Welcome Home, Bears.

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