THE RIFT BAYLOR AND WACO: Bridging the gap between two worlds Down the Years Down

How attractive is Waco Waco colleges join forces Practicing a different faith 4 to graduating students? 8 to better higher education 11 in a Baptist town.

Fall 2012 The Baylor Lariat THE RIFT 2 The Baylor Lariat* Some suggestions Table of Contents for downtown Waco Finding Waldo in Waco... how Baylor 3 students stand out There’s an old saw that gets repeated with clubs, cheap food, a place to buy smokes and A look at the way Baylor students are perceived in the eyes of Wacoans. some frequency around Baylor. beverages, better public transportation, mod- It goes, “There’s nothing to do that’s fun erately priced dining and a good coffee shop/ around Waco.” hangout spot. Well, to some extent that’s true. Encourag- Like we said, just a few. There is obviously A Passport to Waco ing growth downtown has been the goal of var- much more that can be done and some of these A new program gives students an incentive to spend money in the Waco ious organizations in Waco for nearly 50 years. are less serious than others, but they all come 5 While we are sure that these various or- from places with bustling city centers. community and exposes them to downtown restaurants. ganizations have been doing their jobs to the The walkup ATMs are especially impor- best of their abilities, it seems that little prog- tant. When people eat their dinner and decide ress has been made in the way of establishing a to walk around downtown to find something stable community of businesses and residences to do, incidental costs might arise and people School is down but not out. downtown. need an easy way to get cash to spend. Baylor students give new life to Brook Avenue Elementary, and the Downtown has certainly grown recently, Another important aspect is price. 6 students that learn there. but it seems that there’s still not enough to at- So many downtown restaurants have failed tract a bustling group of students every night to garner the business they needed for long- of the week or even reliably over the weekends. term survival because they were out of reach However, it for all the work and input that for many students and even most Wacoans. Baylor students enrich the lives of kids has been gone into improving downtown one The Green Room, Sebas Cocina, Garrett’s and Baylor students help Mission Waco keep local kids off the streets. voice has been overlooked — the voice of stu- Gratziano’s — to name a few — have all been dents. upscale downtown dining that failed to make Waco has a fairly sizeable university right the grade. BU scholar finds drawback on focusing next to downtown, a large community col- We need relatively cheap dining and enter- lege not far away and a technical college. All tainment downtown and everything that goes 7 on family and religion of these schools have students with money — with it. That means we need easier ways to get New study finds that focus on family and religion hurts civic participation some admittedly more than others — that they downtown, easier ways to get money down- spend on entertainment and food. Tapping this town, and more to do so our trips aren’t seem- market will be crucial to the revitalization of ingly wasted on one mediocre meal. Waco’s downtown. Baylor students want to get involved in Waco, Baylor divided by live tunes To that end, we have put together some sug- downtown life— we do. Its just not easy for us A look at the Baylor and Waco music scenes, how they differ and how gestions of things that downtown Waco could to justify the time and money right now. 9 they’re coming together. use to get students downtown and get them to Some of us already are, though. These pi- stay downtown: Dance hall, yoga studio, duel- oneers are helping to shape the nature of the ing piano bar, street food vendors, a riverboat, Baylor/Waco relationship and as a group may downtown trolley system, Pedicabs, Alamo have a greater impact on Waco’s future than Unsung heroes fight sex trafficking Draft House-style theater, a dedicated outdoor anyone in the past 50 years. concert venue, more boutique shops, a down- Read on as the Baylor Lariat explores what 10 even in Waco town grocery store, a convenience store, mul- divides Baylor and Waco and what is bringing A look at how international crime can touch even our community. tiple walkup ATMs, a local all-night diner, jazz us together.

the Baylor Lariat | STAFF LIST Visit us at www.BaylorLariat.com Editor in chief A&E editor Copy editor Staff writer Photographer Ad Representative Rob Bradfield* Debra Gonzalez Ashley Davis* Reubin Turner Dana Dewhirst Aaron Fitzgerald City editor Sports editor Staff writer Sports writer Editorial Cartoonist Delivery Caroline Brewton* Krista Pirtle* Linda Nguyen Greg DeVries* Asher Murphy* Kate Morrissey News editor Photo editor Staff writer Sports writer Ad Representative Delivery Alexa Brackin* Matt Hellman Maegan Rocio Daniel Hill Shelby Pipken Casser Farishta Assistant city editor Web editor Staff writer Photographer Ad Representative *Denotes member Linda Wilkins* Antonio Miranda Amando Dominick Meagan Downing Katherine Corliss of editorial board Copy desk chief Multimedia prod. Staff writer Photographer Ad Representative Josh Wucher Ben Palich Laurean Love Sarah George Sydney Browne

THE RIFT The Baylor Lariat 3 Finding Waldo in Waco...how BU students stand out

By Jessica Chia Reporter

On a scale of one to ten, how easy is it to spot a Baylor student out in the Waco community? To get the scoop, I interviewed members in the community in the aisles of WalMart. I asked shoppers which signs identified Baylor Bears outside of their natural habitat. The No. 1 one way respondents said they could spot Baylor students was by Baylor or Baylor- related T-shirts, jerseys, shorts, caps, auto decals and accessories. “A lot of times they’re in Baylor shirts or have got some kind of Baylor logo on them some- place,” said Clint Anderson, 49, of Waco. Of the 12 respondents who mentioned Baylor gear as an identifying factor, four said it was the only marker they could think of. The second most common response concerned Baylor students’ general appearance. For the most part, people said generally positive things about Baylor students’ dress and ap- pearance. Adjectives included youthful, attractive, nicely-dressed, athletic, preppy and well-kept. Dress is also a distinguishing factor. “They dress like college