Brown and White Vol. 120 no. 11

              Vol. 120 No. 11
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
‘All the Lehigh News First’
THE BROWN AND WHITE
Lehigh University’s Student Newspaper Founded in 1894
SPORTS
Women’s basketball
enters postseason
Page 12
ONLINE
‘Like’ our
Facebook page
facebook.com
Alum lands
on Broadway
Page 5
LIFESTYLE
By CAROLINE COUZENS
Infection rates of Chlamydia are on the rise in Pennsylvania, according to The Morning Call. The growth has been most pronounced among 15- to 24-year-olds, which overlaps the age of most college undergraduates.
In 2007, 15- to 24-year-olds ac­counted for about three-quarters of all Chlamydia cases in Pennsylvania. According to statistics released by the state’s Health Department, cases of Chlamydia have more than doubled since 1998, with as many as 47,521 cases this year.
In 2008, one percent of Lehigh stu­dents who got tested for sexually trans­mitted infections tested positive for Chlamydia. A year later, that number increased to two percent, and by 2010, four percent of tested students had con­tracted Chlamydia.
Chlamydia is a very common sexually transmitted bacterial infection contracted by engaging in sexual activ­ity without using a barrier, such as a condom or a dental dam. Many people who become infected with STIs are unaware of it because they lack visible symptoms.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, untreated Chlamydia can damage a woman’s reproductive organs. The infection can spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes, and potentially cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy. Chlamydia can also increase the risk of becoming infected with HIV, if ex­posed to the virus. However, complica­tions in men are rare.
By MELISSA COLLINS
with additional reporting by
MEGAN HANKS
The Lehigh chapter of Delta Gamma sorority has been placed on Disciplinary Deferred Dissolution through December 2011 after facing charges for violating the University Code of Conduct last Monday.
According to a letter from Tim Wilkinson, director of Fraternity and So­rority Affairs, to the new members of the sorority, the charges are a result of events that took place on Jan. 18, involving both existing and new members of DG. The charges were for hazing, providing alcohol to minors and failure to comply with a university official, according to the letter.
The sorority will also be a substance-free living environment through Dec. 31, 2012, and will be placed on Disciplinary Probation from Jan. 1, 2012 through May 31, 2013.
DG will also be unable to accept a new member class for the spring 2011, and current new members will not be permitted to join the sorority until fall 2011. However, new members will be able to live in DG’s house on the Hill dur­ing the fall semester if they choose to con­tinue with their new member education.
Another sanction stated that all exist­ing members of DG will undergo a new member program, similar to what new members will participate in during the fall 2011 semester, throughout this semester.
On Feb. 21, a five-member panel, including three faculty members and two students, met to discuss what the reper­cussions of the sorority’s actions would be.
“I believe DG was very honest from the beginning and that goes a long way,” Wilkinson said. “I’ve tried to explain that to other chapters.”
Despite rumors on campus, DG will be keeping its house on the Hill, but the members are under strict guidelines of what they can and cannot do.
“If it violates code of conduct, don’t do it,” Wilkinson said. “And don’t involve
B&W photo by LEAH KULP
Gabe Knutson, ’13, and the men’s basketball team will host Navy tomorrow in the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinals at 7 p.m. in Stabler Arena.
Student begins initiative to strengthen feel of community
By OLIVIA HANDEREK
The Residence Hall Association will debut a new program, the LeHIgh initiative, on March 16 in an effort to create a more connected campus. The aim of the program is simple: getting students to say “Hi” to one another.
“The initiative serves as a way to create a more ‘united’ Lehigh commu­nity,” said Adam Kohn, president of the Residence Hall Association. “Although Lehigh prides itself on unity, at times students can forget about the simple action of greeting other students.”
“The LeHIgh initiative is a pin ex­change program where students are en­couraged to trade pins with people that they greet throughout the day. The pins will be given out during the kick-off of the program in mid-March,” he said.
Kohn said the unique aspect of the LeHIgh initiative is that it requires minimal work on the students’ parts—all they need to do is pass on pins as they greet other people on campus.
Nicole Schwartz, ’13, founder of the LeHIgh initiative, said the program originated out of a desire to create a more welcoming environment on cam­pus, similar to what she experiences in her home state of Nevada.
“I am from the West Coast where people are very laid back and gener­ally nice. For example, we say ‘hello’ to people who pass by, even if we haven’t met, out of common courtesy,” she said. “When I came to Lehigh on the East Coast, I faced a huge culture shock, so much that I felt lucky if someone even glanced in my direction. If you pass by someone one-on-one, chances are he or she will either look away, look at a phone or look straight at your face without flinching. It just bugs me that there are few people that will say ‘good morning’ or even smile by free will. No, we may not know every person at this school, but the fact that we all go to Lehigh University con
Welcome home
See DG Page 2
See COMMUNITY Page 3
See CHLAMAYDIA Page 2
n As more students are tested for STIs, the number receiv­ing positive results for one disease is increasing.
Sorority under scrutiny after conduct violations
Chlamydia infections on the rise in young adults