While the demand isn’t quite at the same level as vinyl records, VHS is having a bit of a comeback in its own way. The aesthetic is more popular than ever, with music videos such as “Million Dollar Baby” by Tommy Richman and the “Deadbeat” album by Tame Impala referencing it on social media.

We treat friendship like background music: comforting, constant, easily taken for granted. Yet friendship is the architecture holding most of us upright. It shapes us, steadies us, reminds us who we are when everything else feels unsteady. And still, with the people who show up for us most consistently, we hesitate to offer the simplest words: I love you.

Everybody talks about homesickness in regard to the holidays. Still, not enough people discuss the dread many students face when returning home that comes not because of poor familial relationships, but because of the loss of identity many experience.

College isn’t supposed to be an echo chamber; it’s meant to be a testing ground. The goal isn’t to argue louder, it’s to argue better. Listening, asking questions and speaking your beliefs without shutting someone else down are all traits that will help us improve our identity.

I transferred from Syracuse University last year, and its absence policy was determined on a professor-by-professor basis. Some classes had stringent attendance policies, while others had none. While that is the complete opposite of Baylor’s policy, I feel there should be a middle ground that balances regular class attendance with more situational leniency on the students’ part.

Even though the quality of the robots isn’t perfect — like humans — the idea behind bringing Starship robots to campus is to provide a convenient and efficient food delivery option for students and the broader campus community.

Climate change is real, but perfection isn’t the answer. Every small action matters, recycle right, save energy, do what you can. Together, our imperfect choices can build a better planet.

AI political posts on social media are only helping further the divide between political parties. To help the country heal, social media platforms should take steps to ban AI-generated content.

AI has made the world we live in more confusing by the day. As it progresses in its capabilities, the line between fact and fiction will become an abyss. Legislation is needed to limit AI before it is too late.

We’re at college to learn. Learning requires struggle and it requires taking the time beyond what’s needed for studying for a test to actually understand how information sits with your current worldviews and be willing to listen to people who disagree with you.

American politics feels less like a democracy and more like a never-ending custody battle. Voters get stuck in the middle while two massive parties argue over who gets to “own” them. The Republican and Democratic parties were originally created to help organize elections and mobilize people. Today, they mostly organize outrage, and they’ve gotten extremely good at it.

We’re told to abandon childish beliefs as we grow up. But letting go of Santa might mean letting go of something else, too: the whimsy that makes the holidays feel magical.

An ideal student-professor relationship sets clear and high expectations, but not unreasonable ones. It’s an exchange between the two — the professor teaches the student and stays available to help the student understand the material, and the student shows their adequate understanding of the information on the test. They don’t feel the need to cheat on a test because they’ve already been given the tools they need to succeed.

When coming to college, it is easy to feel homesick — missing your old bed, the comfort of your own kitchen and living with your family. But don’t let your college years go by thinking of Waco as your backup home. With some intentional details, it can become your home base, too.

In the haze of a cultural battlefield, the church is struggling to decide whether to speak louder or love deeper. In a world that perceives complicated issues only in black and white, churches often mirror that mindset, choosing one calling and neglecting the other.

This past summer, I traveled to Jordan for the first time since I was a child. I was brimming with excitement in the months leading up to the trip, wrapping up my second semester of college while daydreaming about seeing family for the first time in over a decade and walking the streets I only remembered through faded memories and old photos. But what was supposed to be a trip about roots and reconnection became a reminder of the fragility of peace.

In a world that’s more politically charged than ever, sometimes holiday dinner tables can feel more like war zones and conversations turn into cross-examinations. Between outdated political beliefs and an influx of propaganda, it frequently feels like the weight of changing our parents’ beliefs falls on us, making holidays seem more like interventions.

Despite the addictive nature of phones, there is a solution to the ever-consuming algorithm — a better way to educate oneself, to engage in critical thought and expand one’s worldview. I propose returning to the original form of entertainment, the humble paperback book.

I had a routine every morning. I’d turn on the light, get out of bed, make my bed, put on my clothes, go to the bathroom and head downstairs. This routine was so ingrained in me that I could literally do it in my sleep, and I know this because I did so multiple times.

It’s so easy to blame the phone, but the truth is, the phone isn’t forcing us to do anything. It’s our own habits that are out of control. Technology is neutral; it becomes what we make of it.

Here’s a reminder to slow down and celebrate yourself. Celebrate the mornings you have woken up and made it to that 8 a.m. class. Celebrate the moments you decided to keep studying instead of hanging out with your friends on a random Saturday. Celebrate being present, being persistent and being proud of how far you’ve come — even if you’re still figuring out what’s next.

Life is a beautiful tragedy. When we slough off the blanketing anxiety of our age, trusting God’s provision in the midst of uncertainty, tomorrow begins to feel a lot more inviting.

I believe transparency is vital to any news outlet, and I would like to address the response to The Lariat’s poll on Dave Aranda. Additionally, explain the posting of our social media community guidelines following the response to a separate story. I stand behind and support all the decisions my staff has made over the past few weeks and want to relay that to our audience clearly.

It’s easy to chase the polished cities and careers. But leaving Waco means leaving behind the porch light conversations, the neighbors who know your name and the kind of realness you don’t find everywhere. In a world that rewards hustle, this town reminded me what it means to be grounded.

Representing other cultures does not negate your own Christianity, the same way being a student at Baylor does not automatically make you a Baptist. As students, we represent Baylor as a Christian university as much as you, and we reflect God’s love by showing the same compassion and care to our fellow students.

In the desert, there was no air conditioner humming, no cars passing or machinery whirring. There were no signs of humanity; I was extremely uncomfortable, and that’s exactly why I think everyone should experience camping.

It’s not too late to relearn how to learn from experiences. Maybe that means leaving the phone in your pocket for one sunset, or asking a local a question instead of just taking a photo with them. Perhaps it means accepting that not every moment is meant to be shared on a screen; some are intended to be kept private.

When you hear a statistic as startling as the rise in autism rates, your mind immediately searches for a reason. And like a knight in shining armor, Trump rolls out the red carpet of rhetoric, parading right over the big picture.

It’s not easy to hear opposing viewpoints and beliefs that differ from your own while keeping an open mind, but it’s important nonetheless. It takes everybody to create a culture of understanding through civil discourse. Be the change in a conversation. Be the devil’s advocate.

Human interaction can’t compete with the dopamine spike that social media provides. The attention economy has made focus a rare commodity. Every app is engineered to pull us back in, fragmenting not just our time, but our relationships. Friendship now competes with algorithms designed to hijack our curiosity.