Erika Kuehl

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 26th March 2025

In God we should trust — stop basing your morals in politics - The Baylor Lariat

By The Editorial Board
As a country with deep roots in rebellion, we’ve started to rebel against rooting our morals in religious values. This isn’t to say that religion is the only outlet for forming ethical standards, but building a belief system in politics alone over faith has some unsavory drawbacks.
According to research by The Pew Research Center, “Self-identified Christians make up 63% of U.S. population in 2021, down from 75% a decade ago.” Additionally, 44% of young Americans report hav...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 27th February 2025

Being a good listener is a skill — sharpen it - The Baylor Lariat

By The Editorial Board
Your mom is making dinner and you just got home from school. You’re telling her about how Sophie from math class stole your favorite pencil. She doesn’t even look up from the crockpot and, in a fit of rage, you stomp back to your room due to her lackluster reaction.
“I can’t believe she doesn’t care.”
The sad part is that in our juvenile state, we thought that maybe once we started talking about “adult things” people would listen. Unfortunately, whether we talk about polit...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 6th February 2025

Black History Month is always relevant, not just in February - The Baylor Lariat

By The Editorial Board
Black History Month means something different for every American. For some, it means remembering ancestors who suffered on our soil. For others, it could mean uplifting friends who may not share the same generational history, but share a similar commitment to equal opportunities for all people.
President General Ford recognized Black History Month in 1976 just a few years after the Civil Rights Act had been signed, outlawing segregation in businesses such as theaters, hote...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 5th December 2024

Cut the crap, not calories - The Baylor Lariat

By Erika Kuehl | Opinion Editor
As a fashion fanatic myself, I know better than anyone how quickly trends begin to take flight. One day we love Mary Janes, the next, slouchy knee-high boots. And just like everything else, our bodies have been commodified and become a trend.
With rumors of Ariana Grande’s drastic weight loss and Kylie Jenner fitting into her pre-motherhood jeans, the question I beg to ask is — why are we even talking about their bodies?
As many Gen X’ers begin to inject their w...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 1st December 2024

Aranda revamps Bears, secures longest single-season win streak as head coach - The Baylor Lariat

By Erika Kuehl | Opinion Editor, Kalena Reynolds | Arts & Life Writer
Seven weeks ago marked the turning point in Baylor football’s 2024 season. With a 59-35 win in Lubbock against Texas Tech highlighted by redshirt junior quarterback Sawyer Robertson throwing a career-high five touchdowns. Over the past six games, the Robertson led Baylor offense has averages 41.3 points per game, the most in the FBS.
After knocking off Kansas 45-17 on Saturday afternoon at McLane Stadium, head coach Dave Arand...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 13th November 2024

Veterans deserve our support year round, not just for a day - The Baylor Lariat

By The Editorial Board
A life in the military is not a reality many of us face every day. Dealing with the aftermath of war and frequent deaths is not an easy feat. Although Veteran’s Day might just be a holiday for some, it is a service member’s life year round.
Less than 1% of all U.S. citizens are active-duty service members in the military. That means out of almost 335 million people living in the U.S., only 1.3 million are service members.
Unfortunately, coming back to the States after ris...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 31st October 2024

Austin Ave. or memory lane? The historic street has seen 175 years of change - The Baylor Lariat

By Erika Kuehl | Opinion Editor
Waco has seen immense growth within the past few years — growth so noticeable the town you began your undergraduate degree in is not the same one you leave. In the past summer alone, the new Foster Pavillon has sparked expansion on the other side of I-35. Many may not know, however, that downtown Waco has been a hub of development since its inception.
The well-known and loved Austin Avenue has always been an integral part of downtown Waco. Dr. Stephen Sloan, dire...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 30th October 2024

Swipe right on safe online dating - The Baylor Lariat

By Erika Kuehl | Opinion Editor
It’s cuffing season, a season consisting of sorority and fraternity formals, flannels and the look of desperation. If you’ve looked everywhere and still can’t find your perfect match, the immediate instinct is to go on a dating app. Before you get swept off your feet, consider proceeding with caution.
The Pew Research Center did a comprehensive study on online dating in 2022. One finding included: “63% of men in this age group [under 50] who have used dating sites...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 24th October 2024

Stitching together two passions: Victoria Davis serves volleyball with style, embraces hard work - The Baylor Lariat

