Website

I'm working on a website for my Reporting and Writing class that will be somewhat like a resume about my life. So far I've added a few photos and have been toying with uploading work I have completed for classes. I enjoy figuring out the program, Wix.com, that I am using!

It must be fate

When my mom was here a few weekends ago for my birthday we were driving around and saw a really cool store front next to Fuddrucker's. The store is home to many unique home furnishings and offers a variety of styles. The name of the store is Serendipity. When my mom comes back to Waco for Homecoming we will be going back in to check out all of the cool Christmas decorations! It is super affordable and supports the local economy. I highly suggest it to anyone that loves great style at a bargain!

Advancer: Bear Downs

Can you imagine riding a bicycle in circles for hours at a time? Those involved in Student Foundation's upcoming event know all about circles and bicycles. Bear Downs, organized by Student Foundation, will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 26 in the heart of Baylor's campus. The event is a 25.2 mile relay bicycle race that benefits the Student Foundation Scholarship Fund. Only 30 teams of four may participate in the event. Registration will be at the Ed Crenshaw Center located on Fifth Street or teams may print off registration forms online to turn in.

"It's really cool to be a part of the Bear Downs legacy and to continue it on. There's just so many alumni that are excited about us bringing Bear Downs back and continuing it for this year," committee chair Theo Bruton said.

Begun in 1971 as the main fundraising event for Student Foundation, Bear Downs was put on a seven year hiatus in 2002 and Bearathon replaced it as the lead fundraising event. Last year in their 40th anniversary, Student Foundation revived Bear Downs and the campus responded well to it.

"Back in the early 70s, it was pretty wild and wooly. At least two people broke their collar bones from falls suffered during the race, and then there were lots of cuts and bruises," Professor Patrick Lea said.

Early on in the history of Bear Downs the event was much different than it is today. The race was 50 miles long, rather than 25.2, and took place in the Heart of Texas Coliseum, rather than on Baylor's campus. In order to race in the event each team had to race against the clock at a qualifying race at the Heart of Texas Coliseum's track.

"Each team member made a lap and then handed off to the next team member. The handoff had to occur within a marked off area. It required hours of practice, the handoff, and there were lots of teams that hadn't practiced at all. It was all pretty funny," Lea said.

Bear Downs is primarily a fundraiser for the Student Foundation scholarships. These scholarships are available to most Baylor students and are applied for during the spring semester.

"We have a sponsorship committee for Bear Downs this year that deals with donations and companies that would like to sponsor Bear Downs. Any funds we make goes toward student scholarships, so it's a great way to get involved and give back to Baylor," Bruton said.

You can see advertisements for the event all over Baylor's campus in the weeks leading up to the event. Baylor students and alumni will be lining the streets supporting their favorite racers on the evening of the event.

"I remember walking to Waco Hall and seeing people handing out flyers and reading the chalking on the sidewalk about Bear Downs. It seemed like you'd have to be in a shell not to know that it was happening and that it was a cool thing to be a part of," Class of '78 alumni Timothy Krieg said.

Profile: Tam Dunn

Meeting at the office for Student Activities Tam Dunn goes on her lunch break with a student in need of an interview for a profile story. Dunn is the Associate Director of Student Activities for Greek Life and has been in this position for about 15 years.

"In 1996 I was the Coordinator of Greek Activities, since then the title has changed a few times but the job has stayed the same," Tam Dunn said.

Over a lunch of cheeseburgers and fries Dunn discussed her role at Baylor and how it has changed throughout her career. Early in the developement of Greek life at Baylor there were only positions for a coordinator and graduate assistant. Student Activities has since then expanded this department so that there are positions for an associate director, coordinators, and graduate assistants.

"My coordinators, Brandi Barber and Astrid Beltran, along with their graduate assistant Laura Whitmire work with the IFC [Interfraternity Council] and NPHC [National Panhellenic Council] and MGC [Multicultural Panhellenic Council] respectively, and graduate assistant, Ashley Peeples, works alongside me with the PHC [Panhellenic Council]. These women split the work that I once did on my own and are able to get closer to these groups than I ever could," Dunn said.

With thousands of students involved in Greek activities there are many responsibilities that Dunn and her team are held accountable for. Within each division of Greek life there are boards led by members of each sorority and fraternity to oversee the chapters and build relationships within the council.

"I was voted to be on Baylor Panhellenic Council by my sorority and in that position was able to meet with girls from other chapters every week," Delta Delta Delta member Becka Bovio said.

Dunn is looked up to as the figure-head of Greek interaction and spurs groups to encourage one another while maintaining their own identities. Baylor Panhellenic Council encourages chapters to work together throughout the year and to go to one another's events.

"One of our most stressful times is during Homecoming because each group has their own events and wants potential new members to see that we can still work together as a Greek community," Bovio said.

Recruitment is a large part of Greek life and during that time Dunn receives many emails and phone calls from concerned parties. Recalling an ongoing conversation, Dunn laughed about a mother who had been filling out her daughter's online recruitment regisitration and emailed Dunn with an issue. Dunn chose to email the daughter her response and inquired why the daughter was having her mother do the work of registering for her. In the latest, the mother is frustrated that Dunn has emailed her daughter and Dunn is tickled that the mother does not understand her point.

"There is never a time of recruitment that is uncomplicated. With 700 girls registered to go through Fall Parties right now, the chapters and PNMs [potential new members] will be forming bonds and making decisions about one another that will decide their future," Dunn said.

The schedule of the Greek community never slows down. Dunn is constantly working with groups and individuals to improve the livlihood of the chapters at Baylor.

"Tam encourages us all to lay aside any differences and recognize the greater Greek bond that brings us together. By giving a paradigm of service to the Panhellenic ideal, Tam shows us how important commitment to Greek unity is," Baylor Panhellenic Council member Kelsey Jones said.

http://www.baylor.edu/studentactivities/greeklife/

Bear Downs

I am currently working on an advancer for Student Foundation's Bear Downs. The event is a 25.2 mile relay bicycle race around Baylor University's campus.

Look for more information about this event in the next week!

DDD semi-formal

Delta Delta Delta's semi-formal will be held 8 to 11pm on Friday, October 8.
The theme of the dance is "Alice and Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass." Members and their dates are asked to dress in attire reminiscent of the theme.
"I'm going to wear long cream gloves and a fun head piece," sophomore Lyndi Conradt said.
While some guests will wear attire that is bold and fun others will wear outfits similar to those of characters in the book and movies.
Many couples will go out to dinner before the dance.