What does “Baylor Forward” mean for us as students? It means that, finally, students will be included in a unified alumni network that reflects the unity of our student body.

For years, there has been a tense conflict between the administration and the Baylor Alumni Association. As a current student, I want to ensure that my friends and I will be included in a global network that cares about every one of us.

Johnny Manziel is no stranger to preferential treatment. The Texas A&M quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner who has been dubbed “Johnny Football” comes from a family of success and oil wealth.

Behind Manziel’s fame and fortune is the story of a kid who has a lot of growing up to do, while the NCAA allows him to sink.

ESPN reported on Aug. 4 that the NCAA was investigating claims that Johnny Manziel accepted payment for autographs that he signed back in January. ESPN reported that a broker came forward and claimed that he had paid Manziel $7,500 to sign 300 helmets while attending an event.

Temperatures reached 100 degrees Saturday during Baylor’s first home football game.

The stadium was filled with Baylor fans, despite the heat, and they weren’t disappointed as Baylor beat Wofford College 69-3. The day was reminiscent of last year’s first football home game in more than one way.

Something many attendees will recall from last year’s game is the water bottle policy. Bottles of water were not allowed into the stadium. Sixty-five people were treated for heat-related problems that day.

Baylor has a great new student program. From orientation though one’s first year, Baylor offers students plenty of opportunities to acclimate to the university. One of these resources is student leaders.

Student leaders are sometimes easily overlooked.

As a former Welcome Week leader and Peer Leader, but also an impressionable freshman, I like to think I can understand both sides.

As I sit in my little corner table at Starbucks looking around at the eclectic bunch of people sharing my oxygen, I can’t help but wonder, “Why on earth am I here?”

The short answer is that I am here waiting on my triple tall espresso with one Splenda, the nectar of the gods and the reason that I am able to make it through each day. As sacred as my perfect piping cup of Starbucks coffee is and as happy as it will make me, I must tell you, I am peeved. Peeved by the fact that to get my slightly sweet black coffee with a punch, I have to endure yappy morning people, some weird pop/indie music and a very loud bean grinder, all before 8 a.m.

Students coming back to Baylor for the 2013-2014 school year arrived to several unexpected and non-communicated changes. We applaud progress at Baylor, but some of the changes that surprised students do not appear to be progress.

There are two specific surprises to which we are referring. The first surprise is along Speight Avenue where the road suddenly ends with no signs warning of a traffic pattern change. Baylor Media Communications confirmed that students received no emails from their office about road closures and parking changes.

A new semester is upon us, and just as Baylor’s campus and students are going through changes, The Baylor Lariat is shaking things up as well. We promise to continue to deliver the news that you want to read, but we are no strangers to the changing times.

The fact of the matter is that the way that people consume news has reformed.

No longer do readers grab a newspaper, pull up a comfortable chair and dive in.

The people that care about what is going on are busy, and the news needs to fit this fast-paced lifestyle.