I've lived in Texas for the last 43 years of my life. This MAYBE was my fifth example of real snow. And the first time I've ever been in what I'd call a "snow storm." Who'd have thunk Texas had it in her. Then again, the last year has been pretty weird, so why not? 

Anyway, I wasn't going to pass up the chance to get this exceedingly rare event on film, so I ran up to campus and spent a few minutes just pointing my iPhone at ol Pat Neff. The results below are the "long cut" version. It's slow and not particularly dynamic...but in my opinion, entirely mesmerizing. 

It's been such a weird year. I have to admit that when I began my career in higher education almost two decades ago, I couldn't have predicted a year like this. Never even in my wildest dreams would I have thought about a global pandemic and how it would impact every aspect of our lives. 

I probably should have. Maybe the more miraculous aspect is that it's been 100+ years since we've seen a true global pandemic. But here we are. And the news is dispiriting. As other countries have been able to gain a reasonable amount of control over the contagion in their nation, we have not. I could spend an hour talking about just how stupid it is to politicize public health, but I'll refrain. It shouldn't be a political issue. Viruses just don't seem to care who voted for whom when they choose to infect us. And I digress. But let me offer this one bit of wisdom: Despite the fact that this disease probably won't kill you, I'd like to remind you that it could seriously ruin your semester and make you quite sick. So PLEASE take it seriously. 

I've spent the last 5 months sitting in an almost endless series of meetings discussing every aspect of how to best mitigate this threat to the health of our community. The one thing I can say about it is this: if there is a place on this planet that has invested more time in "braining" out solutions to this challenge, I'd be absolutely shocked. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Baylor is a unique place. 

I suppose the most profound statement I can say as I sit here on the night before move-in is this: "I feel entirely confident that I will be safe this fall every day at my job." That's a selfish perspective, but in this time, maybe that's the best we can do. If we truly work to protect ourselves, we subsequently will also be protecting our community. If I stay healthy, I am not actively infecting those around me. 

It's humorous, but it's true. Baylor always reminds me of John Hammond in Jurassic Park when he continually utters the statement "Spare no expense." That's what we've done this fall. I don't know of any other university in the world that is testing all 20,000 members of their community prior to beginning classes. And that is just the start. We've added like 45,000 square feet of additional air-conditioned space on campus in order to maximize social distancing. We've invested millions of dollars into better air flow and filtration in our buildings, an investment that will inevitably benefit us for decades to come. 

These changes are but the tip of the iceberg. Today, I was on campus giving a lecture on marketing to student organization leaders via Zoom. I walked into the elevator and the whole elevator was covered in a giant graphic reminding me to mask, social distance, and wash my hands regularly. It wasn't subtle. And it was kind of awesome. 

I am sure of a couple of things as we begin this weird school year:

1. I am going to grieve some of the awesome things I am used to pointing my camera at. I'm ready to get through this....so I can get back to simultaneously trying to focus my lens while holding my jaw shut. That's my normal fall worldview. I adore fall on campus. Football. Spirit Rallies. Thanksgiving and Christmas. Homecoming. Family Weekend. It hurts to miss these things. 

2. We will get through this time. I have confidence in the science. And the science is positive. Even if it takes a while to get a vaccine, the recent research into therapeutics suggest that we may be back to "normal" sooner rather than later. I'm ready now, but I'll be patient. 

3. Our incoming class of 2024 is going to get the opportunity to experience every amazing Baylor tradition over your four years here. I know this is going to be a weird year. And I feel for you students who aren't going to have a normal year. To you, class of 2024, bond fiercely. Use this time to build the most amazing friendships of your lives. Use the extra time you have this year to create an intimacy with each other that is unmatched by any previous generation of that Good Old Baylor Line. I know that you'll have opportunities this year that no previous or subsequent class will have. Enjoy them. I also know that there are some things that you'll have to wait until your sophomore year to do that normally would happen during your freshman year. Be patient. I have confidence we'll be back to normal. 

4. There is no community like Baylor University. And I'm happy this summer is coming to an end. It couldn't come soon enough in my opinion. Despite it being a different fall, I've been on campus this past week. I was there today. I saw some of you moving in. I let out an audible sigh of relief. For so many of us who work in higher education, YOU are the reason we get up in the morning. Your energy. Your passion. Your dreams. 

