By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterStudents and faculty are gathering Wednesday through Friday to discuss the relationship between faith and nature at the Baylor’s Stewardship of Creation symposium. The event, which started Wednesday and concludes this afternoon, is part of the Baylor Symposium on Faith and Culture, a yearly conference that picks a specific faith-related topic to address through guest speakers and discussions. The event is always presented through the Baylor Institute for Faith and Learning. This year’s theme, Stewardship of Creation, focuses on the interaction between faith and the world around us and the role of Christians in caring…

Attending pumpkin patches and watching scary movies are classic October activities, and McLane Stadium has planned yet another way to get in the Halloween spirit with their third annual Spooktacular event from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 27 at the stadium. Spooktacular is sponsored by Lowe’s of Waco and features a variety of Halloween-themed activities like costume contests, games and trick-or-treating. Food will also be provided at the event. Mike Krewson, McLane stadium general manager, said that expected attendance is around 2,500 people, and that Spooktacular is a community event open to all students and Waco residents. “There are…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterBaylor students looking to express themselves through writing in a creative way have turned to the university’s chapter of Odyssey, which currently has nearly 60 weekly writers. Odyssey is a website where college-aged students or other young people have the opportunity to produce weekly content through freestyle writing or “listicle” type articles. The site has over 12,000 writing chapters, many related to specific college campuses or neighborhoods within cities. Shreveport, La., junior Macy Scott is the current president of Baylor’s chapter of Odyssey and has been writing for the site since the summer before her…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff Writer Baylor’s departments of Spiritual Life and Community Engagement and Service seek to provide resources for students to best assist those impacted by recent storms in the United States and around the world. Category 4 storm Hurricane Michael hit the Florida panhandle region and areas of Georgia and the Carolinas Oct. 10, causing deaths of over 30 people and damaging thousands of homes and buildings. Hurricane Florence also had a severe impact on North and South Carolina in September. Doriann Beverly, interim senior coordinator for community service, encouraged students to become informed about the storm…

There’s a new coffee spot in town. Third Space Theory Coffee, also known as Thrst Coffee, is a recent startup business looking to positively impact the Waco community. Thrst is owned by Andreas and Bianca Zaloumis, a married couple who moved to Waco in December 2017 and had always dreamed of starting a business together. They considered getting involved in the food and restaurant industries, but ultimately decided that a coffee-related startup was the way to go. “We’ve always wanted to own our own business,” Bianca Zaloumis said. “That’s been one of our goals for years now, and something we’ve…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterHung in the Bill Daniel Student Center by Common Grounds and the food court is a new historical addition to campus — the original Carroll Field Championship Arch. Long before the Bears began playing football at McLane Stadium, many athletic events were hosted at Carroll Field from 1902 to 1940. Formally known as Lee Carroll Athletic Field, the space was located between what is now the Carroll Science Building and Waco Creek from Fifth to Seventh Street. The field was a central gathering spot for campus life and hosted games and competitions for a variety…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterBaylor’s Catholic Student Association (CSA) works to connect with students on campus and presents unique ways to learn about and become involved in the Catholic faith. CSA is a student-run group which partners with a local Catholic church, St. Peter’s, located on Ninth Street near the Stacy Riddle Forum. St. Peter’s is the spot a large number of Catholic students call their church home and contains a Catholic Student Center to encourage students to get involved. San Marcos junior Laura Rivas serves as the president of CSA and has been involved in the organization since…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterIn a nation where politics is a significant part of every day culture and young voters have the ability to voice their opinions on important topics, College Republicans and Baylor Democrats seek to educate college students on our country’s policies and conflicts. Portland junior Eric Soo, chairman of College Republicans, and El Paso junior Aldrin Ballesteros, president of Baylor Democrats, seek to use their leadership positions to inform Baylor students about their respective party.Soo values limited government and the reward of hard work, with his family playing an important role in inspiring his political views.…

