Kirk joined The Baylor Lariat on Feb. 1, 1967 — his birthday — just one year before graduating. As The Lariat celebrates its 125th anniversary on Friday, Kirk reminisced on a radically different newsroom, a wooden — military-style structure behind Old Main, perched over Waco Creek.

National Mall thrummed as crowds of a million people bunched together and as camcorders rose in unison hoping for a glimpse of history. With the wave of flags, high hopes and wide smiles, the nation waited to witness the inauguration America’s first Black president — Barack Obama.

Long before social media, news print was the heartbeat of every community. Baylor Lariat alumnus Louis Moore made a name for himself covering religion, civil rights and history’s most significant moments at the Houston Chronicle. Even in his retirement, Louis Moore still loves a good story.

According to the Texas Collection Digital Archives, the first issue in 1900 included two female associate editors: Eunice Taylor and Sarah Rose Kendall.

Through all — the good, the bad, the funny and the sad, the Lariat was there. Here are 12 major moments in Lariat history, hand plucked from the archives.

For 125 years, the student newspaper has been more than just a publication. It’s been a place where students learn to juggle multiple roles, push themselves and grow in ways that stick long after graduation.

This Family Weekend, three Baylor families reflected on how The Lariat had shaped not only their college years, but also the careers and callings that followed for their children.

Turning the page on another one-possession win, head coach Scott Drew and No. 13 Baylor men’s basketball will continue their stretch against AP Top-25 teams as they take on No. 23 Texas Tech at 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Foster Pavilion.

The Baylor Lariat Sports Desk reacts to Baylor men’s basketball being ranked No. 20 in Monday’s Preseason AP Top 25 Poll.

As the leaves change and the fall season comes into focus, Baylor men’s tennis will break into pods and open the fall season with the green and gold spread out on a North American tour.

The Long Island Sharks will make the trip to Waco this weekend in hopes of snapping a two-game skid. It mirrors the situation Baylor football is in, as both squads hope to come out of this final tune-up game before conference play on top.

Two Texas State University students from the campus’ student-run newspaper shed some light on how they feel about the upcoming Baylor football matchup.

Read from the Lariat Sports Desk, as it ranks the top three on-campus fall sports.

Daily Northwestern student journalists followed hazing allegations and uncovered claims against Northwestern head football coach all summer long. It’s been a hectic but impressive run for these part-student, part-workers, and it serves as a reminder to take all student reporters seriously.

Baylor Lariat sports writers break down their opinions on the new playoff format, as announced on Sept. 2.

“They don’t get a salary; they just love the game,” Galway local and fan Mark Larkin said. “That’s enough to motivate them to play for their country, because it’s pride.”

City Editor Trey Gregory and his magic nose completely wrecks the Pizza Smell Challenge

People like to tell stories about their time during college — what they did, saw, won, who they knew, etc. I have some pretty great college stories, and most of them originate in the Lariat newsroom.

News can be a great sleep-inducer, especially when reading a news story leads you to ask, “Why do I care?” Let me ask you this: Why DO you care? Why pick up a newspaper at all?