History of Lehigh University

History of Lehigh University

Coeducation

While women were admitted as graduate students in 1916, undergraduate education at Lehigh was restricted to men until 1971. With the introduction of coeducation, class size was gradually increased from 800 men in 1970 to the mix of 1,200 men and women today. Lehigh's undergraduate population is now roughly 40-50% female and in 2006 it appointed its first female President, Dr. Alice P. Gast, the former Vice President and Associate Provost of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.cite news | last = McLoughlin
first = Kate | coauthors = | title = MIT associate provost to be next president
work = | pages = | language = | publisher = The Brown and White |date=May 8, 2006 | url = http://www.bw.lehigh.edu/story.asp?ID=19824 | accessdate = 2006-08-14]

Religious affiliation

Until the 1890s, education was free of charge by competitive exam and there was a religious affiliation with the Episcopal Church. The University dropped its Episcopalian affiliation in 1897 under President Thomas Messinger Drown. The school's endowment was largely in founder Asa Packer's Lehigh Valley Railroad, and when the stock market crashed in the panic of 1893, the University's financial situation was significantly damaged. Secularizing the University allowed it to qualify for state aid from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Lehigh never went back to free tuition.

Living units

" (Note: Lehigh collectively refers to groups of students that live together in a fraternity, sorority, residence hall or section as a "living unit") "

Originally, students lived in boarding houses in town, but as the Greek movement reached Lehigh, fraternity houses were established near the campus. To assist freshmen in adjusting to academic life, campus dormitories for them were established separate from the fraternities. Initially this was Taylor Hall, followed by Drinker, Price Hall, Richards and Dravo that formed the Freshman Quad. McClintic-Marshall was constructed to provide a dormitory for non-fraternity upperclassmen. A living unit of selected upperclassmen called "Gryphons" was established to live with and act as mentors and counselors to the freshmen.

After World War II, the school's enrollment rose sharply due to the introdution of the GI Bill. As a result, Lehigh erected temporary barrack style student housing where the Trembley Park apartments stand today. In the 1950's and 1960's, Lehigh constructed new buildings in Sayre Park to move the 36 fraternities onto the campus. This helped ensure university control over the safety of the residences but also made "The Hill" a place to party on Saturday night.

As an alternative to fraternities, six 44-man upperclass residences (Congdon, Emery, Leavitt, McConn, Smiley and Thornburg) were constructed for Lehigh's Centennial in 1965. These residences proved popular and each had their own elected officers, social dues and alumni associations. They rushed and selected freshman similar to fraternities, but without hazing and initiations. For a few years, McConn simultaneously led all upperclass living units in GPA while also placing second in Intramurals, and Thornburg eventually decided to become a national fraternity.

Because of their success, six more Centennial houses were planned and a new upperclass dining hall (Rathbone) was built for them in 1970. However, with the arrival of women on campus, the second set of Centennial houses became women's dorms instead.

Presently, the Centennial Complexes serve undergraduate freshman, along with M&M, Dravo, and Richards. Sophomore students are mostly housed in Drinker and Brodhead, with some living in Warren Square, Sayre Park and Trembley Park. Campus Square, Sayre and Trembley Park are where the juniors and seniors reside. Taylor College houses both underclassmen and upperclassmen.

Greek life

Fraternities provided the bulk of the upperclass living units at Lehigh through the 1970's when about 60 percent of the students were members of the 36 national fraternities on campus. As more female undergraduates arrived and additional apartment style residences were constructed, the fraternities found themselves chasing fewer available men. As a result, about 15 former fraternities closed and their buildings have been converted to sororities and other living units.

Approximately 1/3 of the student body now belong to 18 fraternities and 9 sororities. While the sororities are popular, some fraternities are having difficulty attracting enough members to remain viable. [http://www3.lehigh.edu/greeklife/] . A university program known as accreditation, which was implemented in 2003 to improve the Greek organizations [http://www.lehigh.edu/%7Eindost/greek/accreditation/index.html] cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = System-Wide Assessment Report | work = | publisher = Lehigh University Greek Life | date = | url = http://www.lehigh.edu/%7Eindost/greek/System_Wide_Assessment_Report_Spring_06.pdf | format = PDF | doi = | accessdate = 2006-08-14] , now requires fraternities and sororities to be occupied at no less than 90% of their capacity.

Physical Education & Intramurals

Prior to the 1970s, all freshmen took physical education unless they were on a varsity team, in the Marching 97 or in ROTC. In addition, all graduates had to be able to swim the length of the Taylor Gym pool. During freshmen orientation, a swim test was given. If a student passed, they completed their first graduation requirement. If they did not, they attended swim class instead of gym class.

Intramurals were a way to blow off steam on the all-male campus during the week and were a sense of pride between the living units. At one point, Lehigh's intramural program had the highest participation of any U.S. college. Intramurals continue today but with more emphasis on recreation instead of competition.

ROTC

Between 1940 and 1972, Lehigh students were subject to the draft upon graduation. Instead of being drafted, many enrolled in the voluntary Army and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs which occupied the upper floor of Grace Hall. Classrooms and offices surrounded the large drill floor, which was also used for dances and other events. In the sixties, Army ROTC had 300 members and Air Force ROTC had 150 members, representing 15% of the student body.

Army ROTC members learned to shoot on the rifle range beneath Lamberton Hall and rappelled down the front of Grace Hall. Patrolling was taught on the top of South Mountain and at Fort Indiantown Gap. Air Force ROTC members practiced in a Link Trainer and some earned their private pilots license at Queen City Airport in Allentown. An associated Civil Air Patrol Squadron assisted in searches for lost aircraft and people.

With the end of the draft, ROTC participation declined, resulting in the Air Force commissioning the final four cadets in 1995. Army ROTC continues as the central ROTC program for all of the Lehigh Valley colleges. It is now located in the spaces formerly occupied by the radio station, "The Brown and White", the Lehigh University Amateur Radio Society, and game room in the University Center basement. Upper Grace Hall now serves as the Ulrich Student Center, supplementing the University Center.

ocial life

With heavy academic loads on an all male campus, studying was the primary activity from Sunday through Friday. (And through Saturday noon until 1968, as classes were held on Saturday mornings until then). However, Saturday night saw numerous parties hosted by the upperclass living units, especially on home football game weekends. These usually involved DJ's or local bands.

In addition to the Lafayette game weekend, which saw many alumni return to their living units for post game cocktail parties, Fall and Spring Houseparty weekends were especially notable. Every upperclass living unit had themed parties that night, and the freshman residents of Richards House had to find somewhere else to sleep as their rooms were used to host the female visitors for the weekend.

References