By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterIt is a bit of a frantic time of year. Finals, essays and last-minute assignments begin to pile up, and getting through these last weeks of school becomes many students’ main priority.In order to keep their sanity, students may be driving themselves too hard or using unhealthy ways to cope with their stress.I believe mindfulness can help everyone, especially college students during a stressful time, focus on being fully present in their life even when they have a lot on their mind.Throughout my experience with different types of group and talk therapy, mental health professionals…
Author: Madalyn Watson
By Madalyn Watson | Staff Writer To cure students’ stress, CURE BU invited dogs and students alike to enjoy Puppy Playtime on Fountain Mall on Thursday between 4 and 6 p.m.CURE BU is the Baylor chapter of a non-profit organization that operates hospitals and programs in 26 countries, according to the international organization’s website.Claremore, Okla., junior Kaylee Clyma, a member of CURE BU, brought her mini-Australian shepherd Ellie to play with the other dogs during Puppy Playtime.“Four of them are also officer’s dogs and then others are just friends of friends and people who [were] just walking around and saw…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterThe free ‘Hit like a “Girl”’ self-defense class taught women several self-defense moves that they can use in real-life situations at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the Bill Daniel Student Center. Hosted by the women of the Alpha Eta chapter of Hermandad De Sigma Iota Alpha Inc. in conjunction with the women of Gamma Alpha Omega, participants learned strategies to keep themselves safe. Dallas senior Kylie Smith, mixed martial arts instructor for Group X, taught different kicks, punches and ways to dodge punches while keeping the mood light with several jokes and connecting with each…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterStudents shared their concerns about Matt Walsh’s recent speech on campus by presenting posters listing LGBTQ+ victims of modern hate crimes at 5 p.m. on Wednesday outside of Pat Neff Hall.Matt Walsh, a writer for The Daily Wire, gave a speech at Baylor on Tuesday explaining why he believes the politically left are changing the way society perceives gender, life and marriage for the worst. In his speech, Walsh said that he believes gay marriage should not be seen as equivalent to heterosexual marriage.When Dallas senior Jon Abel learned about the lecture Matt Walsh was…
Matt Walsh presented an altered and simpler version of his speech, ‘The War on Reality: Why the Left has set out to redefine Life, Gender and Marriage’ on April 9, because of the online controversy that emerged after the event was announced.In the weeks leading up to his presence on campus, several different petitions were created to encourage Baylor to stop the speech from happening as well as others counteracting their efforts. Also, some students tore down flyers advertising the speech that were authorized by Baylor students activities.Walsh is a Christian columnist for The Daily Wire as well as a…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterThe art exhibit that aims to end the myth that sexual assault is caused by clothes called, “What were you wearing, Waco?” returned to campus this week. The exhibit will continue to move around Baylor’s campus throughout April, sexual assault awareness month.This week the exhibit, created by Baylor It’s On Us, was displayed in the Bill Daniel Student Center near Common Grounds, but it will move to Fountain Mall the week of April 8 to 11.Houston junior Sofie Harnandez-Simeonidis, the event coordinator for Baylor’s chapter of It’s On Us, said the art installation aims to…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff Writer Today, Waco is known for the triumphs and controversies of Baylor, a mass of Baptist churches as well as the Magnolia Silos and all the current and future offshoots of Chip and Joanna Gaines’s popularity. In 1993, there was a much more sinister following making the name Waco known to people around the world: the Branch Davidians. In an article titled “10 Things you may not know about Waco” published in Feb. 2018 on PBS Frontline, all of the points listed pertain to the standoff between the federal government and the Branch Davidians, led…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterControversy has struck campus this past week as flyers are for an upcoming speech given by Matt Walsh, a conservative blogger, titled, “The War On Reality: Why The Left Has Set Out To Redefine Life, Gender And Marriage,” hosted by the Baylor Young Americans for Freedom which is set to take place next week. Students have organized a petition against the speaker coming to campus, which has already gained almost 2,000 signatures. As a gay, Christian Baylor graduate, Patrick Hill II was motivated to create a petition to stop Matt Walsh from delivering Anti-LGBTQ speech…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterFriday, the final battle of this year’s War of the Roses will be a sorority flag football tournament in the McLane Stadium from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The men of Baylor’s chapter of Pi Kappa Phi (Pi Kapp) are raising funds for their national philanthropy, The Ability Experience, through their friendly competition between Panhellenic sororities. Throughout this week, the 10 Panhellenic sororities, now including the newest addition Alpha Phi, compete in several separate competitions, including a competition for likes on Pi Kappa Phi’s Instagram account. San Diego, Calif., sophomore Trevor White, the philanthropy chair…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterIt’s that time of year, again. As the school work and stress pile up, clothes and junk begin to