Author: Marisa Young

“The only way to solve the problem of hunger is by working in a collaborative capacity,” Everett said. “Which is ironic, that at a time of political division like we’re in right now, our only plausible pathway forward to end hunger is to work together.”

A group of black and yellow jerseys swarmed Fountain Mall Thursday afternoon, handing out HTeaO and greeting passing students with a smile. The Epsilon Epsilon chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta keeps the tradition of Theta Thursday alive and thriving on Baylor’s campus.

The McLane Student Life Center (SLC) was abuzz with birthday festivities on Friday afternoon when it turned 26 years old. The center celebrated its “golden birthday” on Sept. 26.

“Everybody deserves to be treated with a sense of respect, regardless of culture,” Hispanic Student Association (HSA) President and North Richland Hills senior Daniela Lopez. “In such polarizing times, it’s important that everybody remembers we’re all just people, and we’re all just trying to get through every day.”

“It’s a really cool opportunity to be a support person and to be somebody that I would have wanted when I was going through my recovery journey,” Lufkin senior Luke Langston said.

“I remember as a cadet, seeing the wall of former detachment commanders … and wondering who the first female detachment commander was going to be,” Lieutenant Colonel Kimber Nettis said. “And here we are. I’m humbled and amazed.”

I used to think you had to be a fraternity DJ to enjoy house music. Now, the genre claims a spot on my Spotify Wrapped every year. As an ex-hater, let me convince you why house deserves a place in every person’s playlist.

“We tell our managers and our leaders all the time — we can have the best policies in the world, but if a manager doesn’t really understand it or support it, that can minimize the support,” Gochis said.

“In the BSU, I think our job is to show incoming freshmen and existing students that they have a place here on campus, and it doesn’t necessarily have to feel uncomfortable,” Emanuel said. “Our place on campus is to promote unity and friendship.”

Besides philanthropic efforts, Oliveira said Lambda Phi Epsilon aims to live out their values of “leadership, culture heritage, authenticity, love and wisdom” in day-to-day interactions on Baylor’s campus.

“I always feel lonely as an international student,” Liu said. “But when you go to the activities they host, you see a lot of international students from different places and even from the same country as you … and you feel belonging here.”

“The thing I’m most looking forward to is the ability to really embrace the totality of who I am, as well as the totality of who the students are,” Young said.

Dr. Malcolm Foley, special adviser to the president for equity and campus engagement and pastor of Mosaic Church Waco, defined a church home as “a space where people are loved and cared for materially, spiritually and emotionally.”

After visiting the Office of the President, Kolber engaged with students both at Fountain Mall and in front of Penland Dining Hall. He defended his position and asked spectators to sign his petition until Baylor University Police Department arrived and asked him to leave Baylor property.

“We should be proud of our cultural and ethnic identities, but that pride should never, of course, make us feel better than other people,” Van Gorder said. “We should use our cultural heritages as resources, not only to share who we are, but to learn and listen and validate other people.”

“That’s the most fundamental category with which we ought to interact with one another,” Foley said. “You are a person created in the image of God, and therefore worthy of my love.”

This summer, the Waco Mammoth National Monument will celebrate its 10 year anniversary of becoming a recognized site by the National Park Foundation. This designation was the result of over six years of hard work between the park staff and Waco community, according to National Parks Service Site Manager Raegan King.

Maxwell said that while this is a season of mourning for the Catholic community, it can dually function as a season of remembrance and gratitude for the dedication Pope Francis showed the church.

“I don’t believe it’s appropriate for Christians to celebrate Seder because they neglect the story from which it originates,” Abel said. “I don’t believe that you can throw a name on a celebration that has deep cultural meaning to others.”

“This is an opportunity for us to give students a care package to celebrate the Easter season and also have some meals for those suffering food insecurity who may need it over the season,” Fernandez said.

According to their website, Esther’s Closet has helped over 800 women in their employment journeys, some of whom have gone on to start their own successful businesses.

“The goal is mostly to build an environment of Catholic fellowship,” Foley said. “It gives people an opportunity to go to the kind of event that typically college students want to go to, but hosted by a Catholic organization and with a Catholic mindset.”

“All Christian traditions can appreciate Easter for what it is, and I think the preparation season is a really good opportunity, for reflection, for connection, for understanding,” Menesses said. “I think that’s something that we should be able to share in and should be encouraged to be a community wide process.”

“[Guns ‘N Hoses] means a lot because a lot of our Special Olympics athletes don’t get the opportunity to play in quote-on-quote ‘regular sports’ with other kids,” Johnson said. “This gives them the opportunity to come out and participate.”

Stahl similarly hopes this event, and the trip itself, will enable students to a unique type of learning experience they can’t receive in school.

While Baylor likes to advertise our Greek system as more morally upstanding than secular schools, they are only right to a degree. Yes, we have Phi Chi singing hymns during Sing. It’s a sweet sentiment, but we as a system have bigger fish to fry.

“Sigma Week is the culmination of all our hard work and planning,” Salinas said. “It’s been a lot … but for it to be less than a week away, I’m really excited.”

“We know that housing alone will not solve homelessness, but we believe that community will,” Hinojosa said. “That is what is baked into our model.”

With the guidance of the Lenten Devotional series, Simpson hopes that all members of the faith will use this season as a time to grow in unity, despite differences in practice.

By partaking in the cultural practice of fasting this season, Shafiq said she feels an extra level of connection with those who are suffering in Gaza currently.