Brown and White Vol. 119 no. 1

              Lehigh ranked for racial gap of graduates
By SARAH FREEMAN
A recent study from The Education Trust included Lehigh in its list of the 25 private colleges and universities with the largest white-black graduation rate gaps.
According to the study, the three­year average graduation rate of Lehigh’s white student population was 86.3 percent, while the three-year av­erage graduation rate of Lehigh’s black student population was 64.5 percent. At Lehigh, the gap is a 21.8 percent difference, compared to the national average gap of about 20 percent.
Dean of Students Sharon Basso said recent data compiled in a study done by Lehigh showed a smaller gap between the graduation rates, but she acknowledged that Lehigh still has a lot of work to do to eliminate the gap entirely.
The drastic gap is partly a result of Lehigh’s small black student popula­tion of 3.2 percent, according to the study. The admissions office is con­tinually trying to increase recruitment in under-represented populations.
“The gap is a representation of a larger issue, and across the nation, black males have the lowest retention rates,” said Jame’l Hodges, director of Multicultural Affairs.
Lehigh has been working indepen­dently for the past 18 months, com­piling more comprehensive data on graduation rates.
“It’s a difficult place for underrep­resented students to be at a predomi­nantly white institution like Lehigh, but also nationally,” Basso said. “Its a transition for our students because they are so academically motivated to hang in there, but on campus, faculty, staff and students have a role to help us if those numbers are going to get more equates. We all play a role in the campus climate.”
“The study ignored other factors that may have influenced the lower graduation rates,” Provost Patrick Far­rell said. “For example, a first genera­tion student or a student who attended a high school with lower academic rigor may also be more likely to not graduate.”
“A student’s reasoning for leaving Lehigh cannot usually be attributed to a single factor,” Farrell also said. “I prefer to look at the ‘whole student’, seeing if a student is not doing well in one area of the university’s lifestyle such as academics or having a strong social life.”
“The lower graduation rate of Le­high’s minority students is influenced by a clash in traditions and equality on campus,” Hodges said. “All over campus, minorities are scarcely seen, not just in regard to student popula­tions, but also in the faculty, staff, administrations, Greek life and even in the photographs and statues around
See RACIAL GAP Page 5
By MEGAN HANKS
Last semester, Chi Phi was required by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs to suspend all activities on allegations that they participated in hazing, as well as violated parts of several codes of conduct.
Assistant Dean of Students Chris Mulvihill said the Chi Phi incident that took place last semester was handled the same way every con­duct case is handled at Lehigh. The conduct process has not changed since the spring semes­ter, and Mulvihill said it will not be changed during this semester.
Mulvihill said Chi Phi’s case is relatively mundane.
“No one gets special treatment if you haze people,” he said, however.
The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs has established some alternatives to hazing, but some fraternities and sororities do not use them.
“It’s not like Chi Phi didn’t know what they were doing was hazing,” Mulvihill said.
Both Mulvihill and Tim Wilkinson, director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, said the trial was fair because so much information was col­lected, both from formerly active brothers and alumni. Between 15 and 20 people were inter­viewed, including some then-active brothers and some people who were going through new member education, Mulvihill said.
The hearing process lasted approximately 15 hours,Wilkinson said. The outcome of the trial was that Chi Phi was put on disciplinary probation.
Even when the chapter is allowed to re­start, the house will remain on disciplinary probation.
Chi Phi appealed the decision, but the ap­After
hazing incident, Chi Phi rebuilds
See CHI PHI Page 4
SteelStacks may be ‘social investment’ in South Side
By JACKIE LYONS
The SteelStacks Arts and Cultural Campus in South Bethlehem will not necessarily attract business and rev­enue to existing businesses, accord­ing to Thomas Hyclak, professor of economics at Lehigh.
“Even if there’s a lot of people attracted to SteelStacks and a lot of people attracted to the casino, it is not clear how much of that will spill over into the existing neighbor­hoods,” Hyclak said.
“However, from a public point of view, it will generate value for the community as a social investment.”
The SteelStacks campus, located on the former Bethlehem Steel site, will feature a number of buildings and plazas, such as an artist market, farmers market and a new center for performing arts aimed at bringing more cultural events to the Lehigh Valley.
However, unless something is done to direct people out of the SteelStacks campus and into the South Bethlehem community, it may not create profit for local businesses, Hyclak said. The distance and loca­tion of SteelStacks may also be an issue.
“If I’m around the area, I will shop in South Bethlehem, but it’s not like I am going to go out of my way to get there,” Chris Holguin, ’13, said.
Michael Stershic, president of Dis­cover Lehigh Valley, said SteelStacks will attract tourism and will provide nighttime entertainment, weekend events and festivals expected to draw
See SteelStacks Page 4
Class of 2014 waves hello
B&W photo by DAN COBAR
The class of 2014 ended their orientation with the class of 1964 “adopting” them. Each year, Lehigh honors this tradition at the First-Year Student Rally where the incoming class is adopted by the class from 50 years prior.
Vol. 119 No. 1
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
‘All the Lehigh News First’
THE BROWN AND WHITE
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