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APRIL 4, 2018 Opinion | 2
B AY L O R L A R I AT. C O M
Arts & Life | 5 Marvel in focus
Handle with care
Amazon needs to improve their warehouse workers’ treatment.
Sports | 7
Victorious
Baseball wins 2-1 over Lamar University.
Closing out phase 2 of the Marvel universe reviews.
Legacy In The Making REWON SHIMRAY Cartoonist Within the next decade, half of the universities in the U.S. will close, according to Dr. Mary Landon Darden, specialist in higher education administration. Inside Higher Ed, an online publication focusing on collegiate topics, attributes financial pressures for academic institutions being on “the verge of a major collapse.” “We are living in a time of crisis for higher education,” Darden said. “Our leadership is absolutely critical. It will be literally life or death for these institutions. It makes total sense that we look at the complete pool of talent out there to make sure that we are getting the best person to lead our institutions. To exclude any groups for any reason would be a mistake.” Baylor saw the inauguration of Dr. Linda Livingstone, its first woman and 15th president, in 2017. The extensive and careful search for the university president gave way to Livingstone’s presidency, which envisions progress in academics, Title IX protocol and administrative transparency. There has been a long tradition of women university presidents, but almost exclusively within singlesex institutions, according to Dr. Andrea Turpin, associate professor of history. She said it was rare to find women presidents in co-educational institutions, and even more so in the South, until 30 years ago. “Becoming the president of a southern religious, private institution is no small feat. It’s pretty darn cool. We’re making progress,” Darden said. Baylor has had women in positions of the higher levels of management prior to Livingstone’s presidency. Dr. Elizabeth Davis was formerly executive vice president and provost until 2014. Dr. Robyn Driskell currently serves as the executive director and president’s chief of staff. “It is historic that she is the first female president, but she is simply a good president as a person, period. Which is a demonstration that, yes, women bring unique perspectives, but simply also that some of the talented
Livingstone reigns in vision, teamwork, communication
Jessica Hubble | Multimedia Editor
POWER COUPLE Baylor President Dr. Linda Livingstone and first gentleman Brad Livingstone attend a ceremony at Moody Library in January this year. Livingstone was installed as president on October 26, 2017.
people in the world are women and we would be remiss to ignore that entire pool of talent,” Turpin said. University Vision Livingstone entered the presidency on June 1, 2017 in the midst of Baylor settling a Title IX lawsuit. Baylor had
already begun implementing the 105 Recommendations for Title IX policy. “It was painful, personally, to watch what Baylor was going through, so to be able to come in and really help continue that progress, I felt very good about,” Livingstone said. “Because I knew the university
China change
was deeply committed in that way, I felt confident coming in that it was a good environment to come into and that we were going to make really good progress on those issues as well as looking forward on some of the academic initiatives we needed.” Livingstone said she has two main missions: to address Title IX protocol as a part of “progress on working on issues we need to from our past” and to carry out the Academic Strategic Plan, which gives “optimism and hope about the future in store for Baylor.” Pro Futuris, a five-year strategic vision with goals of “transformational education, compelling scholarship, informed engagement, committed constituents and judicious stewardship,” was already in discussion when Livingstone was inaugurated. Livingstone said that as she reviewed Pro Futuris, there was a clear need for a plan to move Baylor “toward preeminent status as a Christian research university.” The Academic Strategic Plan, Phase II of Pro Futuris called Illuminate, outlines four pillars: Academics, Facilities, Financing and Fundraising. Livingstone said there will be an Illuminate proposal to the Board of Regents in May to be developed over the summer and implemented in the fall. “A realization of Pro Futuris” is to come under Livingstone’s leadership, according to Dr. Andrea Dixon, associate professor of marketing and faculty regent. Dixon said the projected growth in the graduate program would provide Baylor the opportunity to generate knowledge at a higher level. “She understands that, at the core, Baylor is an undergraduate institution that loves to help young people develop a platform to become very strong citizens of the world and very strong citizens for Jesus Christ. The attention and focus on undergraduate education will not wane under her leadership, but I think she will bring additional energy to other areas as well,” Dixon said. Following the completion of the
Reports have surfaced that the White House may attempt to impose study and work visa restrictions on Chinese international students studying in the United States. Baylor, a school with 330 Chinese international students, would most likely be affected by these restrictions, and if the Trump administration carries out these restrictions, the number of international students at Baylor could drop. Disputes between the United States and China over technology policies and trade have led the Trump administration to enforce tariffs and investment restrictions on Chinese products. In addition to restrictions on student visas, the White House has considered ending a program allowing frequent Chinese travelers to the U.S. to get 10year visas. It is unclear if the potential visa restrictions will become policy. There has been some resistance to these proposals. In a written statement to Insider Higher Ed, Esther D. Brimmer, executive director and CEO of the Association for International Educators, said “students should never be used as bargaining chips.” “If the administration imposes restrictions that will further prohibit students and scholars from choosing the United States as their destination, we will suffer devastating impacts for decades to come,” Brimmer said.
PRESIDENT >> Page 4
VISAS>> Page 3
Trump may restrict visas CORRIE COLEMAN Reporter
BU students’ new app brings adventure to Waco MOLLY ATCHISON Print Managing Editor As a growing research institution, Baylor challenges its students to expand their thinking in order to create new, groundbreaking technology in their field of study. Houston sophomore Chris Nunn is doing just that with the new app, Town Trotter, which is beginning its beta testing phase next week. Town Trotter is an app for smartphones and tablets that will allow businesses and organizations to offer promotions for users who “check in” through the app in a designated place. Checking in across town and completing app-created challenges will allow the user to earn Trotter points, which can be exchanged for coupons or rewards at local businesses. Nunn’s team consists of Brenham junior and co-founder Chris Holle, Dallas freshman Melinda White and Durango, Colo., sophomore Mason Stetler, who work with the marketing and advertising. Holle works with the coding aspect of the program, while Nunn focuses on the business side of the app development. Vol.118 No. 47
“He [Nunn] has been working on this for the past year. It started as a lot of different kind of ideas for apps, but what its developed into is a way to connect users with all sorts of activities and restaurants, stuff like parks and other activities in Waco and beyond,” Stetler said. The current target audience for the app is Baylor students, but eventually, the group would like to expand to other universities and the general population. “I think a phrase that you hear a lot at Baylor, and from incoming freshmen too, is that compared to cities like Austin and Dallas where there’s a lot bigger metropolitan area, many people say ‘what’s there to do in Waco?’” White said. “Waco’s so small, and there’s a lot of growth here, and I think that Town Trotter is trying to open the eyes of incoming freshmen and Baylor students and let them know that Waco’s great too, and this app will definitely help that.” Nunn formed the idea to create Town Trotter after evaluating several similar apps and finding that they were lacking an interactive aspect he felt was necessary to keep consumers enticed.
