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…
Author: Baylor Lariat
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.
They’re everywhere–Facebook theologians. They’re even making a slow transition to Twitter. If your friends list is devoid of such characters, here is a rundown of some of their typical actions. Facebook theologians may share a variety of Christian-sounding quotes, maybe even memes. The really progressive ones will post opinions on current events, politics and presidential candidates based on a “biblical” stance. That’s great for those who actually know the Bible. Unfortunately, this trend has extended far beyond people who are well-grounded in the Bible. The rule for all good arguments is to be able to back up an opinion. Now…
Since it is a requirement for all students, it’s not surprising that Chapel isn’t everyone’s favorite. I understand that. But I do want to ask—even if you don’t enjoy Chapel at all—please don’t whisper while it’s going on. This should be a fundamental courtesy. Whispering is rude and disrespectful to other students and to those on stage. If you can’t sing, I’m not asking that you sing. If you disagree with the words of the liturgy, you are free not to read the responses. If you have no interest in the invited speaker, go ahead and zone out. I’m not…
During the ongoing investigation of the San Bernardino shooting that occurred on December 2, 2015, the FBI has been attempting to unlock an iPhone from Syed Farook, one of the shooters, because officials believe it could reveal pertinent information about the time leading up to the shooting as well as the shooting itself last year which left 14 people dead. In light of the recent San Bernardino iPhone controversy where the government is demanding that Apple develops a new software to unlock one of the shooters’ phone, many are saying “Apple, tear down that wall!” The wall of extra security…
LTVN joins a Bootcamp at the D1 Sports Training Facility to see what its what its all about.
Nowadays, college students can typically be described as easily offended. It is common for many students to be offended by things, such as words, actions, beliefs or differing opinions, and they are ready to let you know when they disagree with you. Recently, the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California at Los Angeles released the latest results from a survey it has conducted for 50 years, asking incoming college freshmen questions about worldviews and life. The survey poll included 141,189 full-time, first-year students from 200 private and public universities. The results from the study concluded 71 percent…
How many times have we all heard people talking about First Amendment rights being violated, the Second Amendment rights being taken away, or the government bypassing the Fourth Amendment to invade the privacy of American citizens in the name of national security? Over and over again you hear these dilemmas, and they all stem from the same governing document — the Constitution. Most of us debate about these things with each other across the outlets of communication at our disposal. Before anyone clicks out of this article, take this into consideration. The Constitution – the very foundation of the country…
For anyone looking to buy or sell things quickly, Craigslist is a convenient resource to use. It’s common knowledge, however, that the online classifieds website isn’t always safe when it comes to making in-person swaps with strangers. U.S. police departments know all too well that Craigslist deals sometimes go south. In 2014, a Huffington Post article reported that at least 45 murders had occurred since 2009 because of interactions on Craigslist. In 2010 the website was linked to 105 robberies or assaults. Over the last few years, police departments have worked to proactively make Craigslist exchanges safer through the use…
Jon and Jeff set the tone for the show. Public Square is a weekly round table discussing the issues that matter to you — the Baylor student body. New episodes will be published every Tuesday!
