Author: Brooke Hill

Brooke Hill | News Editor “Ice Glen,” directed by Baylor graduate student Cooper Sivara, transports the audience to a romantic countryside in Massachusetts in the 1920s with stellar actors. A small cast of only six provides an intimate bond, reflected in the intimacy the audience feels with the cast by the end of the play. “Ice Glen” was originally commissioned at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn. in 2003 and was written by Joan Ackermann. The story is centered around Sarah Harding, played by Houston junior AnnaMae Durham. Harding is a poet whose poems made their way to Peter Woodburn, played…

By Brooke Hill | News Editor”A Baylor Christmas” is the concert put on by the School of Music each year and helps mark the beginning of the Christmas season at Baylor.Preparation for the show begins in the spring and summer prior to the show performance, adding up for a grand total of 9-10 months of advance planning, according to Dr. Lynne Gackle, director of choral activities and of “A Baylor Christmas.” Meetings with television stations that wish to air the performance begin about a year in advance, she said.Gackle said this show is especially unique for the School of Music…

By Brooke Hill | News EditorHarry Potter is undeniably one of the most widespread phenomenons in literature among millennials and continues to grow in popularity with younger generations.It wasn’t until after the book series had been long finished and all of the movies were out as well that Universal Studios decided to add a Harry Potter section to its theme parks. The Hollywood theme park was completely sold out on opening day — the first time ever that the theme park has had to halt online ticketing transactions.While I studied abroad in London this summer, I took every chance I…

By Brooke Hill | News EditorJordan Kimball (“The Bachelorette” season 14, “Bachelor in Paradise” season 5), Leo Dottavio (“The Bachelorette” season 14, “Bachelor in Paradise” season 5) and James Taylor (“The Bachelorette” season 12) came to Waco Tuesday night for a meet-and-greet event at the Backyard Bar & Grill. The Lariat sat down with the men earlier in the night to discuss life post-show, girlfriends, careers and the latest on the Jordan/Jenna situation. Lariat: How do all of y’all who are on different seasons connect? How do you become friends? Leo: Instagram. Lariat: Do y’all just slide in each others…

By Megan San Miguel | ContributorFor 86-year-old Jere Kernodle Baylor University’s homecoming is one of the most memorable times of the year. Kernodle, who graduated from the Hankamer School of Business in1954, has attended the eventful weekend nearly every year over the last 64 years.Driving nearly nine hours from Wynne, Arkansas, Kernodle has only missed four homecomings since graduating from Baylor. The first year that he missed was due to military deployment, followed by the birth of two of his children and his wife’s passing in 2015, he said.Kernodle transferred to Baylor after attending a Catholic junior college. He expressed…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Eric Tucker | Associated PressAttorney General Jeff Sessions was pushed out Wednesday as the country’s chief law enforcement officer after enduring more than a year of blistering and personal attacks from President Donald Trump over his recusal from the Russia investigation.Sessions told the president in a one-page letter that he was submitting his resignation “at your request.”Trump announced in a tweet that he was naming Sessions’ chief of staff Matthew Whitaker, a former United States attorney from Iowa, as acting attorney general.The resignation was the culmination of a toxic relationship that frayed just weeks into the attorney…

Waco’s very own P.F. Chang’s opened last week and promises to be a valuable addition to the local restaurant scene. Located at 5511 Crosslake Parkway near Chuy’s, P.F. Chang’s will be open seven days a week for lunch, happy hour and dinner with catering and carry-out options. Restaurant hours run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The restaurant is hiring 160 new employees in Waco. Delivery service will become available soon after opening. Every P.F. Chang’s restaurant has a hand-painted mural, but not all are as locally connected…

Students who love dance have found their creative outlet through the Baylor Dance Company. Carrollton freshman Emily Blackwell is an elementary education major with a dance minor. With a background in several forms of dance, it’s always been a passion for her. After her time teaching dance lessons in high school, she was excited to continue her passion in college in the Baylor Dance Company. “I knew it was something I wanted to find a way to continue,” Blackwell said. The Baylor Dance Company practices twice a week, takes part in events like the Baylor homecoming parade and puts on…

By Jessika Harkay | ContributorAlfredo Corchado – a high school dropout and migrant farm worker – said he never imagined that one day he would be a renowned journalist and celebrated author speaking to a packed auditorium at Baylor University.Corchado’s journalistic career has focused on in-depth reporting about the US-Mexico border, drug cartels and immigration. An immigrant himself, Corchado used his experience of covering the border and his personal background to retell the difficulty of reconnecting to his roots in an entirely different culture and land in his second book titled “Homelands: Four Friends, Two Countries, and the Fate of…

