Reporter Julia Pearl writes about why Alec Benjamin’s “Six Feet Apart” is still relevant even though it was released seven months ago.
Author: Julia Pearl
Run Pray Waco is an event going on throughout the month of November which encourages participants to pray for the city while running or walking a 14-mile route through Waco.
There may be better ways for students to practice a language than the currently required labs.
By Julia Pearl | Reporter Despite the restrictions of COVID-19 and the polarization that this election has created, students are coming together to watch the result of this election be decided. While watch parties are normally attended by more people than are currently allowed due to COVID-19 mitigation guidelines, students and student organizations are still finding ways to meet whether in small groups or over Zoom. Pasadena senior Ayla Dodson-Hestand is the co-founder of the Texas Rising chapter at Baylor, a nonpartisan organization focused on social justice. Dodson-Hestand emphasized the value of having support while waiting for the election results…
By Julia Pearl | Reporter With in-person rehearsals now a possibility, Baylor’s music students are excited to be able to perform again, even if their audience is on the other side of a computer screen. Music students were unable to have larger in-person rehearsals at the beginning of this semester. To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the School of Music has developed a unique plan to continue rehearsals, specifically for ensembles and larger performing groups. Within the next three weeks, the School of Music has upwards of 20 performances. Killeen senior Alex Davies, a choral student, described the precautions music…
The Waco Suspension Bridge is set to soon close down for construction purposes. Many Baylor students have used the bridge to make (sometimes dangerous) college memories.
Heart of Texas Storytelling Guild will host its annual Walking Tales event this Saturday, bringing significant Waco figures back to life.
Now more than ever, when courses are online and bedrooms double as classrooms, it is important for students to figure out what they enjoy and divide their work from leisure.
By Julia Pearl | Reporter The combination of a shorter fall semester and a lack of holiday breaks has posed a unique challenge to Baylor students who have found their own ways to divide their time between school and self-care. With a lack of time off from classes, students have not officially had a break to return home since the start of the semester. This was an adjustment for San Diego freshman Jenna Stehly, but she said she was pleasantly surprised by the support she’s found at Baylor this semester. “I am the biggest homebody,” Stehly said. “I want to…
By Julia Pearl | Reporter The option to take a gap year or defer admission has long been offered to students; however, with mounting pressure and obstacles as a result of COVID-19, there are more reasons for students to consider taking time away from school. Jen McCrady, the senior director of enrollment marketing, said that deferrals have been different this year as compared to the past. “It’s safe to say this was definitely a different year, and the reasons for deferring were definitely more varied than years’ past,” said McCrady. She also said that because of various restrictions and school-related…
By Julia Pearl | Reporter Biz Bucks, a voucher program designed to support local businesses, was launched Wednesday in an effort to combat the economic impact of COVID-19 and draw Wacoans into the downtown area. Vouchers can be purchased for $5 and redeemed for $10 in merchandise at participating businesses. Kris Collins, senior vice president of economic development for the Greater Waco Chamber, said that both businesses and shoppers can benefit from the program. “I think that it’s a great way for local citizens that want to help out in someway to be able to show their support for businesses,”…
By Julia Pearl | Reporter With the adaptation of in-person classes to an online format, conversations about class content and readings have also moved online, but does this format take away from students’ discussions? This semester, I’ve read a number of books for my American Literary Cultures class that have sent me into thought spirals without the outlet of classmates to discuss it with. Similarly, a friend of mine launched into a 20-minute speech explaining opportunity cost, none of which I was able to understand, but I knew exactly how she felt. It’s troubling to engage in class content but…
By Julia Pearl | Reporter Students moving into their own off-campus spaces for the first time have found a number of ways to furnish their living spaces without over-extending their budget. While some off-campus housing, such as apartments, provide students with furniture, other housing options require students to procure their own. Waco senior Bryan An said he split costs with his roommates and found used items in order to furnish a house he shared. “We would just split the costs into fourths,” An said. An also said one roommate might be in charge of buying one piece of furniture, while…
By Julia Pearl | Reporter Baylor students, Waco locals and tourists all share Cameron Park, but with restrictions placed on many public spaces, the park and what it represents to its visitors is changing. Cameron Park is one of the few public spaces left where people are not required to wear masks as long as they maintain social distance. Oxford, Miss., junior Cole Grafton said that Cameron Park provides a place for him to escape from the mandates that restrict other public spaces. “It’s more distant,” Grafton said about the 400 acres of land where the park rests. Cameron Park…
By Julia Pearl | ReporterThe Talitha Koum Institute, a local institute for trauma-affected children, normally welcomes upward of 40 Baylor volunteers each semester, but COVID-19 regulations barred volunteers, causing a series of changes in how the institute operates and forced them to analyze how they can stick to their mission while keeping the community safe.Susan Cowley, executive director of the Talitha Koum Institute, sees volunteers as a powerful part of what the institute does. However, they’re a part of its regular operation that hasn’t been possible since the institute reopened on June 1.“We’re trying to keep it as little changed…
By Julia Pearl | Reporter Students across Baylor’s campus are called to serve, but that calling has become increasingly difficult to meet as the spread of COVID-19 becomes a larger concern. To combat this obstacle, Baylor’s Community Engagement and Service team has compiled a list of remote service opportunities for students. Taking on their first distanced project this fall, the Leadership Living and Learning Center, one of Baylor’s volunteer-centered communities, started its year off by writing words of encouragement. The cards they wrote went to middle and elementary school students in the Waco community. “We’re trying to go mostly remote,…
By Julia Pearl | Reporter If there has been one thing Baylor students can count on since spring break, it’s uncertainty. COVID-19 has affected our relationships, our careers and nearly every aspect of our education. Now that classes are once again being held in person, there’s even more at stake. Because college forces us to live in such close proximity to one another, whether it be in an on-campus dorm or off-campus housing, testing positive for COVID-19 creates a whole subset of questions and obstacles. For students living on campus, some of those challenges are lessened by Baylor’s response plan,…