students. Socks and flip flops,” said Angela Schulz, 40, of Waco. Six respondents mentioned t-shirts specifically as one of the identifying markers of a Baylor student. One respondent said she found Baylor students’ dress simply inappropriate. “They dress half-naked,” said Ann Johnson, 55, of Waco. Responses concerning attitude came in third place. Johnson weighed in on this as well. “They’re very disrespectful. They don’t have any manners,” Johnson said. Unlike Johnson, five other respondents found Baylor students to be pleasant or at least harm- less. Attitude descriptors mentioned by respondents were nice, perky, outgoing, dignified, pleasant, courteous and polite. Another respondent added “confused” to the list. “I don’t know if it’s because they’re away from home, or just because they don’t know Waco,” said Kelly, 33, of Waco, who declined to give her last name. Finally, the fourth most common tip-off mentioned: Baylor students travel in packs. “Rarely do you see one at a time,” said Allen Clark, 38, of Waco. “It’s usually a group of college- age kids.” This response was cited by four different respondents, one of whom also mentioned speed as a factor. “They’ll have two or three in a group. They move more rapidly, just like zing, zing, zing,” said Joe Singer, 53, of Waco. “They’re real quick, especially the girls,” he said. Only two respondents said they could identify Baylor students without reference to clothing, dress or age. Other respondents saw few distinctions. “There’s no real tip-off. Just by what they wear. Nothing social-wise,” said Karen Darcy, 44, of Waco, who is also an alumna. One resident said he didn’t see a distinction at all. “I really can’t. I’ve lived in Waco all my life, so to me, everyone’s just a person,” said Gary Brink, 62, of Waco. THE RIFT 4 The Baylor Lariat* How attractive is Waco to graduating students? By Linda Nguyen Association and American Student because they Tran, who graduates in May, said she is not Staff Writer Dental Association. d o n ’ t necessarily opposed to staying in Waco, but her “We’d do things like decision depends on the job market. College is a time of transition. go out to lower- “I didn’t think I would ever stay in Waco, Some arrive knowing they’ll go on to jobs in income areas but it’s grown on me over the past four to four- other cities or return to families and hometowns, and hang out and-a-half years,” Tran said. “It’s grown to be but others stay. with kids, called my home. I never did think coming Some Baylor alumni have found a home play with in I would want to move to Waco or in Waco, living in and giving back to the k i d s possibly move here permanently.” community where they received their higher t h e r e ,” Tran said she’s really enjoyed education. McBride interacting with the community outside After finishing his undergraduate degree said. “I of Baylor. from Baylor, alumnus Justin McBride started an “My greatest experience outside of internet company based in Waco in Baylor, is outside of Baylor, I’ve become April that sells eco- more aware of what the community does friendly stationery always for each other,” Tran said. “There are so and products like did Steppin’ many great social service agencies in Waco. pens. Out. All the Everyone has a great heart as a whole in Waco, “I stayed in community which is something I appreciate and love.” Waco mostly involvement I have Jillian Buttecali graduated in May and found because I had a lot right now is through our a job in North but left for a different of friends still here church and we randomly go h a v e opportunity in Waco. in Waco and take food to homeless people. an incentive to “My new job is with the there wasn’t Our church also goes to Friday morning stay in Waco. Dwyer Group, which is well anything for breakfast with Mission Waco.” “If Baylor offered alumni an incentive or a respected,” Buttecali said. me in my McBride said he believes Baylor reason to stay, I think they would,” McBride “The CEO is a Baylor Bear hometown,” does a lot to influence the Waco said. and when I was offered the McBride community. McBride said one way Baylor could position, I jumped at it. said. “Honestly, just from my motivate alumni to stay would be through the There’s a lot more McBride general perspective, it seems McLean Student Life Center. room for growth said he like Baylor and Waco are “What would be cool is offer an alumni and they hadn’t two totally separate things, plan at the SLC or at least a half-off charge envisioned and I feel like Baylor helps at the SLC,” McBride said. “There’s staying in Waco Waco survive,” he said. not that kind of plan at the SLC and when he first McBride said Baylor it’s $10 per trip. If Baylor offered came to Baylor helps Waco in many ways. alumni an incentive, a reason to stay, I his freshman For example many Baylor think they would.” understand year. students frequent the Some students may not the value of a “My original local businesses and decide to stay in Waco Baylor education.” plan was to go to restaurants. indefinitely but decide The CEO of the medical school Baylor also has a to stay a little longer Dwyer group is Dina somewhere, variety of student after receiving their Dwyer-Owens, who but from programs that try undergraduate degree and attended Baylor from freshman year, to connect Baylor pursue post-baccalaureate work at 1981 to 1983. your plans and Waco. Baylor in the form of graduate school Buttecali said when change a lot by “Waco is or law school. she graduated and left the time you important to Baylor 2012 alumna Melissa Waco, she felt like she was graduate,” Baylor because Tran is currently a graduate student leaving home. McBride said. it provides in Baylor’s Master of Social Work She said she hadn’t McBride a somewhat program. expected to feel so close to said the Justin McBride humbling “I thought about going to a school Baylor and Waco when she community he experience,” McBride out of state, and I actually made the first came here. found in his church Korean United Methodist said. “With the poverty rate so decision to do that, but when I “I think it was a gradual Church also influenced his decision to stay. high here in Waco, I find that made it, I felt really uneasy about process,” Buttecali said. “Lots “I started going to a church here my freshman it’s much easier to be thankful it,” Tran said. “In the end, Baylor of times, you go off to college year,” McBride said. “I still go