“The more people we have on the rides, the more fun we have,” Smith said. “Because like, bombing down a trail with a train of seven people, all super close together, is the coolest feeling ever.”
Browsing: community
Today, Vertical Ministries is a 1940s revival, a living room worship movement and a campus-wide ministry. With a history as rich as its mission, Vertical holds a special place in the hearts of Baylor students, echoing roots planted by generations before.
“It’s great to see so many people come together to celebrate their own cultures,” Huebner said. “It was neat to learn new things and see dances that originate from different cultures.”
Hundreds of students from a range of communities filled the Alexander Hall study area on Friday afternoon to remember the life of Paul Yannarelli, a 20-year-old, Totowa, N.J. sophomore and health science studies major. With members of Baylor Wake, the Honors Residential College, the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core, St. Peter’s Catholic Church and more present, there was not a single empty seat. President Linda Livingstone was also in attendance.
From lightly worn furniture to unused appliances, move-out week sees dumpsters overflowing with all sorts of nearly-new items. As the end of the semester approaches, a pair of business students have found a way to keep those goods out of the garbage and into the hands of the people who need them.
The Data Science Club at Baylor prepares students for a career in data science and related fields while also helping build a community among its members. The club organizes info sessions with companies, game nights, professional development workshops and real world projects.
“We’re not out to write as many reports as possible,” he said. “We’re more focused on doing life with our residents and walking with them through the college experience.”
“The community is just so tight, they have what they call the familia mindset,” she said. “Everyone is just very close knit. They have so many socials and they have so many events that just bring the whole community together.”
From the colors of the sunrise to roly polies digging in the compost, to harvesting the produce, the Baylor Community Garden offers a space of calm and community to wrap up a busy week as a student.
As people age, it becomes harder and harder for them to take care of and provide for themselves. Fortunately, many organizations are working to provide community support and care for elderly citizens. One of these organizations is the food delivery group known as Meals on Wheels.
Attractions, free food and spring weather filled Fountain Mall during the university’s annual Diadeloso event on Tuesday. The student and partner-staffed event sported state fair games, goat yoga and a concert at Waco Hall featuring Joshua Bassett.
“The goal is mostly to build an environment of Catholic fellowship,” Foley said. “It gives people an opportunity to go to the kind of event that typically college students want to go to, but hosted by a Catholic organization and with a Catholic mindset.”
“We get asked to do a lot of things and partner with a lot of organizations,” Mullins said. “So I think anytime that we can make Baylor look good, which I think we do, I think that’s a good thing.”
On Monday almost 110 years since the lynching of Jesse Washington, Baylor University hosted an author talk and panel discussion about the stories and horrors, of Waco’s racist past. This panel was hosted in lieu of the Baylor Press’s recent publication, “God of the Whirlwind: Horror Memory and Story in Black Waco,” edited by Tyler B Davis.
Campus buzzed with music and creativity Saturday night as students took the stage for Acoustic Café, an annual event hosted by Union Board that transformed the SUB into a cozy, coffeehouse-style open mic night.
“We’re protecting one another, and we’re standing with individuals who are survivors as well and not shying away from the topic at all, but also giving sanctity to the month that is hosted to promote the awareness of it, which is also preventative,” Willis said.
Argyle sophomore Avery Mortman and her mother, Michelle Mortman, brought a fresh sense of style to downtown Waco when they opened their boutique Golden Green in November, offering a carefully curated selection of trendy and timeless pieces.
“[Guns ‘N Hoses] means a lot because a lot of our Special Olympics athletes don’t get the opportunity to play in quote-on-quote ‘regular sports’ with other kids,” Johnson said. “This gives them the opportunity to come out and participate.”
“We stress that we want everyone to feel welcomed and feel they can come to us for anything,” Frazier said. “So just being able to show everyone that we are here on this campus, and we are here to make sure that everyone feels welcome in this space.”
“[Stanley] is so well respected, not only in terms of level of competitiveness at the school that he was at, but being about all the right things — about student development, about alignment with [the] Christian mission,” Cook said.
While it’s not a direct result of Rodman’s appointment as director of public safety, there’s been another development on the BUDPS front. After long backups, new police vehicles are finally arriving to rejuvenate BUPD’s fleet of cars.
The minor, which incorporates the study of the humanities into an examination of climate issues, now sports a wider array of courses and funding to facilitate student engagement.
“Sigma Week is the culmination of all our hard work and planning,” Salinas said. “It’s been a lot … but for it to be less than a week away, I’m really excited.”
FM72 is an annual tradition where members of the Baylor community and beyond gather on Fountain Mall for 72 hours of prayer, worship, scripture readings and more. Beginning in 2018, FM72 has seen a nationwide impact, helping develop ministries such as Passion and the Journeyman Mission Program.
“At Baylor there is no need to hide or shed your religious beliefs to engage in academic study. That is a real gift that Baylor offers to students,” Stahl said. “Professors may not start every class with their faith beliefs, but students can be assured that all their teachers are faithful people who do their work for the enrichment of both Baylor and their faith communities.”
The organization’s Waco location fights to prevent trafficking by educating youth on warning signs in juvenile centers and schools, including Baylor; members also train law enforcement, hospitals and community leaders to recognize and address trafficking, according to Hayes.
For a decade, sexual assault cases and Title IX lawsuits created a dark chapter in Baylor’s story.
Baylor attracts students from around the world, offering academic opportunities and a diverse campus community. International students have their own experiences adjusting to life at Baylor, from navigating a new culture to finding support through campus resources and student organizations.
RISE, which stands for Reflecting Cultural Diversity, Inspiring Leadership Growth, Strengthening Community Relations and Ensuring Lasting Impact, passed on March 6 in the student senate, with 32 of 35 senators voting in favor. It ensures 2.5% of the roughly $500,000 Student Government Allocation Fund — about $12,000 — is dedicated to helping sponsor cultural organizations.
“We know that housing alone will not solve homelessness, but we believe that community will,” Hinojosa said. “That is what is baked into our model.”