By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterSo, I have a confession. Freshman year, my coffee habits consisted of Keurig K-cups and an occasional Frappuccino. I felt very unsophisticated and I hadn’t explored the Waco coffee scene yet, so I had no idea what I was missing out on.It truly wasn’t until I studied abroad in Italy that I developed a real appreciation for coffee. My host family served me espresso with breakfast and dinner, and we even had coffee breaks scheduled into our classes at school. It was so different than what I was used to back home — streets flowing…
Author: Meredith Pratt
Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterLongtime Baylor Bookstore employee Barbara Hull, 83, died on Monday. A familiar face to many, she worked at the bookstore for 40 years.Various social media sites were filled with former bookstore employees and Baylor fans offering their condolences.The Baylor Bookstore Facebook page posted: “It is with a heavy heart that we let you know our most beloved Bookstore family member, Mrs. Barbara Hull, passed away this morning. Barbara’s been with the Baylor Bookstore for 40 years and has touched so many Bears’ lives along the way. Her favorite time of year was Football game days when…
The race to develop a “COVID cure” continues.
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterChoosing a major was the first of many decisions I made throughout my college journey. I remember carefully looking through each of the 100-plus majors Baylor offers and being overwhelmed. I had no idea what my career goals were, but I knew that I would find something that piqued my curiosity.When it came time to declare my major, I went with my interests. International studies sounded like a perfect fit for me, as I was someone who enjoyed learning about global politics, history and culture.Now, as I approach my senior year, I am able to…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterAn email was sent out to numerous residents of Collins Residence Hall Wednesday morning notifying them that they were randomly chosen to partake in mandatory COVID-19 testing.The testing, which is set to take place Thursday, was prompted by the discovery of traces of the virus in the dorm’s wastewater.The email sent out to Collins residents said: “As part of Baylor’s efforts to stop the spread of novel coronavirus, we began routinely monitoring the sanitary sewer system to detect traces of the virus.”Jason Cook, Vice President for Marketing and Communications and Chief Marketing Officer for Baylor,…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterWith COVID-19 health regulations in place across the university, the Baylor University Shuttle (BUS) system has adopted new safety policies to ensure the wellbeing of both drivers and passengers.To help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, the BUS system is now requiring students to wear masks on all shuttle rides. Passengers are also required to be seated in one of the 24 shuttle seats for the duration of the ride.In the past, students could choose to sit or stand without worrying about the shuttle’s capacity. However, in March, Waco Transit System announced in a press…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterBaylor will be conducting ongoing COVID-19 surveillance testing each week until Nov. 20, beginning Monday. The university has made significant financial investments, such as COVID-19 testing, to increase the likelihood of a successful on-campus experience this fall.An announcement was made Tuesday outlining the new initiative the university will be implementing to help monitor and mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. Those to be tested include 300 contractors, 175 faculty and staff members, 250 on-campus students and 480 off-campus and online-only students in Waco. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action.“The first round of mail-in…
The Stacy Riddle Forum will reopen this Wednesday amid concerns over social distancing in sorority chapter rooms. Weekly in-person chapter meetings are set to resume on Sept. 7.Baylor’s Panhellenic community is one of several groups adjusting to new COVID-19 guidelines and limitations on in-person activities. With approximately 300 members per chapter, there has been debate on how to move forward with chapter meetings and events while adhering to social distancing protocol.An email from Erin Ellis, the assistant director of fraternity and sorority life, was sent to the nine chapters detailing the current occupancy rates and hours of operation for the…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterStudents returning to Baylor’s campus in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak will experience a semester like no other. In order to familiarize students with the new policies and procedures, President Linda Livingstone has sent out several emails outlining changes that can be expected this fall.The new rules and organizational changes being implemented are to ensure that all COVID-19 requirements recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local health authorities are met.Dr. Kevin Jackson, vice president of student life, said in a Facebook Live video with Livingstone that his goal…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterBaylor University Regents approved a $679.9 million operating budget for 2020-2021 at their meeting Friday, and elected new officers and board members and discussed the guidelines for reopening campus in the fall.The Board praised Baylor students for their “commitment, resilience and flexibility” and authorized President Livingstone and the University’s administration to “take all necessary actions to ensure a return to a safe and educationally fulfilling on-campus environment” in the fall.Livingstone outlined five commitments looking forward to the fall semester, including unwavering duty to Christian mission and values, continued effort progressing the Illuminate campaign, ensuring safe…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff Writer This fall, the Baylor Journalism, Public Relations and New Media department will be welcoming Baylor alum Matthew Brammer back to campus 20 years later as a full-time lecturer. Brammer will be teaching reporting and writing for media and principles of advertising and public relations. Brammer graduated in 1990 with a degree in marketing and business journalism, and said he believes his Baylor education gave him a “great foundation.” He later went on to earn his master’s in communication management at the University of Southern California.