The Baylor Lariat

Even with finals week and Christmas rapidly approaching, average Baylor fans have one thing on their minds: football.

In a recent video by a student organization at Texas Tech University, random students on campus took part in a survey about American history and pop culture. The results were disappointing and appalling. They were appalling because of the fact students didn’t know the answer to questions like “who is the vice president.” They were disappointing, not because respondents showed a lack of knowledge, but because of the lacking integrity by those who made the video.

For years, people within the Baylor community have made efforts to eradicate “the Baylor Bubble.” Events such as Steppin’ Out have connected students to the Waco community and started to chip away at any negative stigmas separating the two.

By the time most people graduate from college they either have experienced, or will soon go through, the process of renting their first home and eventually trying to get their security deposit back. Security and pet deposits are a way for property management companies to provide an in-house safety net against tenant-caused damages instead of relying on insurance companies to pay their part.

Hiding behind anonymity is a common practice today. From sources in news stories to social media, knowing the name behind a comment or quote is well on its way to becoming a rarity. What this means for social norms is yet to be determined, but social media apps like Yik Yak indicate it could lead our society down a disturbing path without regard for those around us.

The emphasis placed on colleges to have stellar athletic teams is not new. A popular sports program can put universities on the map. This has been the source of many instances in which players are given unfair free passes, ultimately hindering their education.

Thanksgiving break is just around the corner, and many students’ grade standing in some classes is unknown. Assignments have been submitted, but the turnaround from professors is at a standstill. Without knowing grades, students have no means of knowing how to prepare for the last stretch of the semester.

American schools have long used drills to prepare students, faculty and rescue workers to properly respond to an emergency. A fire drill, for example, is commonly used so students know where to go and how to act during a fire. However, events such as the Columbine and Sandy Hook school shootings have prompted a fairly new type of drill to emerge in many states: active shooter drills.

When Phil Robertson, the patriarch on the reality TV show “Duck Dynasty,” made comments about homosexuality in December 2013, many people, mainly Christians, rose to defend him, claiming that he has a right to express his beliefs.

The days of carelessly texting “omw, literally,” from behind the wheel are almost over in San Antonio, and the rest of Texas would be wise to follow suit.