Brown and White Vol. 118 no. 5

              Town Hall, Gast focus on the future
By ALEX KADIS
President Alice Gast hosted a Town Hall meeting to update the community about how the administration views Lehigh’s progress and its plans for the university’s future.
“We want Lehigh to be known as a leader in learning, a leader in innova­tion and a leader in creativity,” Gast said, reinforcing Lehigh’s Strategic Plan statement.
The rest of the meeting centered around the administration’s efforts to make that goal a reality.
Gast and other members of the administration spoke about the Stra­tegic Plan itself, Lehigh’s economic well-being and the community’s progress in the fields of diversity and philanthropy.
Vice President of Advancement Joseph Kender spoke about the suc­cessful completion of the 2009 Shine Forever fundraising campaign.
The campaign raised more than $500 million, which Kender attrib­uted to donors stretching to fulfill requests despite the difficult economic conditions.
Unlike many other campaigns in this economy, the donations are not simply promised but in cash.
Among the funds raised were $132.7 million for endowed scholar­ships and $47.6 million dollars for ren­ovations and new facilities, such as the Science, Technology, Environment, Policy & Society (STEPS) building.
Provost Patrick Farrell focused on four areas of the plan: cluster faculty hiring, first-year and beyond experience, engagement with South Bethlehem and enhancing graduate education.
Lehigh hopes to “develop capacity in interdisciplinary work,” in order to “address societal problems and en­hance Lehigh’s reputation,” he said.
By hiring professors from multiple disciplines together, Farrell believes the university can increase the number of interdisciplinary offerings.
Farrell said they want to extend the first-year experience beyond freshman year and help undergraduates make the most of Lehigh throughout their college career.
Regarding a hope for improved re­lations with South Bethlehem, Farrell said the plan asks for greater housing options for students in the surrounding neighborhood. Students, faculty and staff can sign up on the Web site to take part in working groups to shape these issues.
Vice President for Finance and Ad­ministration Peggy Plympton present­ed the outlook for higher education and Lehigh’s financial status moving into 2010.
According to her, the endowment, estimated at $980 million, is recover­ing, but the economic environment is uncertain.
While the endowment is on the rise, Plympton said the upcoming quarters are expected to be “sucky.”
The university is excited that do­nors and alumni continue to see Le­high as a proper steward of the money it receives.
See TOWN HALL Page 2
Vol. 118 No. 6
Friday, February 12, 2010
‘All the Lehigh News First’
THE BROWN AND WHITE
Lehigh University’s Student Newspaper Founded in 1894
SPORTS
Wrestling to take down New England
Page 12
ONLINE
Storm captured in photos, video
thebrownandwhite.com
Drugging
for the ‘A’
Page 5
LIFESTYLE
Blizzard hits Lehigh, classes canceled
B&W photos by CHRISTOPHER CHEW
Clockwise from top, Coppee Hall stands regal against the wind and snow Wednesday afternoon. Students gather on the U.C. front lawn for a pick-up rugby game and a snowball fight. Two students, wet from the weather, mold a giant snowman near the flagpole. See more Photos, Page 3.
By LIZ MARTINEZ
Lehigh students woke up Wednesday to the beginning of a blizzard that would last all day and cancel classes for the first time since 2002.
“Due to adverse weather conditions, Lehigh University is closed on Wednesday, Feb. 10,” the university posted on its Web site early that morning.
The snowstorm extended from Virginia to southern New England.
As of Wednesday night, Lehigh had accumulated at least a foot of snow at a rate of two inches per hour, according to Accuweath­er.com. The snow was expected to die down by early evening.
According to university police, there was “nothing to report and no emergencies.”
Off campus, however, several students reported power outages on Birkel Avenue and Pierce street.
On campus, students were able to access Taylor Gym from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Rathbone and Lower U.C. for dining, but not the Health and Wellness Center.
In the greater area, Governor Ed Rendell ordered the closing of Interstate-78 and Interstate-176 until the storm subsides.
LANTA, the Lehigh Valley’s public transportation system, shut
See SNOW Page 2