Country music singer/songwriter Clint Black returns to Waco for a show at the Hippodrome tonight at 8 p.m. Black’s most recent album, “On Purpose,” was released in 2015. Black and his wife Lisa Hartman Black will have been married for 27 years next week and they have a 17-year-old daughter, Lily Pearl Black. Most recently, Black has been working on his first stage musical, “Looking for Christmas,” which debuts next month in San Diego. The Lariat got the chance to ask him about his career in an email Q&A. Q: What can fans expect from your show on Friday? A:…

By Brooke Hill | News Editor Snakes, fire and confetti marked the final night of Taylor Swift’s North American portion of her “Reputation Tour” in Dallas Saturday night. Charlie XIX and Camila Cabello kicked off the night with their songs while getting the crowd ready for Swift. The two won’t be continuing on to the international portion of the tour, so it was both of their final nights. Both brought great energy to the stage with their dance moves and vocals, but the tour was extra special for Cabello, who said she used to not be able to afford Taylor…

By Brooke Hill | News Editor The 66th annual Heart of Texas Fair & Rodeo returned Thursday, bringing new food, music and entertainment opportunities through Oct. 13. This year’s theme, “Fun for the Whole Herd,” celebrates the event’s roots in livestock and agriculture, as well as different events and people that attend the Fair & Rodeo, according to a press release. Charva Ingram, vice president, marketing and sponsorship Development at the Extraco Events Center, said they always make an effort to make elements of the fair different each year. “It’s always different in the sense of we change up the…

By Brooke Hill | News Editor and Raegan Turner | Staff Writer Dr. Trent Dougherty, who resigned his position as tenured associate professor of philosophy Friday, says none of the Title IX allegations against him were of sexual assault or sexual activity. Dougherty resigned after being the subject of several complaints under Baylor’s Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment and Interpersonal Violence Policy (Title IX), according to a Friday afternoon news release from the university’s philosophy department. The release said he was found “responsible” on some allegations involving more than one complainant and “not responsible” on others. The investigation revealed additional concerns…

By Brooke Hill | News Editor A song for a ski trip resulted in a band and an album for Baytown senior Taylor Buntin and Baytown sophomore Angela Tallent. The two students started doing music ministry with their church in junior high, and their passion for songwriting and singing blossomed into a full-blown band in years following. In high school, the band More Than Sparrows recorded three songs as an EP on iTunes, but a short break followed as Buntin went off to attend Baylor University and Tallent remained in high school. The summer between Buntin’s sophomore and junior years,…

By Brooke Hill | News EditorAfter Dark will be getting spicy this year with a performance from Milpitas, Calif., junior Isaiah Scott, Sinking Spring, Penn., junior Steven Kuipers and Allen junior Jeremiah Robinson, also known as the Spicy Boiz.The group was founded by a member who will be absent for this weekend’s performances —Sycamore, Ill., junior Chris Rogers.Rogers created a SoundCloud account in fall of 2016 and soon asked Robinson to collaborate with him on a track. Shortly after, they invited Scott to get in on the action. Robinson and Kuipers took a Community Leader class together where Robinson showed…

By Brooke Hill | News EditorThe second annual Climate Change Art exhibit is currently being held at the Waco Winery, hosted by Waco Friends of Peace/Climate, through Sept. 29.The exhibit was open to artwork from everybody. They received submissions from a diverse pool of professionals, amateurs and even students, Northcutt said. Alan Northcutt, director of Waco Friends of Peace/Climate, said one primary goal of the organization is to increase awareness of climate change and to coordinate educational events. He said the idea of doing an art show came to him last year.”Our main priority in the art was addressing the…

By Kaitlyn Anderson | Contributor Notre Dame international relations and political theory professor Daniel Philpott visited Baylor on Tuesday to discuss the findings of “Under Caesar’s Sword”, a three-year collaborative global research project on how Christian communities respond to persecution. Fifteen researchers studied 25 countries to raise awareness about religious freedom and encourage solidarity with those persecuted.“Some 500 million Christians — more than 20 percent of Christians here on earth —live in countries where they are subject to severe persecution,” Philpott said.According to Pew Research, as of 2014, 74 percent of the world’s population was living in countries with high…

By Brooke Hill | News EditorGossip Girl meets Pitch Perfect when Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick star in Paul Feig’s “A Simple Favor,” based on the Darcey Bell novel. The movie is a mashup of comedy and thriller, and it never really quits being funny — even during scenes that should be terrifying. Kendrick plays Stephanie Smothers, a mommy vlogger who makes videos on everything from friendship bracelets to brownie recipes. She’s the epitome of a helicopter parent, volunteering for every possible event at her son Nicky’s school, shopping at Target and explaining her ‘oopsy’ jar fund for cuss words.Lively…

The Wren brothers started one successful business, Dapper Bear Clothiers. Now, they have their eyes set on a new endeavor, Nightlight Donuts.