pile up in student’s dormitories or apartments as well.I took my few days of solitude and relaxation during spring break to binge watch the third season of “Queer Eye” and tidy up my apartment.As I diligently scrubbed my kitchen clean and sectioned out my clothing into keep, sell and donate sections, I learned from the members of the Fab Five that my efforts may not be enough.For those who are unfamiliar with Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” it’s…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterThe women of Clasped Hands in Service (CHIS) raised money for their future service and sisterhood events by selling baked goods from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 21.CHIS is a service-based sorority dedicated to helping the Baylor and Waco communities, as well as developing friendships and connections through the act of service, according to their Facebook page.Dallas junior Tiana Andrews, the treasurer of CHIS, facilitated all of the planning and organization that went into the bake sale.“We had a signup sheet, so I tried to get everyone to participate but you know…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterThe terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday, killed 50 people and left 50 other wounded. This event has sparked debates on gun laws around the world from New Zealand to the United States, including Baylor. The attacks occurred during Jummah, the Friday prayer that Muslims hold around noon, which is the busiest time for mosques around the world.Austin graduate student Aadil Sheikh said that the attack affected him because it targeted people of his faith, Islam.“It doesn’t matter what religion you are. If you’re not safe in a place of…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterThe men of Beta Theta Pi celebrated Pi Day a week early this year on Thursday evening by holding several pie-themed competitions on Fountain Mall.The fraternity invited all students to celebrate with them by competing in pie-eating and pie-throwing contests, as well a homemade pie competition.All of the proceeds of the event will go to the fraternity’s philanthropy, Mission Waco, specifically their children’s robotics program.Pi Day, which is March 14, celebrates the symbol Pi used in mathematics to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.Spring junior Shawn Risdal, philanthropy chair…
Story by Madalyn Watson | Staff Writer, Video by Julia Lawrenz | Broadcast ReporterBaylor’s cyber security student organization will compete in the regional round of the Southwest Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition in Tulsa, Okla. on March 22 and 23. The team finished as one of the top eight teams out of 21 at the qualifiers competition on Feb. 16, allowing them to continue onto the regional round.Dr. Jeff Donahoo, the team’s coach and professor in the computer science department, said he is training the team for the upcoming competition. “We are busy preparing to make sure we can take on…
The asian interest sorority, Alpha Kappa Delta Phi, hosted their first annual Mr. Pink pageant to raise funds for breast cancer awareness, research and education.
Happy 2nd Birthday Student Success Initiatives!
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterYoung adults in the United States, including Baylor students, are addicted to nicotine without even lighting a cigarette. Students are getting addicted to e-cigarettes, especially Juuls. At Baylor, the usage of e-cigarettes has doubled. The U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams declared vaping an epidemic among young adults on Dec. 18 after he issued an advisory about the dangers of electronic cigarette use.More than 3.6 million U.S. youth used electronic cigarettes in 2018, according to the advisory, and Baylor students are not excluded from this epidemic.Lilly Ettinger, the assistant director of wellness for the Beauchamp Addiction…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterAs the second week of Sing comes to a close, several Baylor professors share how they help their students involved in All-University Sing balance their academic workload with their rigorous rehearsal and performance schedules.Sharon Gripp, a senior lecturer as well as the undergraduate program director for journalism, public relations and new media, asked her students if they felt conflicted between their obligation to their academics and their obligation to Sing.“Many of them said, yes. One of the things that I have recently discovered was that some sororities and fraternities require you to participate, you don’t…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterThe men of Kappa Alpha Order (KA) served the Animal Birth Control Clinic, Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Their members plan to serve the community in this way most weekends this semester.The Animal Aid Humane Society created the Animal Birth Control Clinic in 1988 to offer affordable spay and neuter surgeries to the public in order to prevent unwanted animals.Nellie Fitzjarrell, the communications manager at the Animal Birth Control Clinic, said that the clinic also offers heartworm and flea prevention, vaccines and testing and other wellness options for low-income pet owners in the…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterThe Board of Regents committed to funding The Store after they heard a presentation on food insecurity from Baylor students on Friday in their official board meeting. The Student Success Initiatives started The Store, a free food pantry for students located in the basement of the Sid Richardson Building, in Dec. 2017 to combat food insecurity.The other topics discussed were the first pillar of Baylor’s academic strategic plan, “Illuminate,” the approval of the new student regent and the closure of two Baylor-owned apartments.Undergraduate and graduate student leaders