to that church, so for the things we have and was a year-long program and I and enjoy the experience. I’ve made a lot of good relationships here.” often take for granted after got an internship in , so it made it You associate the college McBride said he was involved with the Waco seeing and experiencing how easier for me to commute back and forth.” and college town as home. community throughout his undergraduate others who are less fortunate live. Tran also cited the community she found at Melissa Tran Gradually I became more and experience. Hopefully we can continue to Baylor as a reason she decided to stay. more in love with Baylor, and He said the organizations he was in that learn and grow with each other.” “It was easier to be somewhere I already Waco is an extension of that.” facilitated community involvement were McBride said he thinks knew and be around community that was Jillian Buttecali Medical Service Organization, Korean Student alumni don’t stay in Waco Courtesy Photo already established,” Tran said. Photos by Matt Hellman | Lariat Photo Editor THE RIFT The Baylor Lariat 5 Students challenged with the Passport to Waco By Jocelyn Fowler rience Waco,” Taylor said. “All of the businesses businesses receive vital support and exposure. program, an iPad will be given to the student Reporter that participate in our program are privately The benefits to students do not stop at intangi- with the most stamps in his/her book or the o w n e d . ble goods winner will be selected from a drawing of all the Grab your passports and prepare for an ad- They’re a n d students who filled their books, depending on venture with the Baylor student government. n o t “The goal of the program is to encourage students to foods, participation. Destination: Waco, . chains or however. Despite the prizes, Treadaway maintains Starting next semester, students will once franchis- actually get out of the ‘Baylor Bubble’ and actually Students that the most important aspect of the program again be able to participate in a program from es around experience Waco,” Taylor said. “All of the businesses that who fill is connecting Baylor students with Wacoans. student government called Passport Waco. Late the na- participate in our program are privately owned. They’re a prede- “Being in Waco, even if you’re only going last semester, former external vice president tion. termined to be here for two or four years, it’s still impor- Angela Oliver began the program with positive They are not chains or franchises around the nation. They are a m o u nt tant to meet the locals and see where they got reception, but did not have the chance to de- grass- grass-root kind of places that are made just for Waco.” of their started and see what this community is about,” velop it due to a lack of time. root kind passport Treadaway said. Current external vice president Briana of places Grant Taylor | Community Relations Coordinator books Passport Waco will begin in February and Treadaway has revamped the program in hopes that are will be last until mid-April. Planning for the program of bridging the gap between the Baylor and made eligible is ongoing. For more information, follow stu- Waco communities. just for to receive dent government social media sites where up- The program enlists the help of several local Waco.” prizes throughout the duration of Passport dates about the program and special contests businesses to get Baylor students into the Waco The benefit of the program, Taylor says, is Waco. will be posted. community. Students involved in the program two-fold: students get new experiences and local At the conclusion of the will receive passports and get stamps as they visit partici- pating businesses and make a min- imum purchase. Participat- ing businesses are Oso’s Frozen Yogurt, Penguin Pete’s, Tres Mex- ican Restaurant, Outdoor Waco, Vitek’s, Baris, Amici’s, Jake’s Texas Tea House and What About Cupcakes. Community relations’ coor- dinator Grant Taylor said he hopes the in- volvement of Waco’s distinct establishments will encourage students to step outside of the “Baylor Bubble” and embrace the community they live in. “The goal of the program is to encourage students to ac- tually get out of the ‘Baylor Bubble’ and actually expe- THE RIFT 6 The Baylor Lariat Baylor students help enrich the lives of local kids

By Travis Taylor ally has between 17 to 25 kids, but recently the years, as Mission Reporter center has seen more than 30 kids who show up Waco developed, after school, Jimenez said. the teen program When you walk into Mission Waco’s Youth “Ever since we changed our program layout was really impor- Center, it’s almost like walking into a high and really have focused on doing more non-tra- tant.” school student’s dream hangout spot. Foosball, ditional classes, and trying to get them to learn The youth pro- a pool table and a big screen TV are just a few some skills that will help them at school but gram is split into of the amenities the center offers. But the center don’t have them sitting down, a lot of our kids two groups, one isn’t just about having fun: It’s about education, have been bringing their friends and they’ve that serves the “nor- too. been really interested in it,” Jimenez said. mal at-risk kids,” or At Mission Waco’s Youth Center, Baylor stu- The youths attend a number of local schools, those who are in dents work with local high school and middle including Indian Springs Middle School, Tenny- school that strug- school students in an after-school program de- son Middle School, G. W. Carver Middle School gle with poverty signed to teach kids skills they may not learn in and Waco High School. and other issues; the classroom. Jimmy Dorrell, executive director of Mis- one that serves the San Antonio senior Jessica Jimenez, a social sion Waco and lecturer in the George W. Truett “throwaway kids,” work major who is the youth director at the Theological Seminary, said work with the area’s or youths who Travis Taylor | Reporter center, said the youth program offers classes in youth began when he moved into the neighbor- have dropped out Local kids play pool during the after-school program at the Mission Waco Youth Center on Nov. 5. Many Baylor students volunteer at the center to help cooking, woodshop, music, theater, art and pho- hood 33 years ago. of school and have educate kids about things they don’t learn in school. tography. “Obviously, children living in poverty