Baylor celebrates 100 years of Czech Independence with visit from Hynek Kmonícek

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterHurricane Michael is unprecedented for the Florida panhandle region, which is where the category 4 storm struck around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. The storm has caused one fatality thus far, and has led to approximately 525,000 power outages in the southeastern region of the US, according to AccuWeather. The regions most likely to be affected are the Florida panhandle and areas of southern Georgia. Flooding has the potential to affect the nearby Carolinas and Alabama as well. “Life-threatening storm surge and 100-plus-mph winds are expected not just near the coast, but also inland, which could…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterThe BU History Tours program seeks for students and visitors to gain knowledge and appreciation for Baylor by highlighting facts about the university’s founding and rich traditions. Starting in spring 2018, BU History Tours started giving pilot tours, hiring tour guides and creating a script. The program officially began giving tours this summer and planning regularly scheduled tours this semester. The best way to register for a tour is through www.Baylor.edu/BUHistoryTours, with time slots available for 75 minutes, 60 minutes, 30 minutes or a customizable tour to view specific locations. BU History Tours coordinator and…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterOn a college campus like Baylor, it’s common for school and social pressures to cause high levels of stress for students, an issue the Counseling Center hopes the Mind Body Lab will help with. The Mind Body Lab was created in early 2017 with the goal of providing resources in a calming space to assist students with relaxation and ways to destress. The lab contains equipment related to breathing and heart rate, as well as resources with information on meditation and improving mental health. Baylor’s Counseling Center has two locations on campus — the Student…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterShane Claiborne, a Christian activist and author, spoke to Baylor students on Oct. 3 at Chapel, sparking controversy on topics like gun violence and immigration. “Shane is a champion for grace, which has led him to jail advocating for the homeless and to places like Iraq and Afghanistan to stand against war. He heads up Red Letter Christians, a movement of folks who are committed to living ‘as if Jesus meant the things he said,’” Claiborne’s website says. Claiborne covered a variety of topics during his talk at Baylor, mainly emphasizing that Christians should fight…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterWhen it comes to campus resources and organizations, the new Student Involvement Center in the Bill Daniel Student Center is the place to get connected. The Student Involvement Center is located on the SUB’s first floor across from Common Grounds and is currently in a soft opening phase as of Monday, but will officially be promoted as ready for use on Oct. 8 with a grand opening soon to come, according to Berenice Andaluz Ruiz, coordinator of student organizations and leader development on campus. One of the spot’s main functions is to include access to…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff Writer When junior roommates Amanda Braddock, Samantha Fetterman and Mary-Todd Ridley discovered their mutual love for dogs, they decided to team up and begin featuring dogs at Baylor on a shared Instagram account. @Dogsofbu is the account they run together, which showcases the dogs of Baylor students and alumni through submissions received in direct messages. The account has over 3,600 followers and over 200 posts with a goal of posting photos every other day. “We began the account this past December during finals,” Ridley said. “We realized there were other schools with dog accounts and…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff Writer Baylor is actively investigating an allegation that former Board of Regents Chair Richard Willis used “extremely offensive and hurtful language” in a private conversation in Mexico in 2014, according to an email sent by University President Dr. Linda Livingstone. Willis served as chair from 2012-16. Willis sent a letter to the Board of Regents Monday night denying the allegations made against him by Waco businessman Greg Klepper, who was present in Mexico when Willis made the alleged comments. The letter was sent to The Lariat by Willis’ attorney, Steve McConnico. “Let me be exceedingly…

When Stony Brook, N.Y., freshman Hannah Detwiler began vlogging her life on the Baylor campus, she didn’t expect one of her first videos to hit over 14,000 views. Detwiler posts videos related to lifestyle and Baylor on her YouTube channel. Whether it be a campus dorm tour or showcasing a Baylor tradition, Detwiler seeks to document her college life in an authentic way for those viewing her channel. “I absolutely love vlogging campus life,” Detwiler said. “Not only do people on YouTube love that, but it will also be fun to look back on when I’m older — I can…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterSmall talk is a common part of life. No matter where I am or what I’m doing, I frequently interact with and get to know the people around me. A recent small talk instance happened on my flight back to Texas after summer break with a lady sitting in the seat next to me — let’s call her Airplane Lady. Airplane Lady asked me how I was and where I was going, to which I explained I’m a Baylor student studying journalism. What happened next was an all-too-frequent occurrence. Instead of asking how I enjoy…

Bridget Sjoberg | Staff Writer Hundreds of fans gathered at Magnolia Market on Thursday as actress Reese Witherspoon discussed her new book Whiskey in a Teacup, which contains a combination of recipes and stories from her childhood in Tennessee.Witherspoon has been promoting Whiskey in a Teacup on a book tour for the past ten days, making stops everywhere from New York to Nashville. The book premiered at No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller List.At this stop, Witherspoon was interviewed by journalist and news personality Jenna Bush, who asked her about everything from her biggest female role models…