MJ Routh | Multimedia Journalist
TEAM EFFORT Durango, Colo., sophomore Mason Stetler, Houston sophomore Chris Nunn, Hutto sophomore Kendall Shepherd, Brenham junior Chris Holle and Dallas freshman Melinda White created Town Trotter together.
“There’s a lot of apps that give you points or coupons, but what we found with them is that they don’t stay fresh,” Nunn said. “I can’t go
challenge my friend on pocket points, and so this will hopefully fill that need, so that every time you tap on Town Trotter you’ll find something
new to do and to be involved with.” Unlike other point-based apps,
APP >> Page 4 © 2018 Baylor University
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Wednesday, April 4, 2018 The Baylor Lariat
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EDITORIAL
Rewon Shimray | Cartoonist
Warehouse workers deserve better Amazon’s “working for Amazon” tab on its website boasts about employees who bring their dogs or their kayak to work and how great their “urban campus” amenities are in their downtown Seattle headquarters. What they don’t boast about is how hard their warehouse employees work. If you ask the average person what they think of Amazon, the response will most likely be positive. After all, it offers a convenient service to quickly purchase whatever the heart desires. But few will consider the human cost associated with fast shipping times and low prices. Tech companies that preach good working conditions for their corporate employees need to have the same stance when it comes to their warehouse workers. The New York Times called Amazon’s treatment of warehouse employees “an experiment in how far it can push blue-collar workers to get them to achieve its ever-expanding ambitions.”
The New York Times also reported that in Amazon warehouses, employees are monitored by electronic systems to ensure they are packing enough boxes every hour. Amazon was criticized in 2011 when workers in an eastern Pennsylvania warehouse labored in above 100-degree heat with ambulances waiting outside, taking workers away as they collapsed. After an investigation by the local newspaper, the company finally installed air-conditioning. The Huffington Post article “The Life and Death of an Amazon Warehouse Temp” tells the story of Jeff Lockhart Jr., a 29-yearold father of three who collapsed during his shift at an Amazon warehouse in Pennsylvania in 2013 and died later that evening. His story reveals the harsh working conditions, including timed bathroom breaks, unhealthy quotas and unrealistic working hours – in Lockhart’s case, sometimes upwards of 80 hours per week. This sort of treatment to blue-collar workers is unacceptable
always; it is even more unacceptable when we know the company is capable of treating employees well in other settings. On the opposite extremes companies like Amazon, Google or Facebook treat their corporate employees like royalty – making sure their corporate offices are fully stocked with plenty of food options free of charge, napping stations, swimming pools, free haircuts, free childcare, and even a ball pit for employees to relieve stress in Google’s case. The same standards and workplace philosophies should be implemented across the board at companies. Warehouse employees should be treated with the same respect and care as corporate employees when it comes to their day-to-day working conditions. As consumers, we should consider the ethics of the companies before spending our money.
COLUMN
Baylor should work to fix major inequality on campus RIDER FARRIS Reporter
Baylor offers a wide array of majors and concentrations for students to choose from. Options are endless, and students are encouraged to branch out and explore things that interest them. However, it seems that some majors offer certain perks that verge on being unfair. While some of these unbalanced perks can be explained away with a little bit of research and logic, a great majority of them reveal a core issue that exists on Baylor’s campus today. Having a double major of economics and journalism enables me to see some of the differences between Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation and Castellaw Communication Center, as well as some of the other buildings across campus. While both of my majors and their assigned buildings have some of their own unique and interesting assets, the business school seems to have a few that differ from the rest. For starters, business students are given
a higher PawPrints printing allowance per semester. This is partially due to the fact that each department has its own printing budget. Although this may initially be seen as a perk for students enrolled in business classes, this is an unfair toll placed upon business students. All students enrolled in business classes are required to pay a $25 HSB Electronic Resources fee each semester, of which $21 goes to excess PawPrints printing dollars. In my four years at Baylor, I have never once even come close to needing this extra $21 in PawPrints. It is a complete waste of money.
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Although differences between majors exist, Baylor should take strides to minimize unfair disparities.”
Meet the Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Bailey Brammer*
SPORTS EDITOR Nathan Keil
PRINT MANAGING EDITOR Molly Atchison*
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Jessica Hubble
DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR Didi Martinez
OPINION EDITOR McKenna Middleton*
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Kaitlyn DeHaven
CARTOONIST Rewon Shimray*
NEWS EDITOR Kalyn Story*
STAFF WRITERS Julia Vergara Micaela Freeman Thomas Moran
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Adam Gibson DESIGN EDITOR Penelope Shirey
SPORTS WRITERS Ben Everett Max Calderone
COPY EDITOR Brooke Hill
COLUMNIST Collin Bryant*
ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Meredith Wagner
BROADCAST MANAGING EDITOR Christina Soto
BROADCAST REPORTERS Elisabeth Tharp Rylee Seavers Meredith Aldis Branson Hardcastle MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISTS Baylee VerSteeg Josh Aguirre MJ Routh Ryan Barrett AD REPRESENTATIVES Josh Whitney Evan Hurley Sheree Zou Quinn Stowell MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE Luke Kissick Caden Bell DELIVERY DRIVERS Cayden Orred Alexis Whiteford
Additionally, the required HSB resource fee is essentially a payment to be able to use the computer lab on the second floor of Foster, which can be used by any student in any major during the day. I’m pretty sure a journalism major could walk into Foster at 2 p.m. on a Thursday, sit down in the computer lab and work until the building closed with absolutely no repercussions. The HSB resource fee is an unnecessary toll. Business students, however, are lucky to be able to use the popular team study rooms located throughout Foster whenever they choose. This is an awesome tool that many business majors take advantage of on a regular basis. However, it is unfair to other majors that do not have similar accommodations. Now, I understand that the Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation was constructed due to a generous gift from Foster himself, and that the study rooms are located within the business school for business students alone, but Baylor should be actively working to provide similar accommodations to all of its majors. Everyone else has to fight for the shabby study rooms in Moody Memorial Library that are always taken. Political science students should have access to similar resources in Draper Academic Building, and science majors
should have similar perks in the Baylor Sciences Building. All majors should be given an equal playing field regarding academic resources. The various majors are treated unfairly yet again when it comes to the building hours of the buildings designating for certain areas of academic study. For example, Monday through Friday, Foster is open until 11:30 p.m. for business students. But the Baylor Sciences Building is only open until 10 p.m. This inconsistent access to your academic home base means that some students may not be allowed extra time in their buildings. Studying in a familiar environment can also help the effectiveness of your studying. Many people also feel extremely comfortable in their designated building and would simply enjoy the ability to have extended access to it. Although differences between majors exist, Baylor should take strides to minimize unfair disparities. All students should be given the same number of PawPrints. All students should be given equal access to team study rooms. Departments should also survey their students to find out how late thier buildings should stay open. Rider Farris is a journalism and economics double major from San Marcos.