“The Baylor experience brings so much to life,” Brammer said.…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff Writer, Video by Julia Lawrenz | LTVN Executive Producer During the spring semester, Baylor apparel design and product development students host a fashion show featuring the senior’s collections. The 2020 fashion show theme “fashion is for everyone” was intended to reach all students at Baylor with an interest in fashion, regardless if they are studying it or not. With the shift to online classes and students now scattered across various states and countries, the 2020 show has been cancelled. The new set of circumstances has brought together directors and designers to figure out the best…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterStudent Foundation, Baylor’s student-led leadership organization, is now accepting applications for the 2020-2021 school year. Applications are available on Baylor Connect and will be open until midnight on April 28.Dating back to 1969, Student Foundation is responsible for organizing several well-known Baylor traditions such as the All-University Thanksgiving Dinner & Fall Festival, the Homecoming Parade Grandstands and the Bearathon. Often seen around campus or at games in their green-and-white striped jerseys, Student Foundation also plays a role in scholarship fundraising, high school recruiting events and communicating with Baylor alumni.Prospective Student Foundation candidates must be a…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterThirty Madison Urgent Care, an online healthcare resource that launched last Thursday, treats patients virtually for common conditions such as cold and flu symptoms, stomach issues and back pain.The company Thirty Madison was launched in 2018 by Steven Gutentag and co-founder Demetri Karagas, graduates of the NYU Stern School of Business who worked together at Google. Their website states that they are the “human-first health company bringing specialized care and treatment to everyone.””When we started Thirty Madison, it was on that belief,” Gutentag said in an interview. “We could expand access to really high-quality specialized…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterCombatting the restrictions that come with online instruction, Baylor interior design professor Elise King brought the works of Frank Lloyd Wright to her students’ homes by compiling footage from actual architectural sites.In years past, King has conducted her lessons on Wright outdoors. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak which sent Baylor students home for the remainder of the semester, she decided to bring the architecture to her students in a new way. King reached out to several representatives of Wright buildings through email and social media, and requested they send short videos about their particular works…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff Writer Baylor President Dr. Linda Livingstone announced Thursday that Baylor will continue to utilize online instruction for upcoming Minimester (May 13-June 1), Summer I (June 2-July 7) and Summer II (July 9-Aug. 12) classes.Livingstone said the decision was made with the health of students and faculty in mind, as social distancing continues to be enforced nationally to slow the spread of COVID-19. The university also recently announced its decision to cancel all summer study abroad programs.With the move to online instruction, the university will be expanding its summer course offerings. Livingstone said that because of…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterPresident Trump held a national briefing with the coronavirus task force Tuesday evening updating the status of social distancing guidelines with the new “30 Days to Slow the Spread” campaign.The briefing followed Trump’s announcement on Sunday that, after consulting with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), he will be extending safety protocols for another 30 days. Just a week prior, Trump stated that he hoped things would return to normal by Easter on April 12.“It’s a matter of life and death,” Trump said. “I know our citizens will rise to the occasion, and…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterDespite recent shelter-in-place orders and widespread businesses closures across the nation, several companies are currently seeking to hire more workers. CVS is looking to hire 50,000 new employees — the “most ambitious hiring drive in the company’s history,” according to their website. The drugstore chain will also be giving $100 to $500 bonuses to employees who work during this time.Pizza businesses are hiring thousands of new workers to accommodate the increased demand for food delivery services. Pizza Hut is planning to hire 30,000 employees, Papa John’s is hiring 20,000 and Domino’s is hiring over 10,000.Domino’s…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterTexas Gov. Greg Abbott hosted a televised town hall meeting to update Texans on the COVID-19 outbreak Thursday night.“We are dealing with a very real challenge,” Abbott said. “An invisible danger.”Other officials present at the meeting included Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt, Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath and Medicaid Director at Texas HHSC Stephanie Muth.The town hall consisted of Abbott answering questions from Twitter in order to communicate the latest information to Texas citizens. Abbott first addressed that he had tested…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff Writer While most Baylor students are on spring break until March 23, the Louise Herrington School of Nursing announced last week that some nursing students would have to return to their clinical rotations on Monday. However, following the university’s announcement that the remainder of the semester will be online, the nursing school decided to suspend clinicals. Spring senior Nell Flanagan said she believes that the measures taken to contain the virus are impacting schooling in a negative way.“With COVID-19 now, many of our hospitals are no longer allowing ‘non-essential’ personnel like nursing students around patients.…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterThe Japanese National Debate Team participated in a public deliberation with the Glenn R. Capp Debate Forum, Baylor University’s debate team, on Thursday night as part of their United States tour.Nic Nave and Jacob Smith, two graduate students from the department of communication, represented Baylor in the event. Japan’s representatives were law students Yuta Watanabe and Takuto Kasahara.Going into the event, Smith said he was “ecstatic about this opportunity.”“Getting the privilege to debate people from across the world is an experience that not many people get,” Smith said.A few days before the event, the topic…