By Erika Kuehl | Opinion Editor
Santa Clarita, Calif., sophomore Victoria “Tori” Davis is here to show that you really can do it all. Baylor volleyball middle blocker and apparel merchandising major, Davis started in a match against Cincinnati, which the Bears won 3-0, and worked as a fashion stylist in the same week.
“If you really love the things that you’re doing, you will find time for them and you’ll be able to get them done to your best potential,” Davis said.
In addition to her buzzing vo...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 18th October 2024

No. 22 Baylor volleyball snaps three-game slide, sweeps Cincinnati, 3-0 - The Baylor Lariat

LTVN’s Braden Murray breaks down the Bears’ dominant win over the Bearcats. Head coach Ryan McGuyre shifted around the starting lineup looking to bounce back from three straight losses. Redshirt freshman setting Harley Kreck, freshman opposite hitter Grace Carroll and junior outside hitter Sophia Kenne slotted into the starting lineup for the first start this season.The changes worked early on for Baylor (11-6, 3-3 Big 12) as it opened the first set with a 6-1 run, featuring back-to-back aces fr...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 10th October 2024

Make politicians polite again - The Baylor Lariat

By the Editorial Board
You might have heard this before — “politicians are liars.”
What that used to mean was that they can’t be trusted and that constituents should keep them accountable and be the watchdogs. Since when did it start to mean that we should accept what they say and move on?
Politicians’ careers — or at least, their campaigns — have been ended for much less than lies and offensive statements. In 2004, Democratic presidential candidate from Iowa Howard Dean was running a hot campai...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 2nd October 2024

College Democrats, Republicans react to Vice Presidential debate - The Baylor Lariat

By Erika Kuehl | Opinion Editor, Emma Weidmann | Editor-in-Chief
Representatives from both College Democrats and College Republicans at Baylor reacted to Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz.
During the strikingly civil, largely policy-focused night, topics such as healthcare, border control, gun control, abortion and the Middle East were covered.
Waco junior JW LaStrape is the vice president of College Democrats, and Brick, N.J., senior Holly Tkach is co-chair...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 25th September 2024

Ankle monitors aren’t a fashion statement - The Baylor Lariat

By the Editorial Board
Have we been too kind to criminals?
Within the past few years, Netflix has expanded from solely repurposing content to creating true crime originals of their own. Now one of the top genres on streaming services, the criminals in these stories have a claim to fame.
From Gypsy Rose Blanchard to Anna Delvey, their Netflix docuseries have flooded the web and gained insane amounts of popularity. Crime docuseries gained traction in 2022 with “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 5th September 2024

Exorcize your horror movie stigmas - The Baylor Lariat

By The Editorial Board
What do horror movie actors and Catholic priests have in common? They both perform exorcisms.
Although a large amount of horror movies have biblical imagery, some feel that they are satanic or unchristian because they contain paranormal or occult themes. The beginning of this paranoia started with the Satanic Panic in the ‘80s.
NPR described the panic as a time “when false accusations of the abuse of children in satanic rituals spread across the United States.” It began wi...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 26th August 2024

From ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ to Woodway, new restaurant brings the flavor - The Baylor Lariat

By Erika Kuehl | Opinion Editor
Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Waco anymore. We’re in Woodway.
That was my first thought after entering The Butcher’s Cellar. Walls full of instruments that could’ve belonged to my grandad. Busts of animals that honestly, looked happy to be there. And the iconic photo of Lunch atop a Skyscraper fixes the mood for a meal that will send you to new heights.
The manager of The Butcher’s Cellar, Matt Koen, described the establishment’s atmosphere as “elevated pecu...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 23rd April 2024

Glorybell Coffee provides coffee, connection with God - The Baylor Lariat

By Erika Kuehl | Staff Writer
At 600 Columbus Ave., Glorybell Coffee provides a space for prayer, calmness and a good cup of coffee in partnership with Glorybell Church next door.
Glorybell Coffee manager Robert Lim said pastor Chuck Martin was the mastermind behind the idea to pair a church with a coffee shop.
“We’re right across the street from the county courthouse,” Lim said. “And every Monday, there’s a line of people coming in for essential jury duty. So [we] saw that as possibly a way to...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 18th April 2024