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Wednesday, April 4, 2018 The Baylor Lariat
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BU professors work on pioneering cancer research THOMAS MORAN Staff Writer Baylor professors Dr. Mary Lynn Trawick and Dr. Kevin Pinney joined efforts in their cancer research studies. The two scientists and their laboratory staffs have made valuable contributions to cancer research using fascinating techniques. Pinney began teaching at Baylor in 1993 and has been working on cancer research since then. Trawick has been conducting research since her graduate education and began focusing on cancer research when she and Pinney collaborated in 2000. The two labs are working together on projects involving the vascularization of tumors, Pinney said. For tumors to grow, they need sufficient blood flow and, if that blood flow is inhibited, the cancer cells are weakened or die because they receive no nutrients or oxygen. “We are interested in molecules that inhibit the tubulin and microtubule protein systems,” Pinney said. “Molecules that interfere with that protein system then can play a role in shutting down cell division. If you think about cancer, one of the trademarks of cancer is rapid replication of cells. So, if you could shut down that cell division, that would
be a promising approach ... We have some agents that do that really effectively.” Cancerous tumors are relatively easy to regulate if caught early, Pinney said. It becomes more difficult when they begin to metastasize and spread around the body.
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If you think about cancer, one of the trademarks of cancer is rapid replication of cells. So, if you could shut down that cell division, that would be a promising approach. KEVIN PINNEY | CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR
Pinney and his lab are more involved in the development of the medicinal compounds,
or “vascular disrupting agents,” that enter the tumor and work to deteriorate the vascularization of the tissues. Trawick’s lab assists with designing the compounds and focuses on the biochemical and biological components of the research through testing live specimens. “In the Pinney lab, they are involved in medicinal chemistry and synthetic chemistry,” Trawick said. “They synthesized some very potent compounds. In my lab, we are very interested in biochemistry and cell biology. So we do an evaluation of these compounds and evaluate them in cells. Through additional collaborators, we evaluate these compounds in vivo, in animals and in mice.” One problem the two labs are working to solve is that the medicinal compounds degrade normal healthy tissue and vasculature, Pinney said. The challenge is to disrupt only the vasculature of the tumor. The two are collaborating with Dr. Ralph Mason at the University of Texas Southwestern to test the agents that the Baylor-based labs develop. They utilize live mice to evaluate the compounds and their effectiveness on disrupting the vasculature of tumors. Mason’s lab took human cancer cells and made them
Jessica Hubble | Multimedia Editor
COLLABORATION Kevin Pinney, faculty ombudsman and professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and Mary Trawick, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, united their cancer research study efforts to better make contributions to cancer research.
into “cancer cell lines” that could be propagated in mice, Trawick said. They then transfected them with firefly enzymes. As a result, the lab has mice with human tumors. When the tumors have sufficient vascularization, they glow with the bioluminescence of fireflies. Likewise, when the agents developed by Pinney
funding from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas. That funded work is crucial for Trawick’s research and Trawick’s team is closely connected to Mason’s at UT Southwestern. “We don’t work in any kind of void or vacuum.” Pinney said. “It’s a big collaborative project.”
Bear Briefs
VISAS from Page 1 Baylor enrollment includes students from 86 different foreign countries. The university receives the most international students from China than from any other nation, according to College Factual. Dr. Mark Bryant, director of international student and scholar services, said international students from China are valuable to the university. “Chinese students add much to the university including their world perspective, cultural traditions, personal experiences and their contributions to academic life at Baylor,” Bryant said in an email interview. “We are a richer and stronger institution because they as well as other international students have chosen to be a part of our community.” Guangzhou, China, senior Nicole Wang believes that if the Trump administration attempts to restrict student visas, Chinese students may look to study in other nations. “These students are contributing to the university’s infrastructure ... So it would be helpful for them to see that they are valued by the university. And I think Baylor does a great job,” Wang said. “Our mission statement includes ‘cultivating worldwide leadership.’” Wang has recently been hired by Baylor’s Office of Student Employment, where she hopes to help international students find
and Trawick are effective, the tumor is poorly vascularized and will not glow as much. Trawick and Pinney have several individual projects going in their research labs, as well. Cancer research requires cooperation between Baylor labs and outside groups. Pinney’s research receives
Panel to discuss psychology career options Baylor Office of Career & Professional Development will host a Psychology Alumni Career Panel at 5 p.m. Thursday in the Baylor Sciences Building, room D 109. Students will learn about the varying career opportunities psychology has to offer and will hear from alumni who have pursued careers in social work, counseling and human resources. For additional information, please contact Desiree_Foley@baylor.edu.
Corrie Coleman | Reporter
VALUABLE Guangzhou, China senior Nicole Wang said Baylor does a great job of making international students feel valued by the university.
opportunities in the United States after graduation. She believes that students from other countries are essential to the United States’ economy. “International students are contributing to the economy and they are creating jobs,” Wang said. “I hope there are more universities that are willing to offer more opportunities for international students to continue their careers in the United States.”
International students bring valuable experiences and knowledge to Baylor, Wang said. “I think [international students] will be really helpful as Baylor becomes more of a global university,” Wang said. “You get to learn about their language and you get to learn about … all of the advantages that you took for granted and you get to understand how to better communicate.”
Exhibit spotlights sexual assault survivors’ stories The “What Were You Wearing,Waco?” exhibit is opening in Downtown Waco at Cultivate 7twelve on April 6 as a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The exhibit features twenty sets of clothing with stories from sexual assault survivors who were wearing similar clothing when they were assaulted. The exhibit will be open from 4:00 p.m. to midnight, April 7-15 and will move to Baylor’s Campus from April 16-26. Ceremony commemorates MLK Baylor University, the Waco NAACP, and the Waco Community Race Relations Coalition will host “The Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4 in the Powell Chapel of Truett Seminary. The event is designed to be a community reconciliation service to commemorate MLK’s life and the 50th anniversary of his assassination. Refreshments will be served 30 minutes before the event. Parking will be available at the Dutton Avenue Parking Facility.
