By Jaziah Masters

Don’t look now, but lining the shelves of your local store is Baylor University in its full glory. The cover of this month’s edition of Texas Monthly is, in my opinion, the best magazine cover in recent memory. The iconic Baylor campus graces the cover, adorned with the title “God, Faith, and The Second Coming of Baylor.” Could there really be a better title?

Written by Baylor alum Tom Barlett, the article takes an honest and candid look at Baylor University in its entirety.  Even though Barlett graduated in the mid-nineties, it is a night-and-day difference between Baylor then and Baylor now. The Baylor of his day, which he describes as feeling “like holdovers from a more innocent era,” has transitioned into a University embarking on its most ambitious plan in the school’s 169-year history. This plan includes a multitude of factors that will help to reshape and strengthen Baylor, such as more competitive academics and athletics.  However, the university is determined to maintain its long-standing tradition of being a faith-based institution, even as more and more universities continue to move away from their heritage.

History is a major topic of the article. The reader is given a glimpse into Baylor’s transitional years. Much of this period was marked by challenge and difficulty, particularly faculty and administration strife. I believe the article does a wonderful job of telling this story. Through the highs and lows, Baylor has consistently tried to maintain and improve the things we love most about it.

Not entirely dedicated to the past, the article does discuss the current state of Baylor.  Barlett interviews current President and Chancellor, Judge Ken Starr, who provides incredible insight into not only the current state of the University, but also gives us clues to what the future may hold. Though I cannot speak for everyone, I believe Judge Starr is a great person. In the few times that I’ve interacted with him, he has always been cheery and a pleasure to be around. His interview shows just how much he truly cares about Baylor and all the faculty, staff and students that he leads.

Overall, this is an article that discusses Baylor: the good and the bad, the past and the present, the ins and the outs. Barlett provides an account that portrays a side of Baylor that even I as a student hadn’t realized existed. The article is a great read and an even better chance to gain a lot more information on facts about Baylor that you wouldn’t normally run into. Also, one of my current professors is quoted in it, which is pretty awesome. Faith, football and Baylor, what more could you possible want?