It's been a very happening week at Baylor. The University has been all over the news and media, none of which has been particularly positive. Among the chaos, one thing held true: the family who makes up Baylor took hit after hit and didn't let it tear them down.
To start off last week, Baylor's title IX coordinator announced her resignation. Wednesday, she appeared on CBS to speak out about her experience at Baylor. Some of her remarks were a little upsetting to the students at Baylor, but as we spoke, we remembered how we have our own experiences that make us love our college and were only reminded of those more as the week continued.
Thursday afternoon, I was sitting in my last class of the day with a list of plans to study and go to study sessions all afternoon and evening. The class I was in was a BIC (Baylor Interdisciplinary Core) large group lecture. It's a special time that happens a few times each week where all of the freshmen BIC kids (about 200) are learning and growing together in the same room, along with about 12 of our small group professors. Near the end of class, students across campus received a notification of a shooting near campus. It got a little crazy in the room, as my peers frantically made sure their roommates and friends were safe inside, contacted their parents, then we waited. I cannot think of a better group of people to be surrounded by at such a time. Among them are the people who understand my academic struggles better than anyone else, but yet they are closer to my heart than just that. I realized this as the group dropped everything and immediately turned to prayer. Voices lifted up their prayers to God all around the room for a few minutes, because nothing could have been more important than talking to our God. From the first alert we received to the all-clear message, only 43 had minutes passed, and we thanked our wonderful campus security for that.
Friday morning, the members of the HRC (Honors Residential College) woke up to an email from our staff, saying one of our peers had suddenly passed away the night before. In the HRC, we are all very much a family, arguably more than any other residence hall on campus. Everyone I spend my days with was shaken by the news. At breakfast, I walked into our dining hall to a silent, hurting crowd. Yet, they were comforting one another with several urges to "reach out to me if you need anything". The day continued, and the pain, shock, and upset looks upon students' faces remained as hard as stone. A memorial service was hosted by the HRC. Peers, professors, and friends from the Waco community filled Alexander Reading Room, it has never been so full and will likely never be so full again. Every chair was filled, then people took a place in the front on the floor, and still others stood along the halls of the room. Together, we took some time to reflect, and more time to sing about God's faithfulness. The response of my community to tragedy blew me away and made me so much more proud to be a small part of it. It will take time for us to heal, but I cannot think of a better place to be to deal with such a situation.
No matter what took place then, now, or in the future, the people here have their personal Baylor stories, and those contribute so much to their love for the university. Nothing can take these moments away. No group of people is willing to offer more love and support in times of great trial. No other community can remain as strong, despite the multiple attempts to knock them down. The students of Baylor understand what it means to rely on God and what it means to hold tight to their own faith.
It doesn't really matter what everyone on the outside does or says, the Baylor family is strong and close, and as long as we're in it together, we can get through anything.