When it comes to Baylor relationships and finding love on a college campus, BU Crushes hopes to be the ultimate matchmaker. BU Crushes is a Facebook page that acts as a way to connect Baylor students, through anonymous submissions, with people messaging the account about another student they notice on campus or would like to get to know better. BU Crushes then posts the submission on the page with the hope that the admired individual will notice. The account began in 2013 when Facebook was the dominant form of social media among young people and was founded by a few…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterEver since third grade, Katy sophomore Cameron Kallina has been involved in groups serving those with disabilities or special needs in his community. Kallina currently serves with Baylor’s chapter of Best Buddies, an organization that pairs students with people who have disabilities in an effort to allow the “buddies” to socialize and spend time in the community. “Giving them the sense of being involved in a community that they may have not felt before is really impactful,” Kallina said. “Especially when you’re older and have a physical or mental disability, it can be hard to…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterTom Barnard isn’t the average Baylor faculty member — when he’s not accomplishing tasks for the Baylor marketing department, he also acts as the owner of the popular Instagram account @tomatbaylor. Officially, Barnard is the assistant director for student outreach in the Department of Student Learning and Engagement. Occasionally, he writes the What’s New BU emails, runs the Facebook groups for incoming Baylor classes and helps with graphics and photography for student programs and activities. Along with Barnard’s on-campus duties, he’s known as the face behind @tomatbaylor, his public Instagram account with over 2,700 followers…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterEvery home football game, members of the freshman class partake in one of Baylor’s most cherished traditions — running the Baylor Line. Since 1970, freshmen have received a customized golden Baylor Line jersey and been able to run the length of the field before every home game, forming a tunnel to welcome and high-five the football team as they enter. “The Baylor Line represents the commitment of Baylor fans everywhere to support and cheer on the Bears,” the Baylor website says. Rushing out onto the football field with their class proves to be an unforgettable…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterA passion for helping and serving local animals brought together Dallas sophomore Katherine Ricci and Austin sophomore Emmy Frigo, leading the girls to establish their own campus club. Ricci and Frigo met as members of Baylor’s Pre-Veterinary Society where they both spent time volunteering at the Humane Society of Central Texas, a large animal shelter located by Valley Mills. The girls both grew up with a love for animals and service, but they couldn’t find a club on campus that fulfilled their desire to volunteer not specifically geared towards an academic field. “I’ve always loved…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterWhen San Clemente, Calif., sophomore Claire Griffin went through sorority recruitment in January, she didn’t expect to walk away with a sorority “big” sister and soon-to-be business partner who shares her love for thrifting. She especially didn’t foresee the quick success she would experience as a young entrepreneur running a small business through the reselling of unique thrifting finds. Houston junior Jordan Shafer, a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, noticed Griffin’s style during recruitment and saw her as someone that she could share interests with. “I saw Claire during recruitment and was like, ‘She’s…

Story by Bridget Sjoberg | Staff Writer, Video by Kennedy Dendy | Broadcast Reporter Moody Library, a popular studying and meeting spot for Baylor students and staff, celebrated its 50th birthday on Friday with a party open to the Baylor and Waco communities. Moody serves Baylor by not only acting as a large and accessible study space, but also as a spot for students to spend quality time with one another over Starbucks coffee. Additionally, Moody acts as one of the largest centers for resources on campus. Including Jones Library, the two spaces offer half a million electronic resources, along…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterThe Bill Daniel Student Center is celebrating 70 years of history this week with a lineup of events and activities to highlight the building’s traditions and historical significance. The SUB was officially opened to the Baylor community on Sept. 16, 1948, and has since served students and staff as a place of unity and tradition. Birthday celebrations for the building’s 70th anniversary kick off Friday with UBreak and culminate on Sept. 22 with a special edition of Sundown Sessions in appreciation of the SUB’s history. Jordy Dickey, assistant director of the student union, views the…

The lives of two Baylor seniors changed forever as they were surprised by their corporate mentor with full-time job offers from AT&T in the middle of a class. Caddo Mills senior Ashley Rich and Sulphur Springs senior Sarah Rost both interned at AT&T’s Dallas headquarters this summer in the HR department — Rich working with attendance operations and HR technology, and Rost as a member of the business partners program. Scott Smith, a Baylor grad and the girls’ corporate mentor from AT&T, surprised them during their business class out of the blue on Aug. 31, first asking them to explain…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff WriterWhen it comes to her views and values, Minneola, Fla., sophomore Breann Bates seeks to confidently voice her opinions and use her senate position as a way to impact students at Baylor and the community around her. Bates is a member of the Baylor Senate, a group comprised of 13 representatives from each grade level that meet weekly to discuss issues that matter to Baylor students. Bates also serves on the Senate executive board as legislative secretary. “I absolutely love Senate — it’s been a highlight of my time here at Baylor,” Bates said. “I…

By Bridget Sjoberg | Staff Writer Created by three Baylor students who had the idea to promote fashion in the campus community, lifestyle site Buttoned Bears has grown into a popular online space for students to express themselves creatively. Buttoned Bears posts articles three to four times a week with topics ranging from fashion to lifestyle to Waco eats and just about everything in between. The site also has a section titled “So Hot Right Now” that features a different Baylor student every week and how they incorporate their own personal style into their day-to-day life. Peoria, Ill., senior Amanda…