that does not make it right. There are ways to point out the fallacies in a politician’s policy without bashing the person. There are many idioms to back…

Chick-fil-A is testing out a new experience in their restaurants located in Suwanee, Ga. Thanks to the efforts of a Chick-fil-A owner, Brad Williams, who was inspired when he saw a mother avoiding her children at the table because of her cell phone, the chain of restaurants has introduced a tech free meal time. While Williams is credited with creating what he calls the cell phone coop. The coop is a cardboard container that families can opt to place phones in and keep on the table. Chick-fil-A stands behind this new innovation whole-heartedly. Williams placed one of these coops at…

While it is hard to point a finger at exactly what has led to the violence and poverty plaguing Mexico within the past few years, serious changes need to be made to avoid complete state failure. One such target area should be in facilitating the economic turnaround for Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, Mexico’s national oil company. The oil giant has held a monopoly on the country’s oil and gas sector since its creation in 1938. It wasn’t until 2013, under the reforms introduced under Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, that the company was partially privatized. Despite these changes, the company…

As President Obama gets closer to revealing his nomination for the next U.S. Supreme Court justice after Justice Antonin Scalia’s passing last month, Republicans in the Senate are more than adamant to block whomever it may be. Obama still has every right to nominate the next justice. However, many Republicans feel that this new nomination could shift the balance of the court in favor of Democrats and have already vowed to block any nominee from being confirmed in the Senate. However, this childish political stunt could have serious ramifications. The situation is comparable to kids playing at team sport at…

After two congressmen introduced a bill that would require women to register for future military drafts, an intriguing and revealing debate spurred. The issue of women serving in combat arms was turned on its head. Last semester, the Lariat published an editorial in response to the U.S. military’s plans to implement women into combat arms. The Lariat made no case for whether the military should or should not put women in combat arms, but argued this principle: if women are allowed into combat arms, their physical tests and other requirements should be no different than those of men in combat…

https://vimeo.com/157541089 David Brooks, a prominent political journalist who writes for the New York Times and appears on PBS Newshour came to Baylor for an On Topic discussion.