spoke to the Regents’ Student Life committee about…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff Writer The Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) showcased many of their organizations to prospective members in their Meet The Greeks event on Tuesday, Feb. 19. They shared their personalities through song, dance and presentation at 7 p.m. in the Barfield Drawing Room on the second floor of the Bill Daniel Student Center (SUB).Greek life at Baylor is divided into several organizations such as the National Pan-hellenic Council (NPHC), the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and the Panhellenic Council (PHC), in addition to the MGC.Edinburg junior Gabriela Soliz is the multicultural public relations chair for the MGC. In addition…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterI was 14 when I fainted for the first time. It was a summer morning, and I was getting ready for a swim meet. My head and body ached, but I had just had a water polo scrimmage the night before, so I wasn’t worried. I walked the hall to my parents’ room and asked for an ibuprofen. Standing in the doorway to their room, I collapsed. Body limp, limbs bent at unnatural angles, eyes closed. I was asleep, but I didn’t remember falling asleep. I woke up lying on the floor with several strange…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterBaylor’s Piper Center for Family Studies and Child Development is an option for on campus childcare for students with children. However, at the center space is limited and the cost could be a challenge for students. Baylor’s affordable child-care task force is focused on providing more resources for students who are parents in the future, including more affordable childcare options. Kevin Davis, program manager of the Veteran Educational and Transition Services (VETS), is part of the affordable child care task force and said the conversation around affordable childcare for students is growing at Baylor. Student…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterBaylor’s Women in the NAACP chapter and the Pi Mu chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) hosted the The PreTea “pretty” Party: Delighting in the Beauty of the Butterfly on Sunday in honor of Black History Month.The inaugural event, in honor of Black History Month, featured a speech from Dr. Tyhra Lindsey Warren, a clinical assistant professor of marketing. There was also a tea party at the Foster Campus for Business and Innovation at 3 p.m.San Antonio senior Sydney Drake, the WIN chair for Baylor’s NAACP as well as a programming chair for AKA, planned…
The Student Success Stories podcast, created by Carroll Crowson, teaches students keys to success such as study and time management strategies.
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WritersAs Valentine’s Day approaches, many students are finishing up gifts to show love and appreciation for their loved ones. Luckily for last minute shoppers, several on-campus organizations will hold Valentine-themed sales on the love-centric holiday and will donate their profits to charities.Frantic last minute shoppers will have the options of different flowers, baked goods and sweets as well as books to purchase.Alpha Delta Pi’s (ADPI) Zeta Chi chapter will have their “Roses for Ronald” sale on Fountain Mall from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 14. The proceeds will go to their philanthropy, Ronald…
Story by Madalyn Watson | Staff Writer, Video by Kennedy Dendy | Broadcast ReporterFriends for Life hosted a We Love our Volunteers Valentines Event to show their appreciation of their about 1200 volunteers from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 10th. In the Waco Friends for Life office, volunteers who have helped improve the quality of life for senior citizens and people with disabilities gathered for Valentine’s Day-themed desserts, photos and a recognition ceremony. The executive director, Inez Russell, founded Friends for Life 30 years ago because she was unable to find an organization that could give a support…
By Madalyn Watson | Staff WriterOn Tuesday, Feb. 12, Baylor University’s Medical Ethics Discussion Society (BU M.E.D.S.) will host their first fundraiser of the semester at the Raising Cane’s at 801 J H Kultgen Expy. From 5 to 9 p.m. Cane’s will donate 15 percent of the proceeds to the philanthropies supported by BU M.E.D.S.According to BU M.E.D.S, they are a community that loves to discuss medical ethics in small group settings. The organization also brings in speakers who experience ethical issues in their professional careers. Tulsa, Okla. sophomore Dylan Gould, the fundraising chair for BU M.E.D.S., said that the…
Story by Madalyn Watson | Staff Writer, Video by Sarah Gill | Broadcast Reporter Alpha Phi, Baylor’s newest Panhellenic sorority, welcomed 169 founding members to their first bid day on Wednesday, Feb. 6. Bid day encompassed new members receiving an invitation to join the chapter. In Alpha Phi’s case, these new members will also become the founding members, as they are the first member class at Baylor. According to Alpha Phi Educational Leadership Consultant Becky Carpenter, the members were chosen from over 300 applicants. Way more than the expected 200, allowing the sorority to be more selective in who…
Story by Madalyn Watson | Staff Writer, Video by Julia Lawrenz | Broadcast ReporterThe International House of Pancakes (IHOP) on South 4th St. at the edge of Baylor’s campus will serve its last stack of pancakes by 2 p.m. this Thursday.General manager Victor Melant, said IHOP’s contract is going to expire this May and business has been slow compared to other locations.“Back in the day, I would come in here late at night to eat, and this place would be packed,” Melant said.All of the staff members have the option of moving to other IHOP locations after the location closes.…
