Brown and White Vol. 100 no. 34

              th e brown and white lehigh university bethlehem pennsylvania vol.loo n0.34 friday march 3 1989 215 758-4181 engineering applications decline by jacqueune montana brown and white news writer the number of applications for admission to lehigh's college of engineering and applied sciences has decreased dramatically in recent years only 1,700 applications were submit ted for the upcoming year said direc tor of admissions samuel missimer in 1983-84 lehigh received 2,950 applica tions for the engineering school the decline in interest at lehigh is also reflected in freshman enrollment in engineering schools across the country enrollment in engineering programs totalled 115,000 students in 1981 falling to 99,000 in 1986 the drop in american engineering applicants has resulted in an increase in the number of foreign students accepted in engineering programs on the doctoral level more than half of all engineering students in american uni versities are foreign lehigh is no exception national declining interest has greatly aftected the university's engineering program dean of the college of engineering and applied sciences alan pense said he is concerned and is presently preparing a report on the topic as a result of the decline job oppor tunities are improving for engineers because they are now in short supply pense said this is good news for students graduating with an engineer ing degree but it is not promising for us industries falling behind foreign competitors why interest is declining in engin eering among american students can not be determined pense said no one knows for sure what the exact reason is one suggestion as to why interest is dropping is the lack of publicity and emphasis engineering receives on the high school level explained pense he said math and science courses are not being emphasized enough by teachers and guidance counselors the lack of interest was reflected in the small number of area high school students who participated in engine ers week career night feb 21 although a few schools participate faithfully in the career night in recent years tho majority of area high schools rarely send more than three students pense said i was notdisappointed by the turnout but i wasn't optimistic either students work ethics are another significant reason for the declining interest in engineering pense said engineering has not been effectively transmitted to high school students as an interesting field he explained students hear about the salaries of investors and business men and compare them to engineer ing salaries they then compare an engineering curriculum to business courses and decide the committment and hard work required for an engin eering degree is too great in compar ison to the small remuneration said pense this graph shows the marked de crease over the past five years in the number of ap plications lehigh has received for its college of en gineering and applied sciences.the drop is attrib uted in part to a lack of pub licity of engi neering to high school students groups tackle women's issues by erica crespi brown and white news writer the women's commission was divided into five individual study groups at its first organizational meet ing feb 25 these groups will focus on different issues affecting women at lehigh lehigh president peter likins ordered the commission to investigate and study conditions for women on campus and to recognize the existing problems said commission chair woman judith lasker associate dean of tlie college of arts and science the areas of study include institu tional climate recruitment retention and advancement oportunities cam pus life academic programs and ser vices and conditions of employment the institutional climate study group will target sensitive issues con cerning women and develop strateg ies to increase awareness of these issues said the group's co-leader assistant dean of students janet wal bert leon caldwell 91 is co-leader of the group walbertsaid her group will investig ate how the atmosphere and events of the campus affect attitudes toward women although their plans have not been finalized walbert said they will consider issues such as the greek system's effect on image and treat ment of women sexual harrassment and the subtle elements of degrada tion hidden in attitudes toward women the group wants to heighten sen sitivity in everyone about common things which are said and done that discriminate against women walbert said it doesn't matter whether it is intentional or not it is an integrated part of what we do she said the recruitment retention and advancement opportunities study group will focus on the current recruit ment process for freshmen they will also investigate possible improve ments to increase the admission retention and support of women associate provost patti ota the group's co-chairwoman said her group will focus primarily on the engineering and science disciplines jennifer brown 92 will serve as the other co-chairwoman for the group increasing the number of female full-time staff members is another major goal of the group according to ota there is currently an 8 to 1 ratio of male to female faculty members there are 400 male and 50 female faculty members in tlie entire univers ity ota said in the college of engin eering and applied science there are only five female staff members she said although the group is in the initial baw photo by jim kolbihg the figlear building located on fourth and new streets has been demolished to make way for shops see applications page 2 see commission page 2 sports the season in review ecc pull-out section — pages 10-11 epperly and herrmann ready for eiwas page 19 arts&leisure spring break 14 days and counting — page 15 investigating fraternity mainten ance-page 17 soaries speaks of privilege of college for blacks page 3 speaker indicts congress reagan in loan crisis page 5 what's inside