Author: Giselle Lee

While the campaigns in Texas have been focused fundamentally on the affordability crisis, the Texas Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico remains highly contested due to the engagement of identity politics from both candidates.

Following the fall of Saigon in 1975, survivors of the Vietnam War immigrated to America in search of a better life. After decades of carving out a home for themselves as refugees, the latest generation of Vietnamese American students hope to continue celebrating their parents’ legacy at Baylor.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a rule change on Oct. 7 that would establish that schools pay a $70,000 fee per F-1 non-immigrant student for initial Optional Practical Training (OPT) and a $30,000 fee per F-1 non-immigrant student for any program extensions, which is said to “combat fraud and abuse, strengthen the integrity of the immigration system, and protect U.S. workers.”

Before students can understand international conflict, they have to learn to see the world through someone else’s eyes. That’s the philosophy Baylor diplomat in residence Joanne Cummings brings to her classroom.

I may love being busy and complaining about being tired, but I knew deep down that there was scientific evidence to suggest that the sophomore slump exists. It had to, because I was feeling it firsthand. Whatever it was, I knew every problem required a solution, so out of the care I have for my peers and the teeny ounce of spite I must prove my dear friend wrong, here are a few ways you can join me in conquering the sophomore slump.

In an effort to understand how immigration policy affects both immigrant and American communities, Baylor’s Department of Sociology invited Dr. Phillip Connor, a lecturer in Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and Department of Sociology, to present his research Monday in the Draper Academic Building.

Despite the rainy weather, students managed to find sunshine during Fiesta Friday in the SUB Barfield Drawing Room. Students gathered to celebrate the legacy of Hispanic culture in a celebration that included food, music, dancing, balloons and face painting.

A former Cornell University student filed a lawsuit in September alleging that seven men sexually assaulted her in 2024 at the Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca, New York. At Baylor, students and faculty reflected on the allegations and the role of universities and students in addressing sexual assault.

Nationally observed from Sep. 15 to Oct. 15, Baylor’s adoption of Hispanic Heritage Month aims to highlight multicultural student organizations celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and LatinX communities. Hispanic Heritage Month coincides with independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries throughout the two months and hopes to foster more meaningful dialogue through various initiatives.

Outrage continues across social media platforms a week after Republican Railroad Commissioner candidate Bo French made a series of comments on Sept. 13 about students of color at a University of Texas football game, exposing a wider problem across Texas universities in combating racial discrimination on campus.

More uncertainty looms over international students after a federal judge in Massachusetts ordered the postponement of the “Duration of Status” (D/S) rule change Sept. 14, leaving the policy without a new start date. The Baylor ISSS Office issued a statement on the matter via email to all international students Sept. 15, the day the rule change was originally set to take effect.

With changing immigration policies and growing uncertainty over work authorization for foreign nationals, one student organization on campus hopes to help pre-health international students gain a competitive edge.

As the 2026 Vardaman Lecturer, Du Mez addressed a large audience on Monday at the Fudge Family Auditorium in the Hurd Welcome Center to speak on her new book, “Live Laugh Love: The Secret World of White Christian Women and the World They Made”. The book explores the theological exclusion of women in modern American Christianity and explains how religious innovators taught that positivity was the secret to spiritual and material success.

As the sun set and the lights dimmed on a hot Saturday evening, the Class of 2030 charged into McLane Stadium to usher in the first Baylor home football game of the 2026-27 season with a tradition that has stood the test of time.

In college, students strive to build friendships that are as close as family. But at Baylor, family can be closer than you think. For three students, life changed overnight when they met on campus and discovered they were long-lost cousins after tracing their family lineage back to the Ghanaian Ewe tribe.

The Barfield Drawing Room bustled with students Wednesday and Thursday as students gathered to connect through culture at LatinX Night and Asian Mosaic Night, respectively, which concluded the Mosaic Week hosted by the Multicultural Affairs Office.

In Baylor’s fight song, the lyric “We’ll fling our Green and Gold afar” is often associated with graduates as they embark on their next chapter. Through the Center for Global Engagement Ambassador Program, however, some students are already lighting a way for new generations to follow on campus.

Though it may be difficult, eye contact is the ‘Hail Mary’ of communication skills; a rather vital one, too. Research shows that eye contact is a direct indicator of confidence and trust, which can also lead to empathy and emotional connection in personal relationships, helping people to better understand one another.

Students braved the hot Texas weather to engage with various multicultural organizations at the Mosaic Mixer and Showcase Wednesday afternoon in and around the Student Union Building as part of Mosaic Week with the Department of Multicultural Affairs.

Summer internships are often considered a bridge between studying and working. However, the nature and purpose of summer internships have evolved, making it harder for students to secure authentic experiences.

With the U.S. government’s latest termination of “Duration of Status” (D/S) from Sept. 15 onward, Baylor’s International Student and Scholar Services Office recommends reading new regulations for major changes or school transfers carefully to ensure F-1/J-1 status for international students.

Incoming freshmen were exposed firsthand to Baylor traditions and Waco culture at the 2026 A Waco Welcome on Wednesday and Thursday at the Mark and Paula Hurd Welcome Center.

Despite uncertain job prospects amid stringent visa restrictions and policy changes in the U.S., graduating international students at Baylor remain hopeful and faithful as they navigate the next chapter of their lives.

This April, the OEL welcomed its newest cohort of Vardaman Scholars, formerly known as Global Engage Fellows. The program, intended for rising sophomores or juniors, lasts for the duration of the student’s undergraduate career at Baylor. The program structure requires students to take two courses under the OEL’s Philanthropy & Public Service Program before undertaking an engaged learning project and becoming an engaged learning student leader.

The event, sponsored by the Asian Leaders Network Waco and Fuzz Lab Waco, featured performances from numerous Asian student organizations and individuals across campus.

Oftentimes we’re haunted by our failures. The cycle begins with feeling inadequate, even when we’ve exhausted ourselves with a never-ending list of goals. Yet the true failure is not what we aren’t able to accomplish; it’s failing to notice or celebrate every win that comes our way.

The Baylor Korean Student Association held its annual Hanin Gala Sunday evening in the SUB Barfield Drawing Room, which promoted greater cultural awareness and inclusion for all students on campus.

Students gathered for Lu’au 2026, an annual celebration hosted by the Baylor Hawaii Club, in the SUB Barfield Drawing Room Friday evening. Despite the event’s sudden rearrangements due to the weather, attendees enjoyed a night of Hawaiian food and performances with a Texan twist.

Students gathered to celebrate Better Together’s last Neighbor Night of the semester Tuesday evening in collaboration with the Indian Subcontinent Student Association and Delta Kappa Delta.

Beneath the flashy videos and fun pins, a disconnected relationship persists between student government and international students, where opinions over how inclusive the organization truly is varies.