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Wednesday, April 4, 2018 The Baylor Lariat
News
PRESIDENT from Page 1 105 recommendations, Baylor’s warning sanction was lifted by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in December 2017. Livingstone said that Baylor continues to ensure the recommendations “are embedded in our culture and we have a safe and secure environment for our students.” Interactive Leadership Student Body President Amye Dickerson said students were unsure of what the relationship with the president would be when Livingstone was announced. Dickerson said she thinks Livingstone “has done an incredible job connecting with out students.” “You always see her and her husband Brad around campus, at the basketball games, at the football games, walking their dog Bu around campus, and also being present in a lot of the events that takes place. It seems like they’re always in multiple places at once,” Dickerson said. “That’s been really great to see them connect, not only with our freshman students, but with our senior students as well as our alumni and other constituent faces.” Livingstone said that students have warmly embraced her and her husband Brad as they have try to be present in many different areas on campus. She said engaging with students has been the biggest source of joy to her and her husband during her time at Baylor. Dickerson said Livingstone’s presence on campus has helped students feel “that they can come up and talk to her and talk to other leaders within our university and see that they are very much a part of the university and want to be there for
the students while also shaping what the future looks like for our student body.”
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When I first got here, it was clear that because of what the university had been through, it was important that we communicate a lot, that we begin to tell the positive stories at Baylor. LINDA LIVINGSTONE | BAYLOR PRESIDENT
Livingstone has also initiated more open communication with the Baylor community through a weekly email called Presidential Perspective, which summarizes events on campus, ongoing research, and other general announcements. Livingstone said the idea came from a combined effort between herself, Jason Cook, vice president for marketing and communications and chief marketing
officer, and others. Dickerson said the emails were an answer to “a rallying call for the university” for transparency. “When I first got here, it was clear that because of what the university had been through, it was important that we communicate a lot, that we begin to tell the positive stories at Baylor,” Livingstone said. “There had been so much negativity for so long, and we sort of needed to recapture the spirit of Baylor and tell our story and own telling our story.” Livingstone said she viewed the platform as a “way to highlight the really good things going on at campus and to tell our story in a different way, in a bit of a more informal narrative.” She also said she has received emails back from faculty, staff and students with pictures and stories of how they are “bright lights.” Search Process In the university president search, a 12-member committee was formed and announced in September. The community was able to speak into the process through individual input forms, over 700 of which were submitted. During October and November, the Presidential Search Committee held external listening sessions around Arlington, Dallas, Houston, Waco, San Antonio, Austin where people were invited to share their thoughts about the personal and professional qualities Baylor’s next president should possess. Dixon, who served as vice chair of the presidential search committee, said listening session attendees were enthusiastic and “highly invested in making sure their voices were heard.” Dixon also said that each session went for the entire time it was scheduled. “The ownership people in the
Baylor community feel to Baylor is very unique to Baylor. People have a desire to stay connected and speak into, what they like to call, their Baylor,” Dixon said.
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The ownership people in the Baylor community feel to Baylor is very unique to Baylor. People have a desire to stay connected and speak into, what they like to call, their Baylor. DR. ANDREA DIXON | FACULTY REGENT
Every sessions was summarized into a seven or eight page document of single-spaced notes by a member of the presidential search committee that was then uploaded. “We were able to use that kind of data to create a very, very rich profile that became part of public record
APP from Page 1 Town Trotter does not simply revolve around setting a GPS location and letting points accrue. With Town Trotter, users complete challenges in order to earn points. Some are simple, such as getting coffee from three coffee shops in town over the course of two weeks, and others are more difficult — like finding all of the monuments in Cameron Park and taking photos of them. The time span for point collection ranges from two weeks to three months, and there are a multitude of categories to choose from. “We have a wide variety. We have classic restaurants like Health Camp and Fuego, and we also have some random ones like Waco Escape Rooms and Waco Pedal Tours,” Nunn said. “Yelp exists, so people can find fun restaurants, but we also wanted to include fun things for people to do.” The categories for challenges include drinks, museums, outdoors, entertainment, road trips, local restaurants, shopping, nightlife, workout and volunteer opportunities. “So basically you might get a challenge that says ‘go to three coffee shops in the next two weeks, and get double points on all of the places’ or ‘volunteer this week’ and you can get bonus points for doing that,” Nunn said. “We
just started one called the Weekend Warrior with Refit where you can get up, go get coffee and then go to a 10 a.m. workout with them; it gives people ideas to do, and it gets them competitive through the leaderboard. It’s something that makes you want the Trotter points and also gives you fun stuff to do and keeps you engaged.” The process of creating an app, however, is much more involved than Nunn anticipated and has taken about a year to come to fruition. “It started out over the summer, I didn’t know how to code so I had to figure out where to start,” Nunn said. “I created an LLC in the state
of Texas in July, and after that I sent out LinkedIn and Facebook posts saying ‘Hey, I’m looking for someone to code an app for me,’ and Chris Holle Facebook messaged me and we chatted for a few weeks, got the idea going, decided what we were going to do, and we met in August.” Since meeting up with Holle, the pair has been working nonstop, reaching out to development companies all over the world searching for one that they felt fit their needs the best, and also reaching out to local business owners to try and get them on board with the concept. Nunn said the beta test was offered for free for local businesses, so it
(254) 754-1436
was easier than normal to get business owners on board with the test. If all goes according to plan, the beta test is set to start at the latest on April 9 and will include some Waco favorites in its list of options.
of what we were looking for. That was actually information that was contained in the document that went out to prospective candidates,” Dixon said. There were also internal listening sessions with faculty, staff administrators and students. Dickerson, who attended a few internal listening sessions, said she perceived a “sense of vibrancy where there was hope, there was excitement for who that next person would be and what impact they would have on the student body and on Baylor.” Outreach began in December and in February, 400 candidates were narrowed down to 61 finalists. They announced Livingstone’s selection in April. “I can tell you very, very distinctly, from the process of helping craft a profile to sitting on all the interviews to now watching her in action as a faculty member of the university, that she is the person God called to Baylor for this role,” Dixon said. Darden conducted her dissertation on the changeable attributes of women presidents of American fouryear colleges and universities that contribute to their success. Among the found characteristics of risktaking, experience, collaboration, communication and vision, Livingstone holds all of the keys to a successful presidency, according to Landon. “I think Baylor holds a special place in higher education, so for me to be able to come back to provide leadership at a university whose mission I believe in deeply, where there are people I know well and know are deeply committed to moving the university forward, it was just a tremendous opportunity for me and my family,” Livingstone said.