I believe that you will change the world. Some of you will cure diseases. Some of you will teach generations just being born. Some of you will preach the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to the nations. ALL of you will impact this world just by being YOU. And your presence in this community makes us all the stronger. 

Students, please, this fall, heed the advice of the administration. There will be plenty of time for parties and social gatherings in the semesters to come. Chill out a bit this fall. Wear your masks. Social distance. Protect each other. Love each other. We'll get through this. Together. It's only for a time. And I'll be here. Ready to point my camera at the celebration we all share when this weird time is officially ended. 

Until then, Sic'em Bears! This is going to be an amazing year, despite it being a different one. 

​Tom

Dear Bears,

Just like you, I began this past Fall excited about what the new school year would bring. Just like you, I LOVE being a part of the Baylor Family. I love being on campus. I love being around you guys, getting to know some of you personally, getting to be a part of your lives, and knowing that the work that I do contributes to the experiences that will be transformational and memorable in each of your lives. 

I've seen some posts on social media that insinuate that faculty or staff at colleges like Baylor might be happy about the move to online education. Trust me. This is a million miles from the truth. I don't particularly like the summer time on campus because, well, I spend it without seeing you guys every day. The wonderful men and women who work for Baylor truly love what we do, and we did NOT want this to happen. Just as one example among hundreds, I'm going to miss Diadeloso as much as you (maybe more!)

In fact, we are heartbroken for you. Just like you, in our personal lives, with our own families, we are all trying to figure out what life looks like in this weird time. The challenges of living in this time and trying to figure out our own lives don't diminish or minimize the tears that I've personally seen come to the eyes of staff who know how this impacts you directly. YOU are why we do the work we do. 

I have some personal advice for you during this time. I hope you find it helpful. 

1. Don't freak out! This is a bad situation, and our country, our economy, in fact our entire human civilization may look different when we get through this. BUT WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS. 

2. Be a leader. Your current generation, Generation Z, is one of the most amazing our country has seen in a century. Experts believe that you are a revival of "The Greatest Generation" which is the one that fought in World War II. You are thrifty. You are strong. You value experiences and relationships over possessions. And this is your first real test as a generation. I know this situation impacted your plans. It's time to show the world what you are made of, it's time to lead. Be the example! Social distance. Stay at home. This is a hard test, but you will do it. We'll do it together!

2. Speaking of the older generations, I'd like to make a personal recommendation. FaceTime with your grandparents (if you still have them) during this time at home. Do it daily if you can! Remind them to stay isolated for their own protection. Tell them you love them. But use the time to ask them about challenges our country has faced that they lived through. They were likely alive when JFK was assassinated. They lived through racial segregation and violence, the Vietnam War, economic collapses during the 70s and 80s. They saw Reagan get shot. Some of them were even alive when polio and smallpox were rampant in society. We as a nation have faced huge challenges and come out the other side stronger. Your grandparents can provide historical perspective for unprecedented times. Just ask. If you're scared, tell them so. But again, don't forget to tell them you love them. 

3. Give your parents (or other folks you are now living with) a LOT of grace. There's a good chance you are back home at this point. Your 'rents are probably going to drive you a bit nuts. You've been living on your own while at school. Your entire worldview has changed, but their's hasn't changed as much. To them, they are still "Mom and Dad" and you are still "their kid." You being home is going to make them slip back into old patterns and behaviors. Respect them. Love them. Hug them. Let them just BE in your life. Take this opportunity to just BE in theirs. Later in life, you may look back on this time as a blessing, a moment of togetherness that you wouldn't have had otherwise. I know. I know. After 20+ years of being with them, they can be a little lame sometimes. It won't be long before you miss it. Trust me on this. Also, don't overlook the fact that times like this can scare them too. We often see our parents as indestructible and unphaseable. Give them the grace to be human and show them how incredible you are by being your family's rock. 

