Brown and White Vol. 117 no. 3

              By DANA GIALLONARDO
The Bethlehem Coalition for Qual­ity Education held a rally recently to protest the Bethlehem Area School District’s decision to cut more than $3.5 million in educational programming.
The rally was held on Aug. 23 in response to the Bethlehem Area School District School Board’s Aug. 17 decision to cut programs tailored primarily for at-risk students.
These programs include the Career Academy, a school for at-risk high school students and RASA, a school for at-risk students in grades four through six, as well as the transportation budget for SPARK, the district-run preschool program designed for low-income and special education preschoolers.
The school board also decided to cut funding for support positions and teach­ers in all of the Bethlehem area schools. Among the positions being cut are guid­ance counselors, reading support posi­tions and special education teachers.
According to Professor Kimberly Carrell-Smith, professor of practice in public history, director of the Lehigh Community Fellows Program, and also a member of the Bethlehem community, over 400 people turned out to the rally in support of the coalition and their efforts to protest the School Board’s decision.
Carrell-Smith said teachers made up the majority of protesters, but a large portion of parents and students who would be directly affected by the budget cuts were there, as well as community officials and representatives from vari­ous community groups.
“The School Board made an enor­mous error,” Carrell-Smith said, adding that the Board has frequently threatened to make cuts before.
Carrell-Smith said the Board took the easy way out by choosing to cut specific programs that affect a specific group of people instead of issuing a small per­centage cut that was spread out over the district.
“The School Board has created an enormous divide,” Carrell-Smith said. “I can’t believe officials would lay the plan out in this way.”
Rally organizer and coalition mem­ber Kristine Maurer thought the rally was successful because it united many
Cuts to Bethlehem area schools prompt rally
See RALLY Page 6
By ALY CALLAHAN
As the fall semester begins, students cannot help but no­tice the number of arrests and citations being given out off campus.
The Bethlehem Police De­partment received a grant for $11,500 from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board that has been matched with $2,875 of the police department’s own funds to go toward overtime wages for patrolling officers.
“The money is being used to pay overtime for personal concentrated patrols designed to enforce underage drinking reduction and elimination, con­centrated in residential areas surrounding campus,” Lieuten­ant Ashley Heiberger of the Bethlehem Police Department said.
During a question and an­swer session at Theta Chi fra­ternity last Wednesday, a Beth­lehem police officer explained that all officers have the option of working overtime.
The sole responsibility of those who choose to work overtime is to patrol the streets for alcohol violations, said Michael Doherty,’10, who at­tended the session.
Anywhere from 15-20 extra police officers will be on patrol any given Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, said Doherty.
“Lt. Ashley Heiberger said students can expect to see more officers during the weekends through October,” according to The Express Times.
Between the start of the se­mester and Aug. 29, many cita­tions have been issued. These citations include one felony, seven misdemeanors, and 39 summary offenses, which in­clude 18 underage drinking, nine disorderly conducts, four open containers, five public drunkenness, one disorderly house, one loitering and one possession of a false ID, were reported off campus, Heiberger said.
Most, but not all of the of­fenders were Lehigh students, said Heiberger.
“The officers are in place to make sure that the laws of The Commonwealth of Pennsyl­vania are enforced,” Edward Shupp, Chief of the Lehigh Police Department, said. “The drinking age is 21. Right now probably 75 to 80 percent of students on campus are under the age of 21.”
“The chance of us coming across an individual under the age of 21 off campus is not going to be random,” he said. “There will be quite a few.”
Despite rumors, this grant is not anything out of the or­dinary. The city of Bethlehem received a similar grant from the Pennsylvania Liquor Con­n
The Bethlehem Police Department received $11,500 from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to enforce underage drinking laws.
Grants boost weekend patrol
See POLICE Page 4
Student reports sexual assault, then recants
Pigskin pride
B&W photo by BRIAN CASTELL
Students cheer on the Lehigh football team on Saturday in their first home game of the season. Despite these fans’ enthusiasm, the Mountain Hawks lost to Central Connecticut State, 28 to 21. For more photos from the game, see page 9.
By AUTUMN GOULD
Early Friday morning, a stu­dent reported to the Bethlehem Police Department that she was sexually assaulted on campus, according to an e-mail sent out to the campus community by John Smeaton, vice provost for student affairs.
Lehigh Police Chief Edward Shupp said the student reported the assault at around 2:15 a.m. The 19-year-old female was already in the custody of Beth­lehem Police for an unrelated matter.
Bethlehem, Lehigh and Penn­sylvania State police departments began an investigation immedi­ately regarding the assault.
Several hours later, the stu­dent recanted her statement, say­ing no such assault actually took place, Shupp said.
Again, both police depart­ments further investigated the situation and decided to support the student’s retraction, Smeaton said.
Another e-mail was sent out that afternoon to the campus community, stating that the wom­an’s claim had been unfounded.
According to The Express-Times, the student reported a rape. Shupp did not comment on the actual type of sexual assault she reported.
Shupp said he hopes students still notify police immediately of any crime.
“We should be seen as an ad­vocate, not an adversary,” Shupp said.
Smeaton said students should contact the Lehigh University Police Department, the Dean of Students Office or the Break the Silence Hotline in case of any crime.
Vol. 117 No. 3
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
‘All the Lehigh News First’
THE BROWN AND WHITE
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SPORTS
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Page 16
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Dangers
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Page 9
LIFESTYLE