Author: Kendra Pell

By Kendra Pell | ReporterBaylor Summer & Strategic Initiatives office will put on a “Summer in November” event from 8:30 a.m. to noon today on Hankamer Mall on Speight Avenue to encourage students to register for classes provided for summer 2017.This event is a way for current students to learn more about summer school at Baylor and participate in the release of the variety of classes being offered. Those who attend can enjoy Steel City Pops, have a photo opportunity in a giant lawn chair and look forward to summer all while celebrating the reveal of over 300 on-campus, online…

Everyone should witness genuine fall weather at some point in their lives. Being born and raised in Houston, I’ve hardly had the chance to experience real seasons, since the fall and winter months are just cooler summers.This was the case until this past October, when I was able to visit New York City for the weekend and finally experience the season of fall.Out of total spontaneity, my friend and I decided to book a round-trip flight to New York for a weekend. Being able to stays with her family friends needs more explanation truly helped my tight budget for the…

By Kendra Pell | ReporterCollins Residence Hall has housed over 600 freshmen women each year since 1957, and Baylor’s plans to refurbish this longtime campus staple have now been postponed.Tiffany Lowe, director of Campus Living & Learning, said the plan for 10 residence halls on campus to be refurbished in eight years began in May 2013 but has been delayed two years. However, the order of the building upgrades will remain the same once renovations start back up. According to Lowe, the plan is for Collins to begin undergoing refurbishment May of 2019, followed by Memorial Hall and Alexander Hall…

By Kendra Pell | ReporterEvery October, the students in each residence hall on campus celebrate “Treat Night” by passing out Halloween treats from their dorm rooms to the children of Baylor’s faculty and staff.The event took place from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday. This has been one of the many fun and family-friendly traditions Baylor has hosted for many years, and parents come back annually with their children dressed up in their best Halloween costumes. Elisabeth Uecker, mother of three and wife of Baylor sociology professor Dr. Jeremy Uecker, says this is a family tradition, and her children look forward to this…

The purpose of college is not only to just graduate with a degree, but also to gain real-life experience, right? Living on your own and learning how to manage your time and money all while maintaining a social life may seem to be enough to set you up for life after Baylor. What many students, including myself, forget is that there’s much more that comes with life after school. While Baylor provides opportunities for us to practice these real world experiences, there are still many things we will not understand until we are actually out on our own. Many majors…

By Kendra Pell | ReporterSince 1909, Baylor University has held a Homecoming Parade to the city the pride Baylor students and alumni have for their school. Many students may have wondered what actually happens to these remarkable, man-made floats after all of the months of planning and building. In most cases, two student-run organizations will work together on a float. For example, Phi Chi and Kappa Kappa Gamma have teamed up the past few years. Houston senior, Marilyn Lovell was one of last year’s float chairs for Kappa Kappa Gamma. Lovell said the girls typically do not participate in the…

By Kendra Pell | ReporterTonight, Baylor students have the opportunity to hear from a woman who wears many hats, including CEO, marathon runner and leader. Amanda Mesler, Microsoft’s general manager for Central and Eastern Europe, will speak at 5 p.m. today in 250 Foster for the student-run Professional Development Program. Mesler is also the leader for Lean In and Women Can Ltd. Last year, she became a member of the Seven Continents Club, a special designation for those who have run marathons on all seven continents. Professional Development Program has hosted several speakers and events at Baylor over the past…

By Kendra Pell | ReporterNot only is Baylor’s Sustainability Department successfully implementing ways to make Baylor more green-oriented, students are also working to make a difference in the environment around the Waco community by adopting two parks in Cameron Park beginning this month through October 2017. Houston senior Mark McComb, president of the Sustainability Student Advisory Board, said he is thrilled to team up with Keep Waco Beautiful and its Adopt-A-Spot program for this new project. “We picked two places within Cameron Park that are pretty visible: Miss Nellie’s Pretty Place and Anniversary Park, which includes the clubhouse area,” McComb…

By Kendra Pell | ReporterJust by walking through campus, one can spot the many recycling bins placed around each building. These are just the beginning of Baylor Sustainability’s efforts to encourage students, faculty and staff to recycle and conserve energy on and off campus. Anything to do with energy and water conservation, recycling on campus and the green movement is initiated by Baylor Sustainability, said Smith Getterman, director of sustainability and special projects. “Right now, we have four goals that we hope to achieve by 2020 that we call the Sustainable 2020,” Getterman said. “The first is we hope to…

By Kendra Pell | ReporterAs the newness and excitement of college comes to an end after freshman year, many students begin to feel more distressed and unmotivated. This phenomenon is known as the “sophomore slump,” and not every student is affected by it in the same way. Austin sophomore Sarah Turner said, so far, her sophomore year already has felt different compared to her freshman year. However, Turner said she is confident there are ways to help prevent any negative effects. “I think the fact that nothing really is new about sophomore year causes the slump, and that you already…

By Kendra Pell | Reporter For the many students at Baylor who have meal plans, there are many opportunities to be tempted by the wide array of healthy, and not so healthy, options in each dining hall on campus. However, Baylor Dining Services has made efforts to encourage students to make better decisions when deciding what to eat. Jill Hamilton, registered dietitian for Aramark, said Baylor Dining Services has created innovative ways to help increase awareness for establishing healthier lifestyles. “In 2013, we started a platform called ‘Healthy for Life’ to encourage students to make healthier decisions,” Hamilton said. “We…

Vernon senior Sarah Borchardt, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, gained more than she imagined after her first mission trip to Guatemala with the sorority. Now, after her second year traveling with the group, Borchardt said she is even more impacted by the people she met. “These kids truly have so much joy, and it really shows when we get to see them each day,” said Borchardt, who was one of the trip organizers. At the end of May each year, the Baylor Panhellenic sorority allows about 20 women to travel to Antigua, Guatemala, to help care for the children…