Spring 2026 | Freedom
Featuring “Lessons from Washington, D.C.,” “The [Un]Remarkable Life of Rufus B. Spain,” “The Centennial Class of 1945,” and “The Call of Duty”
Hold These Truths …
How do you cover freedom in a time like the present? When rights are called into question, academic freedom and free speech have terms, and identity feels less like a given and more like an argument?
With this magazine and an incredible set of writers, we set out to examine different perspectives of service and freedom in the Baylor Family. This issue takes us to the fringes of the remarkable amount of archival knowledge tucked inside Baylor’s story — from 1940s France, to the scorched trails of the late-1880s Wild West and the hallowed halls of Congressional office buildings.
Behind the Cover
Philiappians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
The statue of Rev. Robert Gilbert (’67) in front of Tidwell Bible Building holds a Bible open to his favorite scripture.
Gilbert, the University’s first Black graduate, is an obvious symbol of freedom within the Baylor Family. For this cover, we spent time with the statues of Gilbert and Mrs. Barbara Walker, taking in the detail of the beautiful bronze casts that were unveiled in 2023.
In This Issue
Editor’s Note
Freedom is one of those words that feels self-evident. But how to you cover it at a time like this? In this issue of The Baylor Line, Editor-in-chief Kourtney Nering sits with the meaning of freedom from all angles.
Lessons from Washington, D.C.
Baylor interns in Washington, D.C., persisted through the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, furloughs, and missed expectations, thanks to a wide D.C. alumni network.
The Mission Never Sleeps
Alumni working in Washington, D.C., weren’t immune to the turbulence of the 2025 government shutdown. Four recent graduates reflect on a rocky start to professional life in the nation’s capital.
The Centennial Class of 1945
The centennial class left behind more than memories — it left behind a portal to the Baylor of the Past. See the University through the lens of the students who inherited a university marked by war and turned toward a brighter future.
In the Beginning
In the 1920s, a sociology textbook landed Baylor in the entire BGCT’s spotlight. In the 2000s, a small research center called the University’s freedom into question again. What does a Christian university owe to science?
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Science at the Edge of Survival
Groundbreaking research to optimize performance and safety for military operations carried out in extreme weather conditions is changing the world — for warfighters and civilians alike.
The Call of Duty
Nick Bradford (’27) is a full-time student, a dad, a husband, a full-time employee, and he’s in the reserves. His life looks a little bit different than that of the traditional college student — a commonality among the veterans of Baylor.
The [Un]Remarkable Life of Rufus B. Spain
Rufus Spain served in two wars, integrated a university, and lived 100 years to tell the tale. But don’t call him a hero.
Illuminating the Darkness of War
From the March-April 1991 issue of The Baylor Line, professors share three ways colleges can play a role during wartime: working to improve understanding, supporting free inquiry, and preparing students for a troubled world.
“Most of all, as children, we learned to dream together. We dreamed of a future different from our everyday world, a day when every one of us would be strong, successful, and good, and nothing would stand in our way.”
Rev. Robert Gilbert (’67)