and had issues with the “We really try to give a wide range of things those that are marginalized have a lot of issues,” law, Dorrell said. better for society.” that our kids will be interested in that teach Dorrell said. “So one of the first things that hap- “We just know that if we don’t get in there Lansing, Mich., senior Erin Costello, a vol- skills such as math and writing but not in a pened when we moved into the neighborhood, and deal with them when they are struggling, unteer at the youth center, said the program is classroom-style setting,” Jimenez said. we began to have children’s clubs and then we then they’re going to be poor or end up in pris- more about forming dependable relationships The youth center, located in West Waco on built a basketball court at my house, and kids on,” Dorrell said. “So the sooner we intervene, than simply providing an after-school service. North 15th Street and Colcord Avenue, usu- began to come over and play. And through the the more chances they have of making it and the SEE KIDS, page 7

limited number of tutors. All tutors are Baylor students. Waco school Mechelle Mitchell, the after school site man- ager at Brook Avenue, said students in the pro- gram are chosen on a need-basis. may be down, “We have to review the Academic Excellence Indicator System report, grades, attendance and behavior,” Mitchell said. “The AEIS report is used to create the lesson plans to aid students but it’s not out who are struggling.” By Natalie Yeaman and Julian Rueda Robinson sophomore Emily Netherland Contributors works for Waco Independent School District. She is responsible for creating lesson plans Crime surrounds them. Yet they hope. based on the Academic Excellence Indicator Brook Avenue Elementary teachers are de- System for the after school program. Courtesy Photo “The lesson plans for the after-school pro- termined to help their students grow academi- Students at Brook Avenue Elementary School pose for a picture. The school was rated ‘academically cally. unacceptable’ this year by the Texas Education Agency. grams are designed so that students can learn According to the U.S. Census, the number while having fun,” Netherland said. “They get to of individuals living below the poverty line in One academic program partment of Education. participate in experiments that other students Waco is 16.8 percent. Brook Avenue Elementary the school offers is the after The program is intended don’t.” is located in Waco. school program. “The lesson plans for the to help fund programs that Students in the after-school program are able Brook Avenue officials said the school is Afterschool Center on after-school programs work to enhance local re- to participate in the garden club, which teaches ‘academically unacceptable,’ according to the Education allows students form efforts. These local responsibility by keeping students accountable Texas Education Agency, but test scores have who are struggling aca- are designed so that reform efforts include help- for the fruits and vegetables they grow. increased over the last four years. The increase demically to have safe place, students can learn while ing students meet academic Joshua senior and tutor Colton Dearing said, indicates that students are better understanding structured and supervised, having fun.” standards in core subjects “The most rewarding thing is seeing the growth the material they learn at the school. intended for learning and including math, reading, of the students that participate in the programs According to its website, Brook Avenue is social interaction, according Emily Netherland | WISD official science and social studies, both academically and personally.” committed as a unified team to providing an to the Texas Ace 21 website, by providing out-of-school Amanda Diaz said the programs offered at education of excellence for their students with a resource for Texas after- time services to students and Brook Avenue have helped her child, specifically the support and involvement of parents, com- school programs. Students their families. in the area of reading. munity, and Partners in Education, thereby must apply to be in this program. The after-school program is open to 30 stu- Cynthia McDonald said she has kept her developing lifelong learners with the social and The after school program is federally funded dents at a time at Brook Avenue because of the child at Brook Avenue because she feels like she academic skills that will enhance our diverse through the 21st Century Community Learning can easily communicate with staff and faculty that are involved with the programs. society. Center program administered by the U.S. De- SEE SCHOOL, page 7 THE RIFT The Baylor Lariat 7

KIDS from Page 6 SCHOOL from Page 6 “It’s important to meet these kids and get to students from Baylor and that the vast majority Some students are eligible to receive a free or come to just be that listening ear,” Brook Avenue know them,” Costello said. of volunteers are Baylor students. reduced-priced lunch. assistant principal Vicki Stone said. Costello said as a volunteer, she enjoys get- “The number one thing we need are educa- This number has increased from 93.8 per- Brook Avenue also has speakers who have ting to know the kids, “even if it’s pretty chaotic.” tion students who want to do tutoring time,” cent in 2009 to 98.3 percent in 2011, which in- experienced similar situations to the students “It’s not ‘stuff these envelopes and send them Jimenez said. “Our dream is one tutor for two dicates students’ financial situations overall have come talk to the students out,’” Costello added. students.” gotten worse. Baylor graduate Terrance Ganaway spoke at Jimenez said the youth center is always look- A.J. Parks Jr., a Waco High junior, has been Brook Avenue also receives donations from Brook Avenue. ing for volunteers to help with enhancing the involved with the youth program since he was churches, such as Columbus Avenue Baptist He told students his experience growing up education of kids in the program. in sixth grade. Church. Columbus Avenue offers students at- in a poor family but also told students to “let “If there are any Baylor or MCC or TSTC “The counselors, they’re basically like broth- tending Brook Avenue Elementary uniforms, your actions dictate who you are,” according to students that are big on education or skilled in a ers and sisters to me now,” Parks said. “I don’t consisting of