Letters

I was enthralled while, for the first time ever,'I read'through the Fall '05 edition of the Baylor Magazine. The entire piece was consistent'with'all my previous impressions captured'from the Baylor mission and 2012 Vision'during'my campus visit two years ago with my high school'son, through the orientation process this summer to his recent'move-in day at Penland. And yet in quite the contrast, I cannot help but be struck by the irony of'taking Baylor and its mission for granted for so many years'as I would drive by'"hookin' em" down I-35 during my own college experience years ago. 
Specifically, the Baylor higher education product is unique. Maybe it is now clearer to me due'to all of those that I have so far encountered at Baylor who can articulate'what you are about. Or possibly, it is the amplification of the vision and mission simply, boldly and consistently spoken and lived out by faculty and staff against the wishy-washy backdrop of'"such a time as this" in our nation's educational history. 
To me, Baylor stands out because it is a place that endeavors to provide a congruent, truth-seeking Christian foundation'for the pursuit and'acquisition of knowledge, while encouraging integrity, excellence and character development -- all within a Big 12 setting!
Whatever the reasons for my enlightenment on the'Baylor clarity-of-purpose, your magazine captures and communicates'the essence of the Baylor'calling to congruency! I felt truly informed on all matters of'interest from the "Presidential Update" to the presidential library bid to thefacebook network. The stories of faculty in "Seats of Honor" provided'deeper insights and'affirmation of who is attracted to teach at Baylor. James Garven'won me over with his quote, "I think the students get a better deal here. We exist to serve students." Also noteworthy was the "Staying Power" article on retention, a'major measurement of the quality of any university. An attainable yet lofty goal of a 93 percent retention rate is indeed significant.'The interspersed inserts from the Freshman Survey and the stats on the freshman class are a testament to attracting students based on the Vision 2012 goal of'increasing academic excellence. Needless to say, I found the'magazine'greatly informative, and it inspired a meaty conversation between'my freshman son and me'about Baylor happenings.'''
The Baylor 2012 Vision captured my son's imagination and appealed to his mind.'After much deliberation and prayer, my son made his decision to attend Baylor. The Baylor Magazine appealed to my mind and heart with great reinforcement of a congruent message to the vision and Christian mission.'So for me, I gladly give you my firstborn, and my financial investment, because you know what you are'about and so do I!'
Doug Peters
Indianapolis, Ind.
 

I love the new section for students in the Baylor Magazine, but I am curious to know if the Baylor graduate students can be spotlighted, too? We are a part of the Baylor community and since the magazine goes to all alumni, maybe in the future a graduate student in leadership or one who has done some really interesting research could be written about. Is this possible?
Amy Myers, doctoral candidate in educational psychology
Huntsville, Ala.

Editor's note: Absolutely! We encourage submissions and suggestions from undergraduate and graduate students and will feature both.