4. Be cool with slowing down. Your entire life to this point has been defined by movement. You have been in motion for all of it. Information has flown at you from all directions, 24/7. Slow down. Use this time to do some of your own "experiments in chill." Disconnect from the media. Catch up on sleep. Go for a TON of long walks. (Of course, social distance when you do) but use the time to clear your head, pray, relax. Maybe for the first time, listen to the songs of the birds and leaves rustling in the trees. Breathe in deep. Your life may not slow down this much again for a while after we get through this. And we WILL get through this time.

5. Don't neglect your studies. I earned my MBA in an online program. There are aspects of it that are easier than being in class. There are also aspects of it that are a LOT harder. The biggest challenge is self-discipline to get the work done. It's easier to be accountable for your time when there is a class attendance policy in person. Online, you are largely on your own and it is SUPER easy to get behind. DON'T GET BEHIND! Prioritize and get the job done. 

6. CHECK YOUR EMAIL! I know you guys. Most of you have not developed good email habits. Regardless of what you may think, email is NOT going away. It is the standard tool in business communication worldwide, and you need to know how to "email right." Check it at least several times per day, READ IT ALL, delete what isn't important, but keep anything from the university. Your instructors and staff are intentionally trying to not inundate you with communications right now. So every email is probably an important one. READ THEM.

7. If you are in your senior year, know that this is not the end of your Baylor journey. This is definitely not how you wanted your senior year to end. To be frank, it's not fair. It's REALLY not fair. You didn't have any warning, and it's likely you are grieving as a result. You have every right to feel all of that. I've been here at BU for four years now. This is my senior year too in a sense. You guys are the students who began classes the same time I began working for Baylor. BU20 is special to me and it always will be! SO. With that in mind, make plans now to come back to campus anytime you want to once we are through this crazy time. I mean that. Baylor is your university, and you are family. Your daily lives will look different, but Baylor is part of who you are now. Come back. Often. I'm praying that we'll see you guys in August for a "better late than never" commencement. I can only imagine what a party it'll be. For this reason alone, we need to sic this virus and get back to some normal ASAP. I'm social distancing partly for you, seniors. I'm gonna do my part in this to help get back to being closer than 6 feet from you. 

8. Stay connected. You guys are "digital natives." You've never lived a day without the internet. Use your tools to stay connected to each other and to Baylor University. If you don't already, follow every BU account on social media you can. We are all here still posting content to bring a sense of "normal" back to life in this weird time. 

Post lots of pics to Instagram of what you are up to while social distancing. I want to see. Let's make Instagram more real! Stop trying to curate your feed. Let's see some daily life shots even if daily life is a bit different right now. 

I love you guys! You make my daily work one of the greatest honors. Your kindness, strength, and resilience give me constant sources of hope in a crazy world. Don't hesitate to reach out. Email me anytime. DM me on Instagram. Even just to say "Hi." If you are bored, we can sit and debate existential philosophy or which of the Star Wars movies should be removed from the canon. I'm here. 

As always, Sic'em Bears, and God Bless! 

​Tom Barnard
Assistant Director for Student Outreach & Engagement
Baylor University
​[email protected]
Instagram: @TomAtBaylor

​This post is more "Tom" than it is "Baylor." We'll just forget the title of my blog for a moment and think of this as "Tom At Chicago." I've been thinking a lot about this shot lately. I am in the process of compiling a new section of this website all about iPhone Photography, and this shot keeps coming into my mind. It's my favorite photo I've ever taken. I'd like to tell you the story of this photo. Before we start, scroll back up and stare at it for a second. To me, it's mesmerizing. I just get lost in it. Maybe it's just me. 

In the Summer of 2012, I found myself in Chicago. I was working for a university that sent me there to a Noel Levitz conference about university admissions marketing. I traveled there with some friends from work and thoroughly enjoyed myself and the conference. 

Chicago was ungodly hot that particular week in late July. My buddies and I had galavanted around the University of Chicago campus for a day and almost died of heat exhaustion at least a dozen times. We got very little rest on this trip as we packed a ton of sightseeing in between conference sessions. So the time that we did get to crash in our hotel rooms was spent entirely zonked. 