khaki pants and a colored polo. the Waco ISD website. particular area, we are always looking for more see them as counselors; I see them as family.” They also offer a mentoring program under Ganaway is the youngest of nine children volunteers that come in specifically to tutor our “This is my home away from home,” Parks the direction of Anne Broadus, director of Kid’s and was the first person in his family to gradu- kids,” she said. said. Hope ministry. ate from college. Jimenez said college students are especially Students who are interested in volunteer- “They provide professionals from across the He is currently playing football with the St. equipped to help with the non-traditional edu- ing at the Mission Waco Youth Center can find city that come weekly to interact with our stu- Louis Rams. cation that the program provides. Jimenez more information about the center and the dents as role models, assist mentees with class- Working toward improvement despite limi- added that the youth center has two work-study youth program at www.missionwacoyouth.org. room assignments if needed, and oftentimes tations is the motto at Brook Avenue. BU scholar finds drawback of focusing on family and religion

By Linda Nguyen gion and secular Staff Writer civic participa- tion,” Kim said. You would think a strong interest in religion “Given that and family would be a good thing, but a Baylor religion and scholar has identified at least one negative effect: family as social interest in religion and family do not facilitate institutions are secular and civic engagement. strongly tied Dr. Young-Il Kim, a Postdoctoral Scholar at to each other, I the Baylor Institute for Religious Studies, pub- wanted to see lished a study in August an online edition of how these bonds Social Science Research journal titled Bonding might inhibit alone: Familism, religion, and secular civic par- involvement in ticipation. secular organiza- Kim co-authored the study with his disserta- tions.” tion advisor Dr. W. Bradford Wilcox from the Kim said he University of Virgina. found religious “I looked at the connections between tradi- people without Travis Taylor | Lariat staff tional family values and secular civic participa- a strong sense of The exterior of the Mission Waco Youth Center on 1315 N 15th st. tion,” Kim said. “When you hold strong orien- familism tend to tation toward marriage and the family, you’re be members of likely to decrease your involvement in secular secular organiza- may simply have little time left for secular in- participation in civic life, and that this is exac- voluntary associations.” tions. volvement beyond religious participation. For erbated by participation on civic engagement. It Kim said his research took unique approach. People with a strong sense of familism, a whatever reasons, familistic people tend to have can lead to further insularity among those with He said many do not study how an interest in strong commitment to lifelong marriage and more exclusive sociability.” strong familistic attitudes.” religion and family might affect civic participa- childbearing, religious congregations reinforce Assistant Professor of Sociology Dr. Jeremy Kim said his interest on the added affect tion. staying almost exclusively within their social Uecker said Kim’s study does a good job of of religion on family and civic engagement “When you look at the literature, there is circle. showing how commitment to family and reli- stemmed from his own involvement in his much research on religion and civic engagement “This might be news to family-oriented peo- gion conflict with participation in secular ac- church. and there are lots of research articles on religion ple who are also active in their religious congre- tivities. “I don’t really think of my research to change and family, but very few look at the connection gations.” Kim said. “It’s an impressive study,” Uecker said in an people’s behavior,” Kim said. between family-centered orientation and civic “Those people may be anxious about the email to the Lariat. “Kim and Wilcox compel- “If anything, I must first change myself. participation and no studies have ever exam- well-being of their family and try to protect lingly show that strong traditional commit- It would require some level of intentionality ined interconnections between familism, reli- their families against secular influences. Or they ments to marriage and family are at odds with though, particularly living in a city like Waco.” 8 THE RIFT The Baylor Lariat Waco colleges join forces to better higher education

By Amanda Tolentino Baylor students and faculty can learn from while taking classes at Baylor and MCC. Stu- great that Baylor recognizes the strengths MCC Reporter TSTC faculty and students about the technol- dents can choose to join the program for either students have.” ogy in the lab. one or two years and live in the Kokernot and Stottlemyre said MCC provides a financial Waco is the center of the hustle and bustle of “TSTC is a jewel in the Waco community. Martin Residence Halls. opportunity for MCC students that serves as three higher education establishments: Baylor It provides training for national labs for stu- Ramey said she thinks the program has a foundation for them to receive recognition University, McLennan Community College and dents coming out of high school,” Hyde said. “It proven to be a great collaboration between the from Baylor. Texas State Technical College. makes both sides stronger and provides the lo- two campuses. Ramey said students can ben- “You’re either Baylor or MCC. I guess I feel The relationship between the three institu- cal community with a caliber work efit from living on Baylor’s campus, that MCC and Baylor are in a way connected, tions is effective because they work together to force from technicians in the as well as getting to know the but not very much,” said Robinson junior Mir- educate students and develop individual skills lab to the Ph.D.’s in the lab.” community more than they iam Hernandez. for the work force. Another Baylor col- would if they had only at- Hernandez went to MCC for two years be- Each college collaborates academically with laboration is the co-en- tended Baylor. fore attending Baylor. the construction of the Baylor Research and In- rollment program with “It’s been great for Hallettsville TSTC student Dylan Barton novation Collaborative and the Baylor@MCC MCC. The program is students to