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All life is change, and if you can’t adapt to change, you’re not going to do very well.” Rod Davis | Author and Journalist
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MARVELous
An in-depth look at some of your favorite flicks, Part IV
MOLLY ATCHISON Print Managing Editor Following the recent release of Marvel’s “Black Panther” and in anticipation of the upcoming “Avengers: Infinity War” release, it is the perfect time to revisit the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Over the next 6 weeks, leading up to the May release of the longawaited “Infinity War,” I will be breaking down a group of movies in the MCU based off Digg.com’s Best Way to Watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe list. So sit down, grab your popcorn and your reading glasses, and prepare to have your Marvel-loving minds blown. This week, we’re continuing an intergalactic journey with “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” and then returning to earth to revisit old friends and new enemies in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” After that, we round out phase two with the second Avengers movie, where violence takes on a new meaning and millions of lives hang in the balance. As we move further into the series, the stakes grow higher, and our heroes face more challenges on personal and national fronts. Stay tuned to find out about the dramatic end of phase two.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017):
In the last article, we were introduced to the Guardians of the Galaxy crew, and we watched as they channeled an infinity stone, defeated their villain and displayed new avenues for the Avengers to explore as they approach the infinity stones. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” embarks on a more personal mission, in which some stunning revelations are unveiled for Peter Quill and the gang.
Series Relevance: This Guardians movie brings personal struggle to the stage, increasing character development and offering an amazing plot twist, in addition to suggesting a connection between the Guardians and the rest of the world. However, like the first movie, the Guardians Vol. 2 lacked the connectivity to the rest of the series that other movies did, instead staying close to the original, opting for no crossover in characters, filming or concepts.The only content that was carried over from the rest of the Avengers films was the infinity stone storyline, for which we were offered some answers. How Peter Quill was able to hold onto the infinity stone for so long without dissolving almost immediately like others had was a confusing plot hole in the first movie. The answer, viewers found in the second movie, was that Quill is the son of a powerful being called Ego, who described himself as a celestial. With this in mind, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is essentially adding another god to the mix and opening up plenty of doors for exploration into future handling of the infinity stones. The biggest plot hole we are left with after the Guardians Vol. 2 involves how earthlings treated Ego’s partial invasion, and how that will be used when the MCU decides to bring the Guardians and the Avengers together. Entertainment Value: Like the last Guardians movie, this film was a bit of a diversion from the rest of the MCU, but the continued use of strong comedic undertones and the brilliant and bright coloration in filming seems to be a distinguishing factor that the directors decided was worth pursuing once again. For those who are able to separate the Guardians from the rest of the MCU and appreciate it for its incredible CGI and hilarious characters, Vol. 2 definitely delivered. However, skeptics are correct in its discontinuity, including the fact that the characters,
while becoming much more likable in the sequel, are still not even remotely relatable to the audience. The Guardians provide entertainment, and the movies are incredibly well made, but they do not offer much for Marvel die-hards who are looking for a continuation of the series they know and love. Cultural/Political Value: Although there are not many relevant cultural references, as the film relies greatly on nostalgic and dated humor, there is an underlying tone in this film about belonging, and more importantly, finding out who your family is. During Quill’s interactions with his birth father, he determines that finding your birth family does not always mean they are what you want or need them to be (especially because his dad has lessthan-honorable intentions). This may resonate with some, and the MCU did a wonderful job of supplementing this message through reconciliation between Quill and his caregiver, Yondu, who makes a fatherly sacrifice to help Quill and the Guardians escape a harrowing situation. While Guardians Vol. 2 is still not the most relatable movie in the world, it’s definitely not lacking in cultural value as much as others.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014):
Moving forward (or backward, in terms of release dates) we next look at Captain America’s journey since he woke up from the Biofreeze coma and was hurled into the 21st century fairly unceremoniously. Series Relevance: This movie brings Captain America into the 21st century, where Cap plays a greater role than simply the leader of the Avengers. Cap is reaffirmed as a moral compass
MARVEL >> Page 6
Caritas celebrates 51 years of service with annual Feast of Caring JP GRAHAM Reporter Caritas Waco, a nonprofit organization that provides food, clothing and miscellaneous goods to the Waco community, celebrated 51 years of service with its annual “Feast of Caring” Tuesday at the Waco Convention Center. The event featured local restaurants in a soup cook-off and a dessert cook-off, in addition to silent and audible auctions for various prizes. The Feast of Caring is Caritas’ major fundraising event of the year. The “Soup Cook-Off,” the main event of the night, featured local restaurants and caterers who prepared choice soups for those in attendance. Guests could make a $1 donation to vote for their favorite soup, and the highest number of donations determined the “People’s Favorite Soup,” which was Barnett’s Public House. “Judge’s Favorite Soup,” however, was First Methodist Church of Waco. The donations supported Caritas’ work in the Waco community. The “Dessert Cook-Off ” followed the same format as the Soup Cook-Off, for which guests voted for their favorite dessert, and all donations benefited Caritas and their services. Patti’s Kitchen reigned victorious in the “People’s Favorite Dessert” category Tuesday night, and “SweeTXpressions” took home the award for “Judge’s Favorite Dessert.” The Souper Spoons game was another featured activity at the event, where participants paid $10 to enter for the chance to win gift cards ranging from $10 to $180. Everyone who entered was
guaranteed to win at least a $10 gift card. Development director for Caritas and Feast of Caring coordinator Ann Owen said the Feast of Caring event helps support Caritas throughout the year, as they are an organization that relies on the support of the Waco community. “Funds raised at the event are used to provide services to our clients,” Owen said. “We serve an average of 2,500 families per month, so we rely heavily on our community to support our work.” Caritas was founded in 1967 by the Austin Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church but has functioned as an independent organization since 1979. In 2014, Caritas implemented its “Case Management Program,” which helped shift the nature of their work from being described as “relief ” to “development.” This means Caritas shifted their focus from direct giving to the community, which sometimes created a reliance on assistance, to promoting independence and self-reliance in the lives of qualified recipients. Caritas operates two self-sustaining thrift stores called “Hidden Treasures,” located at 3016 Bellmead Drive and 3912 Bosque Blvd. Hidden Treasures sells various donated appliances, furniture, clothing and other household items. The revenue created by each of the stores funds the Caritas Emergency Assistance programs. Caritas has listed volunteer opportunities on their website, along with a “Current Needs,” list if one prefers to get involved immediately.