By Brooke Hill | News Editor A Simple Favor was Darcey Bell’s first ever novel, and she was incredibly lucky that someone bought the movie rights to this book. Not only was the book converted into a movie, but the movie features A-list actresses Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick in the lead roles. The movie premieres Friday, but the book, published in March 2017, lowered my excitement about seeing the movie (possible spoiler alerts ahead). This is the story about two typical suburban moms who are murderous and make victims of each other. The book begins with a series of…

By Brooke Hill | News EditorBrush-lettering and calligraphy is a huge trend these days, and through the Baylor Alumni Network’s Continuing Education program, Baylor graduates are provided with the opportunity to learn how to do it.Madeline Wieters, a 2015 Baylor graduate, is teaching a three-class series on Thursday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mayborn Museum. The class is $79, which includes a brush-lettering workbook Wieters designed herself, two pens and watercoloring supplies, as they’ll be learning how to watercolor during the last class.Wieters started her business out of her college apartment during her senior year in 2015…

By Brooke Hill | News Editor The Hooper Schaefer Fine Arts building is using a stricter lock down procedure at night following a man spending the night in the building over the summer. Baylor Police Chief Brad Wigtil said the police department received a call on the morning of July 27 saying there was someone in the building who looked like he didn’t belong there. A couple of officers went over to the building to look for the man, but didn’t find him. Around 3 p.m. they received another call saying he was back. BUPD sent two officers to scope…

By Brooke Hill | News EditorThe local Homestead Craft Village was packed with visitors from near and far Monday for its 24th annual Labor Day sorghum festival.The festival spanned from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with activities taking place all day.Live music began at noon, and there were plenty of options for guests to eat some lunch while listening to the music: Barbecue and brick oven pizza, with some homemade ice cream for dessert and, of course, a sorghum-pressing and syrup cook-off. Children and adults had plenty to keep them busy, with activities for all ages. Guests were also offered…

By Brooke Hill | News EditorOn Saturday night, fans young and old filled the Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas to see Trent Harmon, Dan + Shay and Rascal Flatts.The crowd became more energized with each performer who set foot onstage. Trent Harmon set the tone for the night, getting the crowd excited with songs like “There’s a Girl” and “Her.”But the best part of the night by far was when Dan + Shay graced the crowd with their voices. The duo can harmonize like no other and they somehow manage to sound even better live than on the radio. They…

Story by Brooke Hill | News Editor, Video by Savannah Cooper | Broadcast ReporterThere was a line wrapped around the new Tiff’s Treats building at 720 S. Fifth St. early Saturday morning, full of people anticipating gift cards and other promised freebies.Tiff’s Treats makes and delivers classic, baked-to-order cookies and brownies straight from the oven to the home or office, in about an hour — and they’re always warm.The first 40 people in line were rewarded with $100 gift cards, while everyone else in line at 10 a.m. was awarded a $10 gift card. Hampton, NJ senior Tabby Gawalis got…

Baylor police are investigating a reported sexual assault that occurred Thursday on campus, the university announced Friday in an email to students. The assault occurred between 6 and 7 p.m. Thursday in the general area of North Russell Residence Hall and the Dutton Parking garage, the email stated. BUPD said a man walked up to a woman, grabbed her wrist and assaulted her. The suspect fled the scene after the assault. The man had a ponytail, but no other descriptions are available at this time, police said. Baylor police said they will be increasing patrols on campus. Police encourage students…

By Brooke Hill | Copy Editor A new sorority will be joining campus in spring 2019, the Baylor Panhellenic Council unanimously approved Tuesday afternoon. In the fall, another committee will be formed to recommend which organization Baylor should invite to join, based on a number of factors, including which organizations show interest. This committee will consist of delegates from each chapter and advisers as well. The group will take part only in Open House day, which is the first day of recruitment. Once recruitment concludes, the organization will conduct continuous open bidding, a process that allows women to join Panhellenic…

By Brooke Hill | Copy Editor”We are Christians, and they don’t want any Christians living in Iraq.” The voice of a small child filled 240 Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation Monday afternoon as videos played during the opening words of Wilberforce Alliance’s “Living Proof: Current Realities of Religious Persecution” panel.The panel, consisting of Dr. K. Randel Everett, Pastor Jalil Dawood and Dr. Abdul-Massih Saadi, spoke in all three chapels Monday morning, as well as in Foster later that afternoon.The three men come from various backgrounds and had different contributions to make regarding the conversation of religious persecution.…

By Brooke Hill | Copy EditorWhen watching “Riverdale,” do you find yourself wondering how Veronica Lodge or Archie Andrews can look so perfect while still in high school? Did you ever wonder how Serena Van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf could be so flawless at the age of 16, while the rest of us were constantly breaking out and worrying about bad hair days? Well, Camila Mendes, who plays Veronica Lodge, is actually 23. KJ Apa, who plays Archie Andrews, is 20. Blake Lively and Leighton Meester were 20 and 21, respectively, when they started playing their roles on “Gossip…

Mice, rats and fish, oh my!