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FactsSlang
- Basics - Set course load of basic classes that everyone has to take before getting started on classes that actually pertain to your major.
- BSB - Baylor's new state-of-the-art Science Building. It has four floors which house classes ranging from Geology to Leadership Development. It's generally quiet, making the couches on the first floor a great place to study, use a computer, or relax and grab a drink at the Atrium Cafe between classes.
- Fratland - An area on the southeast edge of campus where for several blocks in all directions there is nothing but student housing. Mostly run-down homes built in the 1930s, count on finding wild parties here, because no one really cares if the property is destroyed.
- GhettoHEB - Pronounced “ghettoheeb,” this is the nickname for the HEB grocery store just a few blocks from campus.
- Hankamer High - Nickname for all the business school students since it is such a popular major.
- Lifegroup - Antioch, a local church, sponsors lifegroup meetings during the week that are led by a lifegroup leader. A time for praise, worship, and prayer, it’s big on Baylor because a lot of students attend the church.
- MRS degree - The phenomenon of Baylor girls being engaged before graduation and married shortly after. Referred to as the change from Ms. to Mrs. Also a term used to identify a certain kind of girl.
- Resnet - Campus Internet forum, program, and technicians.
- Rocks for Jocks - A geology class generally considered a “blow-off class” that students take as an elective to boost their GPA.
- SLC - Short for the Student Life Center on campus where all the workout equipment, racquetball courts, Olympic-sized pool, basketball courts, and 50 foot climbing wall are found.
- Stu-fu - Nickname for students who participate in the Student Foundation.
- SUB - Pronounced “sub.” Short for Student Union Building, where the student post office is located along with the student activities council, cafeteria, and Dr Pepper on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- The Tower - The administrative building on the other side of I-35 from campus, where students take care of financial aid, registration and other administrative technicalities. The “tower” is short for Clifton-Robinson Tower. Don’t ever go to the tower expecting to be in-and-out. No matter how together your financial aid package is, something will be lost or incomplete. More than one student has been escorted out of the Tower by security for losing their cool. Don’t fret; you’re not alone.
- Walk - When students “get a walk,” it means a professor either didn’t show up for class and after waiting the requisite 10 minutes the students leave, or that the professor schedules a walk, telling students in advance there would be no class.
Things I Wish I Knew Before Coming To School
- Be social—otherwise you’ll be bored.
- Do your basics at a community college and transfer—it’s cheaper.
- If you want to go to chapel, make sure to go as often as possible during the beginning of the semester. It gets more difficult to attend near the end.
- Never, ever, expect anyone at the Tower to have your financial aid in order.
- Use the smallest meal plan possible and upgrade if you have to.
Tips to Succeed
- Ask questions in class.
- Fight like mad against a bad grade.
- Go to class—there is a 75 percent attendance policy.
- If a class you have to have to graduate isn’t offered or has a time conflict, you can petition to take another one in its place that still fulfils your requirements.
- Make friends with your professors—it’s easy, and they will recommend what classes and who to take in your major field of study.
- Mix your tough classes with your easy ones—never double up.
- Pay attention to rumors concerning classes—they’re usually right.
- Pull all-nighters with company—they’ll help you stay awake.
- Surf the BIN before you decide to come here—the students there are honest.
- Take your electives and HPs pass/fail—unless you need the GPA booster.
- Wait until you’re a sophomore or junior to Rush.
Urban Legends
- A ghost of a girl who committed suicide in the 1950s haunts the towers of Burleson.
- A school president threw a barking dog out the window during chapel, and it resulted in a riot.
- Cameras monitor the underground tunnel system.
- The president of the NoZe fraternity is a woman.
Traditions
- All University Sing - Fraternities and sororities choreograph song and dance numbers to a theme and perform them for the student body. The performances are usually nightly, including 15-plus performances, and go on over the course of two weekends. Students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni flood in to the campus to sit as an audience. The tradition is also tied into Homecoming, where the best performances showcase their song/dance numbers at Pigskin Revue, a highlight in the fall for Homecoming week.
- Bonfire before Homecoming - Students and faculty turn out for the Homecoming Bonfire no matter what the weather is like. Since Texas Tech is who we usually play, their school symbol is built out of wood and lit on fire while everyone stands around and the yell leaders lead the cheers. There are usually performances going on, and the band plays in the background.
- Christmas on Fifth Street - KOT fraternity sponsors the lighting of an enormous tree right in the middle of campus. They light the place up and there is usually a live concert. In recent years, Jars of Clay and Caedmon’s Call have played. Hot chocolate, cider, and food are all sold, and the fraternity combines the event with some kind of fundraiser.
- Diadeloso - A day off each spring, on a Thursday, for no other reason than to have fun. The school has a multitude of events to take part in, from brain-teaser-type games to intramural sports, a moon walk, and various performances.
- Fall Break - A poor attempt at the University to give students a break during the fall semester. Known as the hardest and the longest, the first semester of classes just drag by because there are almost no holidays to break up the monotony. The school gives what they call “fall break” where you get a Friday off. Most students thumb their nose at the idea since the break is really only one day tacked onto a weekend they would have off anyway, and turn it into a five day holiday by taking off the Thursday before, and the Monday after.
- The NoZe pulling some kind of stunt for ”Come Homing” - The notorious fraternity on campus that pulls out all the stops for any occasion, the NoZe does a paper called the Rope, which is a nice spoof of the University’s paper the Lariat. Count on the NoZe to do any number of stunts. In the past, they have dyed the fountain in the middle of campus bright pink, dropped pink ping pong balls on guest speakers during Chapel, and do their best to keep the pulse of the University administration honest.
School Spirit
In terms of athletics, school spirit is very high, especially when competing against other teams in the state of Texas. In-state rivalry is huge between Texas A&M and the University of Texas. Baylor falls into the underdog category in the Big 12, and everyone loves to see an upset. Homecoming is usually against Texas Tech, and students turn out en masse for the bonfire and parade. The stands are the most packed at that time of year, with alumni flooding in from everywhere. In regular season football games, the stands never look very packed compared to other schools (our student body just doesn’t have the numbers to draw from like state schools), but students definitely do their best to show up in green and gold regalia and scream until they’re hoarse. Current students and alumni alike are known to viciously defend and praise Baylor, which can sometimes be the butt of jokes due to its Christian tradition. But this does not phase a true "Baylor Bear." Generally, students are very supportive of each other’s endeavors, because the school is small enough that everyone is family, and if one succeeds, we all do.
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Hometown: San Antonio, TX
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