I think it was midway through the week that I had gone to sleep one night only to wake up a couple hours later to an immense thunderstorm that almost shook me out of my bed. Since I was wide awake, I went to the window of the 7th floor of the Warwick Allerton Hotel and looked up Michigan Avenue only to see the most magical thing I'd ever seen out a hotel window. The storm was moving literally in waves off of Lake Michigan down the avenue. Even at about 4:30 in the morning, the city was beginning to wake up as shift workers moved to and fro their responsibilities. It was intoxicating to watch the traffic move through the aerosolized lake as lightning lit up the entire hotel room every few seconds. 

That was a moment that I wanted to record. I wanted to save it and savor it. So I grabbed my iPhone and held it in front of the window and snapped the photo you see above. I immediately looked at the tiny screen on my iPhone 5 and said "Well, that's not good. All the lights are getting obscured by the water on the window." So I did what you could only do in a 100+ year old hotel...I opened the window. And I got this:

I shot several dozen photos like this. I quickly closed the window, addressed the fact that I was then drenched. I changed my shirt and crawled back into bed. Here is the critical part of this story. I sat there and scrolled through what I'd just shot and considered for a moment deleting the "bad" shots. Bear in mind, that iPhones at the time didn't come with a ton of storage space, so deleting excess photos was standard practice. But I was tired. It was still before 5 in the morning. The storm had kept me up. And I figured I could just delete them later. 

I forgot to delete them. Fast forward a few days, and I was sitting at my computer at home digging through my photos of the trip...going photo by photo and remembering the fun of the trip when I arrived at the point of the storm. I lingered for a few seconds on the "bad" photo before moving onto the "good" ones. And my heart sunk. "The good ones are not good." They were gray and boring and they didn't give me any sense of that experience at all. As fate would have it, the last photo that I left on my computer screen was the "bad" shot with all the light blur. And I kept walking past it that night. And eventually when I did, I thought, "well, that's not THAT bad." That feeling moved to "I kind of like what's happening in this photo." to "I remember this moment so vividly." to "I love the play of light...the combination of blues and yellows...the motion of the photo....the life of the city." 

Wait a minute? I had just fallen in love with a mistake. It wasn't previsualized. In fact, I'm sure it breaks all kinds of rules of not shooting through a pane of glass obscured by a rainstorm. I learned a handful of things through this experience.

1. The first was to chuck the "rules" (or at least the ones I assumed existed) out the window.

2. The second thing I learned was that I should never delete photos from my phone until I'm home looking at them on a large screen.

3. The third thing I learned was that it's wholly possible to create your favorite image EVER completely by accident.

4. The last thing I learned was the value of an image encapsulating an emotion of a moment.

This image, to me, is personal. And it may not be to anyone else who views it, but even to those who weren't there (all of you) I believe that it far more successfully captures the motion and emotion of a moment of life in the city during the storm when compared to the second shot above. 

In my little book on iPhone photography, I am spending a large amount of time talking about being intentional when shooting. It's a bit ironic and possibly hypocritical that my favorite shot I've ever taken was a complete (almost deleted) accident. Or maybe it's just a reminder that sometimes magic only happens in life when we slow down enough, breathe, and just let the universe dictate what happens in front of our lens. 

Growing up just up the highway from BU in Plano, I was familiar with some of Baylor's traditions as I had a number of high school friends who were destined for Baylor and came from Baylor legacy families, but All University Sing was something totally foreign to me until I was working full-time at another university. I worked for a woman who performed in Sing as a member of the sorority Chi Omega. When she talked about her experience, it was one of those moments when the sky opened, the clouds parted, and a beam of light shone down from the heavens. The reverence she had for the entire experience made me even more skeptical. 

To explain All University Sing is an act of futility. On the face of it, the entire event shouldn't work. Even the concept of an "All University Sing" has a sort of 1950's quaintness to it. "Hey, are you performing in Sing? Man, that's swell. It's gonna be real nifty this year." You get the idea. That was what went through my head until I found myself in early 2017 sitting at my first Baylor All University Sing. 

The program for the show was odd. There were 18 or so acts. How is that possible? I'm going to watch 18 different acts tonight? *In fairness, that was actually an accurate assessment. It's incredibly long. 