Photo Courtesy of Caritas Waco
DESSERT FIRST Nancy Grayson, owner of Lula Jane’s Bakery located at 406 Elm Ave. just across the river from downtown Waco. Grayson smiles with the french silk pies she created for the “Dessert-Off” at the Caritas Feast of Caring event Tuesday night.
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Arts & Life
Award-winning journalist, author to visit Baylor CAROLINE HANCOCK Contributor Award-winning journalist and novelist Rod Davis says individuals have to be ready to embrace change, be adaptable and work hard, regardless of the career path they intend to follow. “All life is change, and if you can’t adapt to change, you’re not going to do very well because it never stays the same,” Davis said. “Always stay very adaptive and keep up-to-date.” Davis, who has written for national publications and been published in various anthologies, will visit Baylor on Thursday to talk to students about his career, which includes stints as a reporter and editor for newspapers and magazines including The Boston Globe Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Texas Monthly, Texas Observer and Bon Appétit. During his time as a writer and an editor, Davis witnessed firsthand the fast paced and ever-changing nature of journalism and other areas of life. Davis’ lecture, “Ronin Life: Journalism’s Path to Excellent Adventure,” will focus on the importance of communication and adaptability both in life and the work force. The lecture will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Castellaw 245 and again at 5 p.m. Thursday in Castellaw 252. The Bundle, a student-run multimedia magazine, will also host Davis from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Thursday in Castellaw 252 for their ongoing Coffee Series. Dr. Sara Stone, Baylor University Journalism, Public Relations and New Media department chair, said the Baylor community is fortunate to have Davis visit and speak with students. “He is a consummate communicator — an excellent writer and editor. He has won awards for his feature writing, investigative reporting and non-fiction work,” Stone said. “Oftentimes, very busy and excellent writers don’t particularly want to make time in their busy lives to work with students. That is not true of Rod Davis, and we could not be more pleased to have him on campus.” Davis said, like many other professions, communication is crucial in the field of journalism. “Any job you’ll enter, whether it’s sciences — it could be computer stuff, it could be social services — you better be ready to communicate your ideas effectively, sometimes forcefully, if you believe in what you’re doing,” Davis said. “I think that
Photo Courtesy of Rod Davis
PUBLISHED Rod Davis has been published in various anthologies and written, reported and edited for multiple national publications. Davis is scheduled to give a leacture Thursday at Castellaw Communications Center.
communication is an important part of everything anybody does.” Davis has traveled extensively chasing after stories. Davis said venturing outside of one’s comfort zone makes individuals more aware of the world around them and provides new perspectives. “You do find new ideas and new ways of the world that you hadn’t really thought about in a little safe space,” Davis said. “I think that’s what travel brings to people. It definitely gives you a new insight.” Maxey Parrish, Baylor senior lecturer of public relations and founding director of Baylor in Budapest, also emphasized the
importance of travel. Parrish has directed numerous student mission trips and study abroad programs including Baylor in Maastricht, Baylor in Florence and Baylor in Budapest. Parrish said traveling provides an opportunity to encounter and interact with different cultures, which requires adaptability and a willingness to embrace change, synonymous with Davis’ views on travel. “If you embrace these cultures in a non-judgmental way, you inevitably get to know them,” Parrish said. “This not only gives you insight into a new culture, which in today’s interconnected world is essential, it helps you better understand your own.”
the only one, then so be it. But I’m willing to bet I’m not.” Cap’s words ring true in many ways, and the concept was incredibly well-received by the audience. The filmmakers played on Captain America’s patriotic narrative to make a political statement, and it definitely worked in their favor this time.
looking at the growing rift between the Avengers team, the struggle for leadership and the persistence of different goals. But it didn’t feel conclusive enough, leaving many to wonder what exactly was supposed to happen next. Entertainment Value: Despite the lack of continuity and the convoluted conflict, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” was plenty entertainmening. The filming was dynamic and interesting, and the introduction of new characters sparked interest in new arc possibilities. However, the filming, much like that of the Thor movies and Iron Man 3, was far too dark, and made it even more difficult to determine what was happening. The movie lacked coherence, but it made up for it with comedic relief from the growing rivalry between Thor and the Hulk. Simply put: the film was interesting, but not dynamic enough to rank in the top MCU films. Cultural/Political Value: Much like the other Avengers movie, there was a clear lack of cultural or political value. This is understandable, as the capstone film isn’t meant to portray a specific message, but rather to offer viewers a conclusion to one phase and a gateway into the next. The film touched on a few different concepts, including the overreach of “superior” countries into that of smaller, more centralized countries, and the resulting consequences. It also touched on internal political conflict, including a rift in several mentalities regarding leadership and interaction with outside organizations, but the message was not nearly as clear as in other films.
