President Starr welcomes political analyst David Brooks for “On Topic” conversation

One night after the nation’s attention was focused on the polling booths for Super Tuesday, Baylor and President Ken Starr welcomed one of America’s most prominent political commentators, David Brooks, for an “On Topic” discussion in front of a packed Waco Hall audience. [See photos from the event here.]

Naturally, Brooks — known for his political pieces in The New York Times and appearances on NPR’s “All Things Considered” — began the evening discussing the results of Super Tuesday and where he believes America’s political landscape is headed. Throughout the rest of the evening, he covered such topics as religion, the Syrian refugee crisis and social media.

[WATCH the entire “On Topic” conversation with David Brooks]

In closing, Brooks shared a few words of advice for Baylor students. “The thing that you’ll remember the most from here is your friends,” he said. “So invest heavily in your friends. … There will be moments of unemployment, moments of romantic breakdown. That’s why your friends are important.”

(For more details of Brooks’ visit, check out these recaps from the Waco Tribune-Herald and The Baylor Lariat. The Lariat also filed this video report, recapping the event and sharing students’ thoughts on the evening.)

Brooks is Baylor’s 13th on-campus “On Topic” guest, adding to a list of visitors that includes former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, longtime U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, former U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Sic ’em, David Brooks!