Browsing: Opinion

It’s difficult to conceptualize a solution to propaganda on social media. However, what we can do is check the source of the media we consume. Is this a 35-year-old filming commentary in their mom’s basement or an article from The Wall Street Journal?

Not only do horror movies take advantage of their audience’s deepest, darkest fears and phobias, but they can also have negative impacts on their viewers’ mental health.

If you’re a part of the 45% of students in the College of Arts and Sciences, you’re all too familiar with credits for CAEs — Creative Arts Experiences. They’re intended to help students become engaged in art, music, theater, film and literature on campus. For some reason, All-University Sing and Pigskin Revue don’t fall under this category, even though there are hundreds of participants every year — from Sing chairs and stagehands to sororities and fraternities.

Baylor Homecoming traditions help bridge the gap for out-of-state students by hosting unique community experiences. Many states don’t indulge in the spirited football games or the big homecoming traditions that Texas has.

While tradition can feel cheesy even to the biggest of Baylor Bears, I would never call Baylor Homecoming “overhyped.”

Homecoming is a special tradition for Baylor, and it involves many traditions: the bonfire, the football game, the parade, Pigskin Revue and more. Now, why is the bonfire the best one of the weekend?

There is a lot of pressure to know what you want to do and who you want to be in college. Any student can probably attest that they’ve been asked, “What do you want to do?” many times. The truth is that coming into college, the majority of people — even those who have everything planned out — change what they want to do in the future. Coming out of high school with limited knowledge and experience of the different topics and programs, students often take more time and in-depth classes to explore their interests.

As college students, there is pressure to base your future on the career of your choice. While it may sound cliche, a more fulfilling way to navigate the next phase of life is by establishing and maintaining strong relationships.

With October winding down and November soon to be upon us, it’s safe to say that the semester is flying by. We’re over halfway done, which might be either a source of relief to you or a harsh reality check. Either way, here’s some advice to keep in mind for the coming weeks.

The era of cheap streaming and easy convenience is all but gone. For the sake of your wallet and maybe your sanity, it’s probably best to look for new ways to watch your favorite shows — because if these past months in the entertainment industry have shown us anything, it’s that Hollywood will do whatever it takes to make a cheap buck.

Everyone wants their music everywhere, and the easiest way for people to get their music everywhere is to make it popular on the radio. The more radio plays, the more hits … simple enough, right? However, this reach for the spotlight comes with a price: sacrificing storytelling for catchiness.

It’s the beginning of a potential blossoming relationship, and all you feel are butterflies. This could be it. This could be the one. He seems perfect on paper, and the chemistry is undeniable … but you two greatly differ when it comes to your interests, hobbies, future goals and, most importantly, individual value systems. It’s so common to force compatibility despite those contrasting elements and to pursue a relationship anyway, but don’t sacrifice key pieces of yourself just to be perceived as a suitable partner.

If fitness is something that you want to pursue, you shouldn’t feel like the gym and traditional bodybuilding routines are the only way to get fit. There are so many different forms of fitness and so many different avenues on how you can approach training. You can train for aesthetics, strength, endurance, cardio or even a little bit of everything.

It’s OK to take time to figure out what you want to do with your life. There are so many paths you can take that it really does take time to figure out which way is best. Stressing early on about what the future after graduation looks like will make you hate your senior year.

While we’re not telling you to shun all social media trends that are cute and funny or to look down on others for liking reality television or romantic comedies, it’s important to examine the implications of trends like the Roman empire, “girl dinner” and “girl math.”

There is honest and healthy debate to be had about Israeli politics and the path toward permanent peace in the region. But Hamas wants to play no role in that discussion. Hamas wants nothing but the death of the Jewish people. They have said so for years, and this Simchat Torah we watched in horror as they sought to make good on their word.

What I’ve realized is that when I apologize so frequently, I undermine my own existence before I even give anyone else the chance to. I invalidate what I feel and need before someone else might shut me down. Maybe it’s some coping mechanism for the rejection I’ve experienced in the past, or maybe it’s just a bad habit I pick up in situations where I lack confidence.

If I’m somehow offending you with that statement, then — sorry, not sorry — you are likely watching movies and TV shows wrong while simultaneously detracting from the little details that make them great.

This is not something that can or should be reduced to a single repost in support of Israel or in support of Palestine. People are dying. Violence is ongoing. Having tunnel-vision on one opinion or another and making this about taking sides is insensitive. Violence to this extent is wrong, no matter what.

While this may seem like an impossible feat, it’s not. Trader Joe’s allows people to request a store location in their city. Baylor currently has 20,824 students — and I think 20,824 requests might be hard to ignore.

Baylor needs to implement free parking on a first come, first served basis across campus. This action would prepare students for the real world and the what-ifs while equalizing the start of everyone’s school day.

Large pickup trucks can be an easy way to show off status, wealth and success. However, with their exorbitant fuel costs and significant environmental damage, these cars are not really worth the hassle.

School is important, and we should perform to the best of our ability, but we were never supposed to choose it over our mental health, physical health or relational health. So, put the textbook down and go outside. Have a long dinner with your friends. Watch a movie. Remind yourself that school is not all there is to life. It’ll work wonders.

How should we address these types of controversial questions? We need to be able to create safe spaces for these discussions. That means acknowledging that everyone’s experiences are valid, recognizing that their political philosophy does not determine their worth as a human being and using respectful rhetoric.

Knowing this doesn’t magically solve your problems, and it certainly doesn’t make life any easier. The struggles you face will be present regardless of this knowledge. But “life sucks, and then you die” can serve as a reminder that you’ve been here before, you will be here again, and, despite that, you’re still standing.

Remember, you’re the author of your own happiness. It’s no one else’s job to make your day more fun — only your own. So, if you find yourself growing to despise the humdrum of the daily grind, don’t let the negativity and boredom take over. Create a little game, task or challenge to keep yourself entertained.

Heavy class loads often make opportunities for free time few and far between, but it’s important to keep your body healthy, and that includes working out. Whether you pick HOTWORX, Pure Barre, Club Pilates or the McLane Student Life Center, workout classes are a great option.

Whether or not someone grew up with a foreign language influence in their life, anyone at any stage can learn a new language with the right amount of effort. If you need some reasoning as to why you should make learning a new language a priority in your busy schedule, there is no shortage of amazing benefits to having a bilingual brain.

Following Jesus, then, isn’t just a call to go to church on Easter or keep a Bible on a bookshelf. It’s a call to become like Him. To think how He thought, to live like He lived, to treat others in light of His sacrifice for them.

Especially at a rigorous school like Baylor, it’s easy to constantly compare yourself to your peers. Maybe you feel like you shouldn’t speak up in class because you think your ideas aren’t good enough. Perhaps you pass up applying for cool opportunities because you think your resume isn’t competitive. But the reality is that you have just as much to contribute as anyone else. Be confident in your own abilities, and know that there is a reason why you are exactly where you are.