Line Camp Leads Incoming Freshmen ‘Home’ to Baylor
Media Contact: Lori Fogleman, 254-710-6275
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by Liesbeth Powers, student newswriter
WACO, Texas (June 21, 2018) – Incoming Baylor University freshmen get their first extended stay on campus at Line Camp, a three-day orientation experience that deeply engages new students in life at Baylor and introduces time-honored university traditions. This includes a trip to Independence, Texas, the historical site of Baylor, where incoming students explore the original campus of Baylor, share a meal, sing together and receive their gold jerseys as part of the ceremonial induction into the Baylor Line.
The Baylor Line, established in 1970, represents the commitment of Baylor fans and of freshmen in particular, who take part in one of the most unique traditions in college football – forming a human tunnel to welcome the Baylor football team onto the field at McLane Stadium.
Line Camp Leader Grant Patrick, sophomore pre-neuroscience major from Flower Mound, remembers his Independence experience as one of the best days of his life.
"I want to be able to give back and help the new students coming in to feel that sense of belonging that I felt," Patrick said. "I think Line Camp is the most transformative three days of all these new students' lives."
Patrick gets to experience his best days again and again throughout the summer and has found community to be the best part of being a camp leader.
"Meeting all these new students and forming new relationships with so many people has been a blessing," Patrick said.
Other Line Camp events include the Bruiser Games, a team-building competition with physical challenges, a mini-Sing performance, which mimics Sing, the annual university-wide showcase of talent in which teams are tasked with choreographing a themed song and dance, a banquet at McLane Stadium and a variety of small group sessions.
Incoming Houston freshman Abby Baty plans to study pre-psychology and enjoyed some of the less traditional aspects of Line Camp, like the dance party celebration on the last night of each session. The Line Camp experience prepared her for the upcoming year and allowed for friendships she might not get elsewhere, Baty said.
"You get to start out with a strong community knowing that Baylor is really there for you," Baty said.
Traditions Specialist Isaac Bradley, senior choral music major from Waco, is looking forward to seeing the lives of students around him grow and flourish throughout the summer. Bradley's position includes giving presentations to campers and making sure that things run smoothly during trips to Independence.
"Line Camp is an incredibly affirming experience for all who participate in it, and being a part of making it happen is an incredible opportunity," Bradley said. "I hope to leave each student with a strong sense of confidence and security as they begin their journey into college."
New student activities like Line Camp are extremely important for incoming students to experience, Bradley said.
"Activities like this change the incoming students' perspectives, solidify their choice to come to Baylor, and instill a feeling of belonging and confidence as they enter their time at Baylor," Bradley said.
Incoming New Braunfels freshman Cameron Austin plans to study psychology and enjoyed the dance party and trip to Independence the most of the week's activities.
"It was really awesome going to Independence and singing and getting our Line jerseys," Austin said. "I got to hug my leader and that was fun."
During his senior year, Austin was so sure of his decision to come to Baylor he only applied to one school.
"I chose to come to Baylor because I grew up coming to Baylor. Both of my parents grew up here so I've always come to sports games and other events," Austin said. "It's always felt like a home to me."
Baylor offers a variation of Line Camps from students to choose from. June camps combine Orientation and Line Camp, while July camps are Line Camp specific. Specialty Line Camp options include an Honors College, Engineering & Computer Science, Outdoor Adventure Colorado and a Missions experience in the Dominican Republic, which partners with One More Child Global.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.