Restaurant Review: Red Herring is a perfect catch - The Baylor Lariat

By Erika Kuehl | Staff Writer
Not every Tuesday night calls for an expensive dinner, but sometimes you just need a good meal with friends. I ventured downtown to satisfy my craving for real non-microwavable food and ended up on Fourth Street at a new restaurant, Red Herring.
To start, I ordered the sourdough focaccia with whipped olive oil butter. It’s safe to say that is probably the best bread I’ve had in Waco. It was perfectly salty and easy to rip apart and share with friends. It was gone in...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 12th April 2024

Column: Predicting summer fashion - The Baylor Lariat

By Erika Kuehl | Staff Writer
In an effort to avoid all thoughts of school and responsibilities, one can only look toward the future: summer. With the trends changing as fast as the weather, let’s look at what’s to come in the fashion world.
1. Mesh … everything
Best spotted on Alix Earle and Florence Pugh in Valentino, mesh skirts are all over the runway and everyone’s spring break posts. This is one of my favorite looks for the upcoming summer because it’s the perfect beach cover-up. This Mimi...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 4th April 2024

Art Center Waco exhibit showcases solar eclipse in its totality - The Baylor Lariat

By Erika Kuehl | Staff Writer
To complement the art of the natural world, Art Center Waco is featuring its Eclipse: Shining Shadows exhibit through May 4.
Exhibit director Meghan Bias said she couldn’t pick a favorite piece from the exhibit because there are things she loves about each one.
“We have artwork from 37 different artists across the state of Texas,” Bias said. “It was an open jury call for Texas artists 18 [years old] and above to tell us or show us what they felt like the eclipse rep...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 26th March 2024

A walk down Fino St.: The student-made fashion line licensed by Baylor - The Baylor Lariat

By Erika Kuehl | Staff Writer
Penland Residence Hall — also known as the warehouse of the Fino St. apparel line. With three guys, 150 square feet and boxes full of sweatshirts, it’s a recipe for success.
What was once a Pro Sales lunch quickly turned into a business opportunity for Keller senior Diego Chavez and Lake Oswego, Ore., freshman Daniel Zhang.
“It was a week after the lunch,” Chavez said. “When he came to me with the idea, we really sat down and dove in and realized the gaps within the...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 26th March 2024

I don’t mind buying my friends: Greek Life shapes strong connections - The Baylor Lariat

By Erika Kuehl | Staff Writer
“You pay that much money for friends?”
Yes, I’m in a sorority. It’s a privilege to be in Greek Life, and I know not everyone has the luxury of spending thousands of dollars on top of their tuition. By the grace of God (and my mother), I’ve had the opportunity to join a sorority with the most amazing group of women.
In my personal experience, my circle of peers has grown astronomically since joining. During my first semester at Baylor, I had a small circle of friends...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 21st March 2024

Review: Justin Timberlake loses his swagger on new album - The Baylor Lariat

By Erika Kuehl | Staff Writer
Justin Timberlake is sounding old.
Although his looks have held up, his somewhat original thought has not. Every song on his new album, “Everything I Thought I Was,” seems a rip-off of his younger competitors.
I wouldn’t say his vision is exactly 20/20 as it used to be. In an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, Timberlake said, “I think every artist probably says this, but it is my best work.” Listeners have a different reaction. They simply aren’t listening....

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 20th March 2024

Eclipse Over Texas to celebrate last total eclipse visible from Lone Star State until year 3000 - The Baylor Lariat

By Erika Kuehl | Staff Writer
What happens when the world goes dark for four minutes and 13 seconds? We party.
April 8 will be the last time a total solar eclipse passes over Texas until the year 3000. To celebrate, Baylor University, Lowell Observatory, Discovery and the City of Waco are collaborating in Eclipse Over Texas: Live from Waco.
Sonja Garcia is the eclipse event coordinator with Lowell Observatory. She said along with interactive activities and 26 science presentations, the STEAM Zon...

The Baylor Lariat - The official student news sour • 28th February 2024

Cool girls don’t gatekeep: The best of Waco salons - The Baylor Lariat

By Erika Kuehl | Staff Writer
Most of us have gone to the same hairstylist for years, and sitting in a new chair gives me a fright like no other. There’s nothing worse than getting a bad manicure and reluctantly giving up $50 just to take it off when you get home. And don’t get me started on the risk of getting your eyebrows waxed by a stranger — those ’90s brows are never coming back in style.
This Women’s History Month, treat yourself to things that make you feel beautiful, inside and out. Her...