By Meredith Pratt | ReporterStudying abroad was something I always knew I wanted to do at some point in college. Before coming to Baylor, I scheduled a meeting with the study abroad coordinator so I could see the different options that would be available to me. I discovered that the university offered hundreds of programs, 40 of which were led by Baylor faculty.The summer after my freshman year I got on a plane to Florence, Italy for the Baylor in Tuscany program. I had two semesters of Italian under my belt and was about to complete two more in the…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterBaylor University will be sponsoring the annual film series “A Long, Long Way” today at the Washington National Cathedral.The event will feature film screenings of “Glory” and “Harriet,” afternoon workshops and panel discussions that aim to explore topics such as race, prejudice and faith in films.Baylor English professor and published author Greg Garrett is a co-founder of the event, which is in its third year, and one of several speakers who will be involved in the various discussions.Garrett said that when he first came up with the idea for a program on race and film,…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterOver 200 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Italy, with six deaths, according to a report published Monday by the Italian health ministry.Before Thursday, only three cases were reported. Now Italy possesses the largest outbreak outside of Asia.The sudden increase in cases has led the Italian government to put several cities on lockdown, including Venice and Milan. Major league soccer matches have been postponed, museums closed, Milan Fashion Week runway shows were restricted and the famous Venice Carnival celebration was suspended.Baylor students studying abroad have also been impacted by the recent closures and safety precautions.Austin…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterThe acts in All-University Sing are a culmination of work put in by hundreds of individuals over the span of several months. Sing chairs, dancers, musicians, light and audio crews all come together during the production process to develop various aspects of the show.Although hidden backstage, the Student Productions Committee oversees the performances and has its hand in every aspect of the show.Established in 2009, Student Productions, is a committee of students that lead and assist in the creative process of Baylor’s competitive productions. These productions include All-University Sing, Pigskin Revue, After Dark and StompFest.Rockwall…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterOfficials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Texas’ first case of coronavirus, referred to as COVID-19, on Thursday. It was the 15th case to be reported in the U.S., and the virus has infected over 71,000 people globally.The infected patient had recently traveled to the Hubei Province, where Wuhan, China, is located. They were one of 600 travelers put into federal quarantine upon their arrival to the U.S.After spending the federally required 14 days in quarantine at Lackland Air Force Base, the patient was moved to the Methodist Hospital in San Antonio…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterThe U.S. Army Forward Resuscitative and Surgical Teams (FRST) will be showcasing one of their mobile operating rooms at the Baylor University Pre-Health Symposium from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Baylor Sciences Building.The exhibit will be hosted by the 5th Medical Recruiting Battalion and will feature experts from the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center and the Fort Hood Medical Simulation Training Center.Jacqueline Graf, officer-in-charge of the Dallas Recruiting Station for U.S. Army Healthcare, said she hopes Baylor students can explore the educational and career opportunities that are available in the U.S.…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff WriterDespite living and growing up in Texas, it was only recently that I began listening to country music. I felt no desire to claim my Texan roots, and when someone told me I did not have a country accent I felt immense joy.That all changed about a year ago when someone took me two-stepping for the first time. I was figuratively and literally swept up in the music as memories from my childhood came rushing back. I remembered dancing to “This Kiss” by Faith Hill and “Cowboy Take Me Away” by The Dixie Chicks with…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff Writer Tailgate Guys, a company specializing in tailgating services, will be partnering with Baylor Athletics for the 2020 football season. The partnership plans to bring a new tailgating experience to Baylor fans at McLane Stadium with bellhop services from on-site Tailgate Guys staff.Founded in 2009 at Auburn University, Tailgate Guys has developed over 50 partners nationally in the past 10 years and are is partnered with six Big 12 schools, as well as many other collegiate, NFL, MLB and MLS programs.Tailgate Guys services include loading and unloading assistance, coolers with ice, tents, tables, chairs, custom…
By Meredith Pratt | Staff Writer, Video by Sarah Gill | Broadcast Reporter Sadie Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame will stop at Baylor on Feb. 9 as a part of her 2020 College Tour. She will host a night of worship and deliver a message to all in attendance. The free event will be held at 6 p.m. at Common Grounds. The 22-year-old gained fame when her family was featured on the A&E show “Duck Dynasty.” Since then, Robertson has gone on several speaking tours, written six books and worked on creating an online Christian community for girls using her…