Frustration. It’s still present on Baylor campus. It’s still somewhat present in the media. Today marks 20 days since ESPN aired the “Outside the Lines” report pertaining to sexual assault cases at Baylor. For most media outlets, the sensationalism has worn off. Baylor was a momentary blip on the radar. For many students, however, sexual assaults and how the cases were and are handled are still looming issues. The topic of sexual assault is emotionally charged. Phrases like “victim blaming,” “stonewalling” and “cover-ups” were at the forefront of articles covering the issue at Baylor. Students were angry, hurt and ashamed…
I apologize in advance for addressing an issue that is complained about entirely too often, but the parking facilities are in need of serious attention. Narrowly escaping the packed garages at the end of a long day is a feat in itself that honestly shouldn’t need to be dealt with on a daily basis. The garages are incredibly narrow and were not designed to accommodate large pickup trucks or even some of the larger SUVs. The blind turns resulting in screeching stops, honking cars and near minor collisions are exactly what students and faculty unrealistically dream of avoiding. Not to…
Living in Collins has been a great experience. Though the facilities are outdated and the accumulation of blonde hair is massive, the community it provides is beyond worth it. In The Lariat article published last week, I noticed something interesting: although Collins’ community leaders were quoted on the hall’s supposed increased security measures, no residents were quoted. So the question is, why are Collins’ girls propping open the door and allowing strangers into the dorm? Simple: The single entrance policy enacted last year. The idea was that by having one entrance, CL’s would be able to monitor every person entering…
Since its opening last year, the Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Education has housed some of the newest rooms and technology on campus. However, the resources offered by the School of Business are relatively limited by its emphasis on prioritizing business student access at the expense of everyone else. Take, for example, the 36 team rooms at Foster. These spaces are meant to be used as spaces to facilitate group meetings through resources such as a flat screen monitor, conference seating and laptop connection capabilities.These rooms are only available for business majors, minors, graduates or anyone taking at…
With the Olympics right around the corner, there is a new rule instilled by the International Olympic Committee that states that transgender people are now able to compete in the Olympic Games and other international sporting events without gender reassignment surgery. In November 2015, there was a consensus meeting that set guidelines for men who identify as women to compete. In this process, the transgender women must undergo testosterone testing where the total testosterone level in serum must remain below 10 nmol/L for at least a year. For women to compete as men, there are no such regulations. This insinuates…
Here is an obvious statement: College is hard. This is something everyone knows and everyone can relate to at some point, whether that realization came after failing a test, being confused in class or getting an disappointing grade. The dreaded minus system was implemented in 2014 as part of the official grading scale. According to the Office of the Registrar online, this change was supposed to “lead to consistent grades and grade point values between undergraduate, graduate, and seminary courses.” However, the exact opposite happens by the way the minus system is implemented. Now, the minus system has many merits,…
Let’s ‘play God.’ As of Feb. 1, Britain approved gene editing on human embryos. There are many controversies surrounding gene editing. From a religious standpoint, it is seen as an attempt to create life as God does. Aside from religious beliefs, having the power to modify and create genes presents many concerns. One of these is the aftermath of the experiments. It is not guaranteed that there will be no consequences, which may be seen when the baby is born or even in future generations. Another major concern is the potential future of “designer babies.” Gene editing may lead to…
After eight Republican presidential debates and six Democratic presidential debates, a common theme emerged. Over and over, the mainstream media, by means of its pundits and debate moderators, have taken control of the narrative of the presidential primary process. Out of the 14 debates hosted by the Republican National Convention (RNC) and Democratic National Convention (DNC), 10 were broadcast on cable news – CNBC, CNN, Fox News, Fox Business and MSNBC. It must be understood that these networks are, first and foremost, selling entertainment. For example, Fox News’ biased agenda was made crystal clear during the first presidential primetime debate.…
I am writing in response to the Jan. 20th article “Panel offers perspectives on campus carry,” by Lariat reporter Jessica Hubble. With rising instances of gun violence sweeping the nation, it is completely understandable for students and faculty alike to have concerns about the notion of campus carry. I would like to address one of these concerns, namely a statement by Mark Childers, who is the associate vice president for the Baylor Department of Public Safety. Mr. Childers is no doubt qualified to speak on these matters; however, some statements from Jessica Hubble’s article are concerning. Mr. Childers pointed out…
To many Christians, the church and related institutions are thought of as safe places. But for others, that isn’t the case. Victims of sexual assault that occurs within Christian establishments often don’t report their abuse because these communities, unfortunately, aren’t seen as a refuge, according to Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE), a faith-based organization that provides education and training for Christians to recognize, prevent and respond to child abuse. Certain aspects of Christian culture cause some victims of sexual assault to hide their abuse. Christian teachings of purity promote abstaining from sexual behavior of any kind…
Students held a candlelight vigil outside of President Ken Starr’s home to bring awareness to sexual violence and in support of those victimized.