develop rela- said it would be great if they all worked to pull co-enrollment program. for students who qual- tionships,” Ramey said. their resources together. Barton said he has no TSTC’s Center for Astrophysics, Space Phys- ify for Baylor admis- “We anticipated the pro- bias toward Baylor or MCC because each insti- ics & Engineering Research (CASPER) will be sions acceptance but gram to be beneficial for tution educates students differently. incorporated into one of the BRIC’s research cannot be accepted due Waco students, but we’ve “I think it would be a good idea if somehow centers. This will be one of the first interdisci- to space constraints. also received students students from Baylor could take credits at TSTC plinary activities the center completes. “The program is for from outside of Waco and vice versa,” Barton said. “CASPER is an interdisciplinary university students who entered and Texas.” Mart TSTC automotive program student research center that started out 12 years ago as the regular admissions Emily Stottlemyre, Justin Allen said students at Baylor tend to be a process of establishing a lab facility,” said Dr. pool, but were waitlist- MCC associate professor wealthier than those at TSTC. Truell Hyde, vice provost for research, director ed,” said Diana Ramey, of child development, “People also tend to think TSTC is not as of CASPER and professor of physics. “There associate vice president said the relationship be- high up as Baylor, but each one has a different was an agreement between Baylor and TSTC for of enrollment manage- tween faculty and stu- environment setting,” Allen said. Baylor to lease a lab space at the TSTC campus.” ment. dents from each institu- Sugar Land TSTC student Stephen Mathews Hyde said an additional 45,000 square feet During their fresh- tion is beneficial. said Baylor plays an important role in Waco. will be added to the BRIC for an advanced work man year of college, “I think it’s favor- “Waco is where education is supposed to be force technology training and development for students can co-enroll able for MCC students,” and I think that influences MCC and TSTC,” TSTC programs. for both institutions Stottlemyre said. “It’s said Mathews. TSTC will also Wylie junior provide the BRIC Megan Judd also with technologi- said Waco is a cen- cal support to Texas ter for education. businesses, 3D mod- “MCC and eling and testing fa- TSTC shouldn’t be cilities. discredited even Hyde said Baylor though they aren’t has a good partner- four-year universi- ship with TSTC be- ties. College should cause the CASPER be an ultimate goal lab can give TSTC for people and graduates higher Waco seems to be starting salaries, and at the center of it,” Judd said. THE RIFT The Baylor Lariat 9 Waco, Baylor divided by differences in live tunes

By James Herd sic is concerned, Kieran O’Connor, manager of local here, and a lot of us that work here, we really like Reporter country music venue Wild West, said he believes the those artists anyway.” separation between the two cultures is for the best. Regardless, there are many opportunities both on Despite Baylor’s place in Waco, there could not O’Connor said he believes the future will reveal simi- campus and off campus for students and Wacoans to be a further distance between the two in terms of larities between the two scenes. become apart of the live music scenes and to experi- the live music scene. “I think in coming years we’ll probably see a little ence what Waco has to offer in terms of entertain- Or so it seems. more crossover. However, I think there will still be ment. Live venues on or near campus, such as Common two distinct genres playing and in all honesty, that’s Such opportunities include the various concerts Grounds, have begun to cater to the Baylor audience. a good thing,” O’Connor said. “That way, Baylor has that Uproar Records has in venues such as Common According to Wes Butler, the live events coordinator their music and their genre, and they can bring in stu- Grounds or even Waco Hall through Uproar Concert at Common Grounds, the venue has begun its own dents in their crowd, and we can have the crossovers Promotions. crossing over between the two atmospheres of Baylor here or at other locations within Waco. That way it Off-campus opportunities include the live shows and Waco. allows for us to focus on country.” that are held at locations such as Art Ambush, Wild “I feel like we cross over more than most people “The other thing you have to look at is the venue,” West or Legacy Cafe, to name a in the area. We are trying to get in some country O’Connor said. “Common Grounds is a great venue few. Live music schedules shows, because I think that there is a market at for smaller bands, but when you look at bringing can be found at each of Baylor of students that would want to come in some of the larger country music bands they’re t h e locations’ re- to those shows that not typically equipped to handle that kind of sound spec- tive websites. we haven’t really of- equipment that’s necessary.” fered in On-campus, Uproar Records does several things to promote the up-and-coming Baylor artists as they begin their professional music career. Uproar Con- cert Promotions, a newly formed division of Uproar the past,” Records, aims to promote large-scale concerts at larg- Butler said. er venues, such as Waco Hall. “That’s something that Areli Mendoza, assistant vice president of public- we’re trying to do to kind of ity for Uproar Records, said the group, along with blend those things, capital- Common Grounds, seeks to expose new musicians to ize on the market that is here at the eye of Baylor students. Baylor, which is our target market “I think Common Grounds has done a great job just because of our geographic at bringing musicians to Baylor students,” Mendoza location.” said. As for the identity that James Lafayette, the owner of Legacy Cafe in Common Grounds has downtown Waco, said he wants Legacy Cafe to be an created for itself in re- avenue between the Baylor campus and downtown. lation to the music While Legacy Cafe hosts a variety of music, ex- scene, Butler said the cept for hip-hop, and often feature Baylor oriented venue tries to keep the bands such as Dreamboat, Lafayette said there type of performances needs to be a link between the two locations, rath- by bands and musi- er than a separation. cians consistent. O’Connor said the separation between the Butler said Com- Waco