I settled into my seat in Waco Hall. The lights dimmed. The curtain raised. And my jaw dropped. By the time the first seven minute act was done, I was looking for some sort of real-life rewind button to try to assess what I'd just witnessed. Normal college kids dancing, and maybe more impressively singing a mashup of music that told a cohesive storyline dedicated to their chosen theme. They were legit singing it all themselves. With a live band in the pit. And the lights were legitimately as good as anything I'd ever seen in Broadway productions. And the backdrop was hand painted. And the costumes were really cool. And the dancing. Wait. 200 people choreographed together on one stage? It still makes me sit here and shake my head. 

What on earth is a Sing? What did I just witness?

Fast forward four years. I just finished shooting photos at my fourth All University Sing. Even multiple years into it, it doesn't lose its charm. What's more impressive, it still hasn't lost the ability to make the hair on the back of my neck stand on end during a few moments of sheer "I can't believe what I'm seeing. WAIT! These are college kids who did this in their free time." 

Over my four years, there have been a few standout acts. A few groups seem to rise to the top of the heap consistently. That said, it's not always the case. This year's performance lacked any acts that were utterly bombastic or audacious, but raised the overall level of all of the performances to a point that I never once looked at my watch. That's pretty impressive considering it's a 4+ hour show and I saw it twice last week (once at dress rehearsal and once as an audience member with my young niece, who also never once got bored.) Every group this year was excellent.

All University Sing at Baylor University is special. It's a tradition that is impossible to explain unless you've seen it for yourself. I remember in 2017 or 2018 being told at one of the shows that there was a group of administrators from another university in attendance just to experience it for themselves, to "learn how Baylor does traditions." There is no argument that Baylor does traditions as well as any university out there...I might argue better than universities 100 years older than us. This is one tradition that I look forward to every year now. It hasn't really gotten old for me...I kind of doubt it will. 

​Here are just a few of my favorite shots from this year (based on the quality of my photography, not necessarily any preference for a given act...they were ALL outstanding!)

Giving back some of what your employer pays you has always felt a bit strange to me. Working for an institution that I WANT to give back to is not only strange, it’s a real rarity and a sizable blessing! That is my experience at Baylor University. I’ve run it through my head occasionally that if I ever won the lottery, I’d make a “naming gift” for a new Student Center. The “Tom At Baylor Student Center” has a nice ring to it. Then I’d forgo a salary and continue showing up to everything. Rumor has it that Bill Daniel used to ride his horse onto campus just to hang out with the students. That sounds about right to me. I just need a horse…and a sizable lottery win.
 *Yes, that was total silliness. I'm not sure I'd actually ever be comfortable with my name on a building, or owning a horse for that matter.

Seriously, though, why should I give part of my salary back? I’ll tell you why…because Baylor University is an investment that pays immediate and life-changing dividends in the lives of students. Every dollar I contribute is one that is taken off of the student loan of a current or future student, or it is an investment into a program that will directly benefit them.
 
There is a popular misconception about Baylor University students. It is so popular that I’ve had to correct even my own family members. The belief is that Baylor students all come from wealthy families who simply write a large check to the university each year. If that were true, I’m quite certain that we’d have little need for an annual giving day. Baylor is most certainly a private institution, which makes its brand feel more elite than most state schools. That’s true, but it's not the whole story. Baylor provides millions upon millions of dollars in scholarship funds each year that open the door for students who otherwise likely could not afford to pay for their education here. More than 9 out of every 10 students receive some form of financial aid at Baylor. 
 
Over my 3+ years at Baylor, I have met many of our students. Every one of them, without fail, is a young person that I believe will change the world. I don’t see them as merely capable of changing the world. They have the hearts and work ethics to actually do the work! I believe so strongly in our students that I am proud to make a donation tomorrow on Baylor’s annual Giving Day. Me personally? This year, I’m giving toward Line Camp Financial Aid. There isn’t a program that I know about at Baylor that has a more lasting effect on our students’ engagement and excitement about being a Bear!
 
I hope you’ll join me. A donation to Baylor University is a direct investment in the lives of very deserving young men and women. I'd recommend considering any program in Student Life as being a program worthy of investment! I'm a little biased toward the work of this division, but I can vouch for it. 

Just go to www.baylor.edu/GivingDay at any point tomorrow and be a part of Baylor Giving Day! 