MARVEL from Page 5 for the S.H.I.E.L.D. agency (as well as the Avengers initiative), and he grows into a new role and a new world through a serious crisis. The emergence of a new villain with a connection to Cap’s old life, in addition to the corruption of the agency he thought was helping him, throws our hero into a tailspin. However, the way he handles it, dismantling the entire organization responsible for organizing the Avengers initiative and saving the life of the villain he thought he would have to kill, ties nicely into the series as we close out phase two. The upheaval present in this movie is a great setup for the lack of organization we will see in the second Avengers movie, and the little scene at the end includes a teaser that will be essential to the second Avengers movie. Entertainment Value: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” continues the soft, humorous undertones of the first, and though it is a dark film, the use of light and more outdoor scenes make it much easier to take in. The movie also offers a larger role for Scarlett Johansson’s character, Black Widow. Being the small team Cap is left with in this film, Black Widow and S.H.I.E.L.D.’s coordinator, Nick Fury (played by Samuel L. Jackson), offer a new dynamic, helping the viewer better understand the Avengers team as a whole. While it’s a very entertaining movie topically, the plot is slightly too deep to be accurately covered in a two and a half hour movie. If the filmmakers had chosen to pursue at least one of the subplots more deeply, it would have been much less confusing for people who aren’t well-versed in the MCU. Cultural/Political Value: This film has a mountain of political undertones, all of which connect to the theme of corruption in government. Captain America, literally named a hero for the American people, is tasked with righting the wrongs of a government organization. Cap not only organizes a resistance, but also stands as a reminder of a “simpler time” both for himself, and for America. He presents a crisis of freedom and instigates an uprising among the people, stating, “The price of freedom is high. It always has been. And it’s a price I’m willing to pay. And if I’m
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2014):
Finally, we wrap up the second phase of the Avengers arc with the second Avengers film, “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Like many sequels, this one wasn’t nearly as well received as the first Avengers, and that was because of a slightly confusing plot. Still, the “Avengers: Age of Ultron” was a film to be reckoned with, setting up viewers for an even more tumultuous third phase. Series Relevance: As capstones for the Phases, and as a culmination of the individual storylines found in each respective Marvel movie, the Avengers films include some of the most relevant plots in the series. Bringing characters together at varying points in their character developments, the “Avengers: Age of Ultron” had large shoes to fill. Unfortunately, the film struggled to do so. The confusing plot, complete with a self-created villain and randomly introduced characters such as the Maximoff twins, lacked the level of completion necessary to show any sort of continuity within the running series. It seemed like a divergence from the series as a whole, rather than the ending to a phase. The film lacked localization, taking place in several different locations and relying on international backgrounds as opposed to a central base of operations (such as the newly created Avengers Headquarters). It also proved the point that a super villain is always better when it is not self-created. The film’s downfall was twofold: attempting to create an internalized conflict of morality within the villain, and the effects of creating an uncontrollable power on an international scale. The film did offer a sneak peek into the direction of the series,
Moving into perhaps the most dramatic phase of the MCU, we will soon see the introduction of several new Avengers, the complete divide of the Avengers unit and even more death and destruction as we approach the much awaited “Avengers: Infinity War.” Tune in next week to find out what will be revealed in phase three.
INTELLIGENT LIFE Right A comic strip featured weekly on our pages. >>
CROSSWORD PUZZLE Below Also featured on each issue of the Lariat is our weekly crossword puzzle. Answers can be found under “Puzzle Solutions” under the drop-down Arts & Life tab at baylorlariat.com.
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SPORTS TAKE
Women’s tournament delivers best basketball NATHAN KEIL Sports Editor The calendar has now flipped from March to April, and college basketball season is officially over. But as sports fans, we shouldn’t be too sad about it coming to an end. The MLB season just started last week and the NBA playoffs are right around the corner. The Masters begins on Thursday and the Kentucky Derby is less than a month away. And for those who cannot get enough of their football, the NFL Draft is just a few weeks down the road. But as we say goodbye to college basketball until November, let’s celebrate the incredible month of basketball that it was. We witnessed the first 16-seed over a No. 1 seed upset in the University of Baltimore-College over Virginia. We followed Loyola-Chicago’s Cinderella run all the way to the Final Four, upsetting four higher seeds along the way. We saw the blue bloods — Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State, North Carolina and Kansas all eventually fizzle out. We saw Villanova put together one of the most impressive runs to the National Championship in recent memory, their second in three years, winning each game by double digits. But as great as it was to follow these stories and witness these events in the men’s NCAA Tournament, it all failed in comparison to what we witnessed in the women’s NCAA Tournament — specifically, the Final Four and National Championship games. But before I address the beautiful, competitive excellence displayed by all four teams—Connecticut, Notre Dame, Mississippi State and Louisville — I would be remiss if I did not mention some of the great games along the way. One of the knocks on women’s college basketball is there isn’t the parity that there is on the men’s game. Most of the higher seeds are the higher seeds for a reason and the results usually follow suit. But things have started to change in recent years. This was a great year to see that as two 11-seeds, a 12seed, two 10-seeds all advance out of the first round. No. 12 Florida Gulf Coast upset No. 5 Missouri, Minnesota and Virginia won on the 10-line while two teams out of the Mid-American Conference, Buffalo and Central Michigan, advanced all the way to the Sweet Sixteen. Buffalo took care of a pair of Florida schools in South Florida and Florida State while Central Michigan knocked out LSU and Ohio State, and both did so in dominating fashion with Buffalo posting a 21-point win over the Seminoles and Central Michigan posting a 17-point win over the Buckeyes. Having spent most of my youth in the Midwest with friends attending other schools in this conference, it was not only personally rewarding to see these schools turn the often straightforward tournament bracket on its head, but was also great for the sport itself. But now onto the main course — the Final Four. For those who went out of town or were busy during the weekend, it was understandable, but it was also tragic
Jessica Hubble | Multimedia Editor
EYE ON THE PRIZE Sophomore catcher and first baseman Shea Langeliers runs to the plate in Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over Lamar.
Strong bullpen backs Baylor baseball’s 2-1 victory over Lamar MAX CALDERONE Sports Writer Two runs were just enough for the Baylor baseball team as the Bears squeaked out a 2-1 victory over Lamar Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark. Baylor (14-13) came into the ballgame having lost five of its last seven contests, but was able to snap the cold streak behind a solid start from freshman lefty Tyler Thomas and five innings of scoreless relief from the bullpen. Junior right-hander Kyle Hill gave the Bears three innings of relief, allowing
TOURNAMENT >> Page 8
just two hits and striking out three Lamar batters in his 11th appearance of the season. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Ryan Leckich got two outs before turning the ball over to All-American senior closer Troy Montemayor, who recorded his seventh save of the season. Head coach Steve Rodriguez said he was pleased with the effort from the bullpen, especially after a heavy workload in the weekend series at Oklahoma. “Our bullpen has been really worked, they need a little break,” Rodriguez said. “But I thought our bullpen did a great job in stepping up and really competing the
way they did, being able to come through these past two days like they have, I’ve been really happy with it.” Lamar (6-23) got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning with three consecutive hits that all came with two outs. It was a single from sophomore center fielder Cole Girouard that brought home freshman designated hitter Logan LeJeune, putting the Cardinals ahead 1-0. Lamar’s senior right-handed starting pitcher Jace Campbell breezed through the Bears lineup up until the sixth inning, when a dropped third strike and error on freshman catcher Rhett McCall allowed
BASEBALL >> Page 8
Lecomte represents Baylor, Big 12 in 3-on-3 tourney BEN EVERETT Sports Writer While the rest of the college basketball world was focused on the Final Four over the weekend, Baylor men’s basketball senior guard Manu Lecomte laced up collegiately one last time to compete in the inaugural 3X3U National Championships in San Antonio.The event, held at St. Mary’s University, consisted of 32 Division I Conference teams of senior college basketball players competing against each other in 3-on-3 half court basketball games played to 21 points. Each player was nominated by the 3X3U selection committee, composed of college basketball media members from various outlets and organizations.