and Baylor music scenes could be because mon Grounds tends of Baylor’s Baptist orientation. to look out for its au- “We tend to play a lot of Texas country dience through their music. It’s bar music. So you get a lot of the show selection, but only songs that come through, that you know Jack Ingram because he feels that country music tends to revolve around every show should be you know, drinking, partying, and a worth the money that stu- lot of things like that, some things dents spend to attend. that Baylor wouldn’t necessarily “We really try to guard endorse,” O’Connor said. ourself with things that Butler, however, said the rea- we feel that we can put son Common Grounds often our full weight behind. hosts Christian bands is due to We want you to know the type of students at Baylor. that it’s always going to “We’re not bound by anything be a good show. It’s always Baylor. So you know we’re not sub- going to be worth your sidized by Baylor in any way,” Butler money,” Butler said. said. “So we really have the freedom Whe re to do whatever we want. The rea- off-cam- son that we have so many Christian Michael Gungor Photos by Matt Hellman and Makenzie Mason pus mu- shows is just because of the market 10 THE RIFT The Baylor Lariat Unsung heroes fight sex trafficking in Waco By Holly Renner According to the bulletin, the lifestyle of vic- In addition to Unbound’s educational train- herself from her family. She was trafficked all Reporter tims revolves around violence, forced drug use ing, the organization offers specific trainings for over the . and constant threats. police departments, social workers and other Peters said the rescued girl went to her moth- Don’t be fooled by the Baylor Bubble. Unbound, Antioch Community Church’s areas in the Waco community — those working er’s home and is still in the recovery process, but A woman in Waco can disappear in mo- nationally-growing, anti-human trafficking -or directly with victims. her recovery may be a long process because of ments and become a victim of sex trafficking, ganization that began in March in Waco, works “We are committed to quarterly training and the emotional suffering caused from her experi- an umbrella term that covers the recruitment to end sex trafficking through education, rescue to facilitate specific training for professionals on ences. The second victim lived in Iowa. Peters or transportation of people for the purpose of and aftercare, public policy and prayer. the front line,” Peters said. said the victim’s friend attended a Waco mission subjecting them to involuntary service in the Currently, there are eight Unbound chapters Peters said Unbound is in the process of conference at Antioch with a seminar on sex sex industry. trafficking. The U.S. Department Upon returning home to of Justice estimates that Iowa, the friend let a mentor between 14,500 and 17,500 know she was concerned the people are trafficked into girl was a victim of sex traffick- the country each year. ing, and they contacted the girl’s The Federal Bureau of mother. Peters said Unbound Investigation reported in intervened with the help of law- an online bulletin pub- yers, the Federal Bureau of In- lished in 2011 that some vestigation and volunteers who young people are recruited conducted research. into prostitution through Through thorough investiga- forced abduction, pressure tion, they found the girl had been from parents or through trafficked for two weeks. The girl deceptive agreements be- is currently receiving treatment tween parents and traffick- and therapy in a safe house. ers. Liz Griffin, Unbound’s direc- According to the bulle- tor for strategic growth, said on tin, the lifestyle of victims an average night, Waco has 20 to revolves around violence, 40 minors trafficked through on- forced drug use and con- line sources. stant threats. “They’re forced to post their It can take place in any own ads so it looks more like state or city — including prostitution,” Griffin said. “If it’s Texas. In 2011, the Na- self-posted, under the control tional Human Trafficking and supervision of the trafficker, Resource Center’s hotline it’s kept secret.” received 19,427 phone Griffin said Unbound has re- calls – almost double the search teams that gather weekly calls from 2010. Next to to scan through Internet ads , Texas was the and are trained to identify girls second state with the most because many of them are made incoming calls. to look much older than 15 years Children at Risk, a non- Photo illustration Matt Hellman | Lariat Photographer old. profit organization created Griffin said they are work- to help children through ing to develop software to gather research and education, said in the research ar- in the United States: Waco, Bell County, College developing curriculum for girls in juvenile cen- more data and cover more cities in order to take ticle “The State of Human Trafficking in Texas” Station, Dallas, Seattle and three in Boston. ters and schools to educate them so they will be a large chunk out of Internet trafficking. that Texas is a big hub for international human Susan Peters, the national director for Un- equipped to resist coercion or be able to get out Most pornographic materials have a minor trafficking because of its busy interstate high- bound and a Waco resident, said young girls are of an abusive relationship if one has formed. in them, which is considered sex trafficking, ways, international airports, bus stations, ship- being sexually advertised every day in Waco, In addition, Peters said the organization is Griffin said. Since there is such a high demand ping commerce through the Gulf of Mexico and and Houston is the number one area for sex traf- collaborating with members to create small sup- for sex and a low supply, trafficking is rampant, its shared border with Mexico. ficking. Peters said one of the most important port groups within poor areas where traffickers she added. According to Children at Risk, the Texas- ways to bring an end to trafficking is through may look. Peters said they plan to have this fi- Griffin said lowering the amount of sex traf- Mexico border is North America’s number one education. nalized in January. ficking victims could be done through educa- supply site for young children subjected to sex “We’ve done several education and aware- Peters said since March, Unbound in Waco tion and awareness in the United States. trafficking. ness training for the church