Beethoven was on the precipice of complete deafness when he began to compose his 9th and final symphony. His hearing had been diminishing for many years and when his 9th Symphony premiered in 1824, despite not being the principal conductor, Beethoven stood beside conductor Michael Umloff and also conducted the orchestra, though they followed their principal conductor and not the deaf composer. By the time the crowd was applauding, Beethoven was so far off the tempo of the primary conductor that one of the soloists had to stop his conducting and turn him around to accept the standing ovation his work had elicited. The crowd was largely aware of his deafness and, according to lore, made their praise of his work as visual as possible, waving handkerchiefs and hats. 

I often visualize these Vienna premieres in my mind when I get to hear Beethoven's works performed. After listening to primarily Karajan's Beethoven cycle for many years with his manic last movement of the 9th, it was refreshing last night to get to hear the 9th Symphony performed at a tempo that I think Beethoven would have himself appreciated. 

It is difficult to attempt to walk in Beethoven’s shoes for any length. There is a sad irony of Everest proportion to the thought that the greatest composer to ever live wrote what many today consider to be one of the finest works ever written...and he did it while deaf. This is made ever more profound when considering the piece is themed on “Joy.” I thoroughly enjoyed reading Robin Wallace's notes in the program last night. (They provided an explanation of much of the music, that the joy comes out of chaos, and give hope that even he had found peace...) I have to imagine that "chaos" has to be be exactly how Beethoven felt in the latter years of his life. I often wonder if the wellspring of music inside of him actually ever stopped, or the symphony in his head simply continued becoming ever more personal. How many works of genius is it possible were lost because, in his depression, they simply didn’t get scribed? This work conclusively proved that the music never stopped, and maybe after a few hundred years of analysis, we can say that it was actually profoundly more genius and more personal than his previous works. 

This year is Baylor’s 175th birthday, but it is also Beethoven’s 250th birthday and the whole world is celebrating. Baylor University’s School of Music added to the symphonic worldwide celebration in concert last night performing a full program of his material with the addition of a piece by Kevin Puts that is a musical tale of Beethoven’s life, followed by Beethoven's Romance No. 2 in F with a faculty violin soloist, Patricia Shih, that was, in a word, perfect. The entire night's performance, in preparation to perform it at the Texas Music Educator's Association,  was masterful and as I often find myself at Baylor School of Music events, I had to forcibly remind myself that I wasn’t listening to a major metropolitan symphony, but a group of students in Waco, Texas. Baylor is always a place of surprises. And I don’t mean that as any sort of slight to our students. I simply don’t expect students anywhere to perform to the level that we get the honor of witnessing here. The faculty vocal soloists were also jaw-dropping. It's no wonder our students are this good! 

Whether walking the halls of the art department, watching our athletes score point after point, or listening to the absurdly good performances emanating from Jones Performance Hall, “Baylor” should be on the mouths of anyone looking to synonymize “excellence.” And I should probably realign my expectations. I've been to enough concerts now in my almost 4 years here to know better. Bottom line: you never need to leave Waco, Texas, to find an evening that is filled with this much talent...and joy. 
​
Congratulations to the Baylor men and women who would have made Beethoven proud last night! Here is the fourth movement of Symphony #9 in its entirety, recorded in Jones Hall on the Baylor campus, February 8, 2020: 

You are in the right place if you love Baylor University! Follow me on Instagram @TomAtBaylor if you don't already!! You can click the little instagram icon on this page and it'll take you right there or search for my handle. 

I'm going to keep this introduction brief. If you'd like to read about why I began my Instagram account or a bit about who I am and the work I do for Baylor, click HERE or on the "About Me" tab in the main menu. 

My reason for beginning this blog is that with more than 17,000 students, there are hundreds of unique stories around every corner. There have been so many times here at BU where I've met someone new or experienced something that is worth talking about, but an Instagram post just didn't provide the room for context. SO. I created this blog as a place to just throw some words down about the greatest university in the world. I think my aim is for a post a week. I just can't visualize in my mind yet how much I have to say. We shall see! 

In the meantime, enjoy this video of the incomparable Golden Wave Band singing That Good Old Baylor Line that I shot this last Fall after the Spirit Rally. If you are an alumnus, be prepared to get the feels.