LehighWeek Volume 13, Issue 25

              In memoriam
Prof. Sathya of IMSE
dies   during  sabbatical
See Page 4
Volume 13, Issue 25
LehigxWeek
The campus digest for innovation, news and events
South Mountaineer
Four wrestlers are named
to All-American squad
See page 8
March 29, 2000
courtesy ot
Randall Robinson
TransAfrica
founder to give
Cohen Lecture
Randall Robinson, human rights
activist and founder of
TransAfrica, an organization
that lobbies for African and Caribbean interests, will give the
14th annual Cohen International
Relations Lecture at Lehigh on
Monday, April 3. The free, public
talk, "A New Era in U.S. -Africa
Relations," will be held at 8:15
p.m. in Baker Hall of the Zoellner
Arts Center.
Robinson is the founder and
president of TransAfrica, the
first organization devoted solely
to increasing knowledge of and
influencing U.S. foreign policy
toward African and Caribbean
people. Since its inception in
1977, the Washington, D.C.-
based organization has grown
from a two-person operation to a
national lobbying group with
more than 15,000 members.
During its history, TransAfrica
has taken on several of the most
pressing crises in Africa and the
Caribbean, convincing American
politicians to invoke economic
sanctions against the former
apartheid regime in South Africa; helping secure the release
of Nelson Mandela; and mobilizing the fight to reinstate President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in
Haiti. A 27-day hunger strike by
Robinson to protest the
government's treatment of Haitian refugees brought him international attention and resulted
in a major shift in U.S. policy.
Robinson also heads the
TransAfrica Forum, which provides educational programs
about Africa and the Caribbean
in print, radio and television.
Robinson is the author of Defending the Spirit: Black Life in
America and The Debt, as well as
articles that have been published in major publications. His
honors and awards include ABC's
"Person of the Week" by ABC and
the Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Service and Humanitarian Awards.
Born in Richmond, Va.,
Robinson is a graduate of Vir-
Please See COHEN, Page 3
A
Artwork by Marvin Simmons
Randall Robinson, founder of TransAfrica,will give the
14th Annual Cohen International Relations Lecture, "A New
Era in U.S. - Africa Relations," at 8:15 pm on Monday, April 3, 2000.
He heads TransAfrica Forum,which promotes progressive foreign policy
positions towards Africa and the Caribbean. The free public lecture will be given
in Baker Hall at the Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University.      *-* PftlTt ITIIJ IIP
A record year
for admissions
For the fourth consecutive year,
Lehigh has shattered the school
record for freshman applications
received.
The admissions office received 9,400 applications for the
Class of 2004, an increase of 6
percent over the number received
for the Class of 2003. Applications
have increased by more than 30
percent in the last five years.
The quality of the incoming
classes has increased as well,
with average SAT scores and
high school class standing up significantly. The average SAT for
accepted students this year was
1310, compared to 1299 last year.
One reason for the improvement has been increased interest in the College of Arts and Sciences because of its increased
visibility and reputation, while
interest in the Rossin College of
Engineering and Applied Science
and the College of Business and
Economics remains strong. Virtually all the growth in applications was for arts and sciences,
which saw an increase of 12 percent in applications over last year.
Lorna J. Hunter, dean of admissions and financial aid, said
her office has been recruiting differently - and with more success.
"We've been getting out more
and raising the visibility of
Lehigh in states outside the
Northeast," Hunter said. "In the
past, for example, we recruited
in California every other year.
Now we're visiting California
three times a year, and applications from that state have been
up as a result."
The admissions office also is
relying more heavily on alumni
to recruit freshmen. A new interviewing network of alumni volunteers produced nearly 100 interviews with high school students
during its first year of operation.
Faculty also work with admissions to re'cruit the class. "We
really appreciate their help and
cooperation," said Hunter.
The admissions office has reviewed applications from high
school students and mailed acceptance packages. The office
made slightly more than 4,100
offers. The fall freshman class is
estimated to be between 1,080
and 1,100.
Each college will host a Candidates' Day in April and the entire month has been designated
"Experience Lehighlife Days."
Arts and sciences will host their
Candidates' Day April 8, and
business and engineering will
follow on April 15. Each weekday,
students can have breakfast with
President Greg Farrington, sit
in on classes, have lunch with a
faculty member, and tour the
campus. Students must accept
their offer by May 1.
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