and for the com- has rescued two victims — both over 18-years- “We think it’s a child chained to a bed in a The Federal Bureau of Investigation report- munity at large because awareness saves lives,” old — from sex trafficking. One of the girls, brothel. Many times you pass a victim of traf- ed in an online bulletin published in 2011 that Peters said. whose name could not be released, was a stu- ficking at a mall,” Griffin said. “There are also some young people are recruited into prostitu- Unbound teaches people to never approach dent who graduated from a local Waco high students who attend school who are being traf- tion through forced abduction, pressure from a victim or a pimp, but to let police know what school and went to college, Peters said. ficked. It’s hidden in plain sight. The lack of -un parents or through deceptive agreements be- is happening so something can be done, Peters She was seduced by her boyfriend and derstanding of what it looks like in a western tween parents and traffickers. said. The training is done for all chapters. dropped out of school, left her job and isolated culture is huge.” THE RIFT The Baylor Lariat* 11 A non-Baptist in the ‘Baylor Bubble’ Bible Belt

By Maegan Rocio joyed the experience at Baylor,” Shah said. Staff Writer Shah said being at Baylor has even helped him find com- mon ground with his fellow students that have a different Baylor University, which is known for its openly Christian religious faith. beliefs and mission, is also home to many non-Christians. “The majority of the time, engaging with other students of However, according to the Student Activities website, stu- any faith is about finding a set of core vales that we all agree dents that wish to create a prospective religious group must on,” he said. “We all can come together and sit and have a share the ideals of the university - so where do the others go discussion and we’re understood by everyone else that is to practice their faith? around us.” Some members of the Baylor community have found com- Overall, Shah said his experience at Baylor has been mon ground with like-minded residents in the wider Waco fair because the university does support religious diver- community. sity and the students of other religious faiths. One such person is Dr. David Jortner, an assistant profes- “I would say so, at least from a more generalized stand- sor of theater arts at Baylor who is Jewish. Jortner said the point,” he said. “I haven’t heard any other non-Christian large Jewish community in Waco has helped him and his fam- students say they felt hindered about practicing their faith ily locate people with whom they can relate. There are on campus. I’ve never really felt that way.” two synagogues in Waco - one that follows the Austin junior Praveen Merugumala is an atheist who reform school of thought and one conservative. lives on campus in Allen Hall. Merugumala said “We’re members of both synagogues and the views of his floormates are different from we have a very active religious life through larger place and his own. both,” he said. need to reserve a “Everyone on my wing is incredibly Jortner said he nearly didn’t room, I don’t think we’d conservative Christian,” he said. “Literally, every- have any problems.” one disagrees with me on every political issue.” Jainism is a religion from India that teaches its fol- Despite this, Merugumala said he does lowers how to live their lives through harmlessness and not seek like-minded individuals. ““I don’t think they chastise any type “Gener- of belief system, but they don’t promote ally, I don’t them,” he said. “They do a good job of go outside of campus to eat with my friends,” he said. “I feel safe in the Baylor bubble because not excluding non-Christians.” Waco is really crime ridden. There really isn’t a place in Waco to go to.” Praveen Merugumala | Junior Merugumala said he doesn’t feel isolated at Baylor because he uses social networking to connect to his friends, who are of the same mindset as him, back home in Austin. He said renunciation of worldly attachment. The goal of living a he also talks to other Baylor students who apply because of Baylor’s religious Jain life is to attain the soul’s liberation. are more analytical. affiliation; how- ever, being in a Shah said despite Baylor and Waco’s predominantly Chris- “I hang around people who are pretty into majority-Christian community at work tian environment, his faith has not been affected. school and are really studious, those who want has not affected him much. “I haven’t felt hindered spiritually. I’ve really en- to be doctors and lawyers,” he said. “It was a concern and I almost didn’t,” he Merugumala said he thinks Baylor walks said. “When I did apply and I came to the theater a careful line concerning its predominant program, it was really a non- issue in that I felt so com- Christian outlook and the non-Christian fortable with the people in the theater program, my colleagues students it houses. here, that it isn’t something that worried me at the time.” “I don’t think they chastise any type of belief system, Jortner also said his experience at Baylor hasn’t been but they don’t promote them,” he said. “They do a good affected by the university’s Christian atmosphere. He said job of not excluding non-Christians.” the university’s atmosphere reminds him of America in Still, Jortner said he thinks the university should encour- general. age interfaith dialogue to include members of the community “I really feel that a lot of world is like this, a lot of America who aren’t Christian. is like this, is Christian and conservative and that’s fine,” he “I think interfaith dialogue is always a good thing,” he said. said. “One of my personal experiences has been, because of my Sugar Land senior Nevin Shah, who is a Jain, said he still area of specialization, I study Buddhism quite a lot and being finds outlets to practice his beliefs and that attending Baylor Jewish and studying Buddhism has enabled me to see things hasn’t hindered him from practicing his religion. in different ways and has enriched my Jewish life as the “If we have a religious holiday, which is a lot more more I’ve studied Buddhism. I would encourage people centered about festivals, I think we’re fine with going to at Baylor to continue to have interfaith dialogues. I think someone’s apartment and going there,” he said. “If need a they’re quite rewarding.” THE RIFT 12 The Baylor Lariat