Brown and White Vol. 83 no. 8

              lehigh university brown and white bethlehem pa wednesday october 6 1971 vol 83 • no 8 866-0331 mmmmz proposed highway studied in depth by john klucsik a second edition of the locally famous and controversial gruen report has been compiled and distributed the latest study urges careful reconsideration of the plans made by the pennsylvania department of transportation penndot to construct a south corridor through the city of bethlehem the proposed highway should generally follow the path through the south side now occupied by the reading railroad right-of-way the report points out that although greater access to the bethlehem steel facilities would be gained through the proposed construction as plans now stand this could only be realized at the price of dislocating more than 500 families and literally splitting the south side down the middle the study indicates that through careful placement of the highway reduced dislocations improved bethlehem steel company bsc access improved local street operation an improved housing environment and reduced construction impact can all be achieved gruen associates gruen associates was commissioned by the south side 76 committee of the bethlehem chamber of commerce to evaluate and report on the effects of a number of proposed development projects on the south side community among the plans considered by gruen associates are those of penndot for a south spur and the expansion projections of bethlehem steel and lehigh according to the report south bethlehem has a population of 17,700 or 24.6 percent of bethlehem's total population this includes approximately 2,200 university students in the twenty year period 1950-1970 the south side suffered a decline in population of 33 percent due to the immigration of the young to the suburbs as well as develop ment by industry and the university in former residential areas south side picture there are about 5,500 housing units in the area five percent of which are vacant mean income on the south side is 7,000 a year lagging behind the city's mean of 9,000 most of the buildings are old many in need of repair besides being congested by 15,000 commuting bethlehem steel workers 21.3 percent of the south side's streets are in need of complete rebuilding according to the report at first glance the picture is one of a deteriorating social environment with residents of lower than average income inhabiting old buildings fronting poorly maintained streets yet a survey hy gruen associates showed that only half of those who would be dislocated by proposed development projects wish to leave the south side churches and social clubs abound the population density is only 29.8 persons per acre and there is little evidence of over crowding the present penndot plan would dis locate 532 families most of which have incomes below 6,000 per year gruen associates note that the persons least able to cope with relocation will be forced to move the third and fourth street business district will be greatly affected by any major development on the south side already suffering from the inadequacy of downtown parking facilities and a present pennsylvania department of transportation plans will split the south side gruen report ii urged the state to reconsider and prevent the possible displacement of 500 local families the proposed highway is supposed to increase i access to bethlehem steel improve street operation and housing environment b & w photo by mccormik fund raising program to initiate 10-year construction proposals by maria zumas paul j franz jr vice president of development has elaborated on key factors concerning lehigh's 10-year plan the plan constitutes construction of future buildings and buildings improvements and involves academic athletic and creative arts facilities franz whose job it is to organize the fund raising drive said that a campaign must have a challenging goal but it can only be reached with mass effort the campaign will begin with an intensive drive recede to a normal drive and conclude with another intensive drive for funds prospective contributors must be en couraged to take substantial interest in the program in april and may of 1971 the 10 year plan was presented to ap proximately 45 individuals who are regarded as key contributors these donors were asked to criticize the uni versity's needs and the money involved in the program if the 10-year program is approved by the board of trustees and the forum volunteers will be trained in order to launch the fund-raising campaign alumni friends of the university and any interested students will comprise the work force franz noted that 1/3 of the donors give 2/3 of the money to lehigh in other words 10 per cent of the con tributors give 70 to 75 per cent of the capital an encouraging note is that the 70's promise more money from private foundations he said the all-university complex a major consideration in the 10-year program has stimulated a bit of controversy franz defended the complex on the grounds that it meets some of the educational needs of the university he stated more facilities must be provided for intramural and recreational needs for these areas touch many of the students on campus at one time the all-university complex was to be primarily a creative arts center franz remarked original totals allocated for one building for creative arts do not enhance fund raising potential specialists in music and dram also prefer individual buildings rather than combining all into one arts center the 10-year plan is divided into two phases which are based solely on time for example it has been proposed that a theater be built inside of grace hall this would not be done until the all university complex was built until the complex is complete grace hall would still have to be used for convocations wrestling meets and basketball games the all-university complex is expected to generate some money for operating costs since it will be available for leasing to the public by building a theater within grace hall less operating money would be needed for its upkeep than if a completely new theater building were constructed one must realize that the projected figure for the 10-year plan 67,000,000 is an educated guess it is difficult to gauge the potential for a decade none theless previous 10-year programs present an interesting pattern gifts in 1940 were 3,000,000 in 1950 they were 15,480,000 and in 1960 they amounted to 35,676,000 the period between 1950 to 1960 showed a double in gifts therefore the forecast for this year's program is 67,000,000 franz emphatically stated i am over come by the dedication and generosity of the alumni and friends of the university he also noted a versatility of interests most of the alumni support the academic as well as the athletic segments of the university the joint committee on university life jcul which was a student represented faculty advisory committee prior to the forum presented an 86 million develop ment program for the 70's it has been noted that this figure has been cut down by approximately 20 million franz has indicated that the 20 million reduction came under the category of operating funds franz stated there are advantages in keeping it strictly a campaign for capital funds if we raise money for operations we must raise the budget every year it is better he continued to set up the operating budget on a basis where it is funded for the future fund-raising consultants franz noted have said that the public becomes dis enchanted when it provides money for operating funds schools that have com bined their operating needs with their goals have run into problems franz commented nevertheless operating money must be raised not in a capital campaign but on a continuing basis direct solicitations to foundations and individuals are two sources for the money federal and state monies may also offer assistance to the operating budget of private schools paul j franz jr coed subcommittee urges band to audition women the newly-formed forum subcommittee on coed affairs held its first meeting on thursday the major topic of discussion was the question of a non-coed band the meeting consisted largely of a reiteration of previously stated opinions and stands both by band members and non-members the major contention of the band was that girls could not march in the traditional military style it was felt by the coeds that they should at least be allowed to either prove or disprove this by par ticipating in tryouts numerous other points were brought up on all sides band member ed dzenis 74 cited other bands that were all-male despite a coed student body penn state is one of these dzenis said and is considered to have an excellent marching band west chester state was also noted as a coed school without a coed marching band at this school female music majors outnumber male music majors by a large percentage but the marching band does not admit females bucknell was also given as an example of a school that had an excellent marching band while the school was all-male when they began to allow girls to march the band was forced to change its style and as a result the band was no longer able to see both page 4 see gruen page 4