Lecomte, Iowa State guard Donovan Jackson, Oklahoma State guard Kendall Smith and Texas Tech forward Zach Smith represented the Big 12 Conference at the games. The No. 1-seeded Big 12 squad competed shorthanded, however, as Smith injured his ankle in practice on Thursday. The first two days of the championship consisted of pool play. The Big 12 joined the Southwestern Athletic Conference, the Big Sky Conference and the Colonial Athletic Association in Pool 1. On day one, the Big 12 and SWAC opened the event, and while Jackson scored the first points of the entire event, the SWAC came away with the 2111 win. Later in the day, the Big Sky dropped the Big 12
LECOMTE >> Page 8
Baylee VerSteeg | Multimedia Journalist
BRINGING THE HEAT Senior guard Manu Lecomte heads for the basket in Baylor’s 75-50 win over Kansas State on January 20.
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Wednesday, April 4, 2018 The Baylor Lariat
Sports
LECOMTE from Page 7 to 0-2 with a 21-14 victory. To open action on Saturday, the Big 12 faced the CAA with the threat of being knocked out of playoff contention. The CAA dominated, 21-8, to eliminate the Big 12 from playoff contention and end their run at the inaugural 3X3U National Championship. Men’s basketball student manager Drew Mastin attended the event, and, despite the Big 12 team going winless, said it was good to see Lecomte play one more time.
“It was fun being there and seeing him suit up with guys he’s played against the last few years,” Mastin said. The Big 12 players missed out on cash earnings by going 0-3 in the event. Each pool play, quarterfinal and semifinal win paid out $1,000, and the team that won the championship received $50,000. Mastin said the teams received bags of cash when they won, which made for a fun celebration and laid-back environment.
TOURNAMENT from Page 7 “Throwing bags of cash at the teams when they won was really fun to watch,” Mastin said. “The tournament was really well done because they clearly put thought into it without taking themselves too seriously.” The Big 10 team comprised of Ohio State forward Jae’Sean Tate, Purdue forward Vincent Edwards, Minnesota guard Nate Mason and Indiana guard Robert Johnson won the event with a 21-13 championship game win over the Big West.
BASEBALL from Page 7
Jessica Hubble | Multimedia Editor
STARTING OUT STRONG Freshman pitcher Tyler Thomas was the starting pitcher and pitched four total innings in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Lamar.
Baylor’s sophomore catcher Shea Langeliers to reach base with two away in the inning. Sophomore third baseman Davis Wendzel followed up with a sharp knock to center field and sophomore first baseman Andy Thomas walked to load the bases. Freshman outfielder Davion Downey came up with the clutch hit, a two-out, two RBI double that scored Langeliers and Wendzel. The Bears left Thomas and Downey on base to end the inning after a strikeout by junior
outfielder Cole Haring. Downey said his hit was important for Baylor to get on the board and build some confidence heading in to the later innings. “Coming through with the bases loaded and hitting a double to put us up was just huge and got our momentum going from there,” Downey said. The two runs was all the bullpen needed as Hill, Leckich and Montemayor gave up just one hit past the seventh inning on the way to a Bears win.
“Wins are always good. Sometimes you have to take advantage of someone else’s mistakes and that’s what we did tonight,” Rodriguez said. “Little things like that can really propel a team, and that’s what I’m hoping for.” Baylor will head to Austin this weekend for a three game series against Texas. Game one between the Bears and the Longhorns will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, with game two scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday and the series finale set for 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
because the women’s Final Four delivered three of the greatest basketball games I’ve ever seen. For the second straight year, someone has proved that even though Connecticut entered the Final Four with a perfect 36-0, the Huskies were not invincible. Last year, it was Mississippi State guard Morgan William, who delivered the game-winning shot at the buzzer to end UConn’s 111-game winning streak. This year, it was a scrappy and gutsy performance by Notre Dame, who lost four players to ACL injuries this season, and its star guard Arike Ogunbowale. Twice Notre Dame had Connecticut down by five with a hair more than 20 seconds remaining, but couldn’t quite close out the Huskies, resulting in overtime. After it happened again in overtime, Ogunbowale wanted the ball and delivered for the Irish. Dribbling along the wide wing, Ogunbowale took a jab step forward and stepped back and delivered the final blow to the Huskies’ season. The junior then had a Twitter exchange with former Laker Kobe Bryant, saying that it was the greatest moment of her life — little did she know, she wasn’t done yet. In the other semi-final, it was Louisville who ran away from underdog Oregon State to win the Midwest Region and Mississippi State, whose one blemish was a loss to 2017 National Champion South Carolina in the SEC Championship. With the two schools going back and forth, trading blows, it was Roshunda Johnson’s three-pointer with six seconds left in the fourth quarter that tied the game at 59. The game appeared destined for overtime, but Myisha HinesAllen raced down the court and had a look, but was too strong and then Jazmine Jones
had a chance, but couldn’t connect. The result — two overtime games in the Final Four. What more could a fan of not just college basketball, but of all sports ask for? In overtime, Mississippi State prevailed setting up the juggernaut fight with Notre Dame. After coming so close a year ago, Mississippi State was so close it could taste the title. The Bulldogs led 58-53 with two minutes left. But the Fighting Irish still had fight left in them, tying it at 58 with 46 seconds left. The next sequence of events could go down in tournament lore. It started with six-feetseven center Teaira McCowan missing a layup at one end of the floor, but forced an Irish turnover on the defensive end. With the Bulldogs looking in transition, there was an iffy no-foul call at midcourt resulting in an Irish steal. After committing a foul to stop the fast break, Notre Dame drew up a play for Ogunbowale, who then drilled a contested threepointer from the right wing to give Notre Dame its second National Championship in program history. Regardless of who you identify with as a fan, the truth is that the Final Four was intense, competitive and filled with riveting action from start to finish. The women delivered many great March moments, culminating in the Final Four and National Championship game. March was a great month for basketball and there is a lot to look forward to now that it’s over. The men’s tournament was enjoyable, but the women’s tournament and its Final Four and Championship game by far take the cake. So to all 68 teams, who made the field and poured their heart and souls out on the court, thanks for giving the sports world the tournament it wanted and deserved.
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