New Social Policy

As of the week prior to spring break, both IFC and Panhel passed a new social policy that is affecting the Greek community, who typically rely on "mixers" for their nightly party agendas.  The new social policy is a restriction on fraternity house funds, meaning frats at Lehigh can no longer use their house funds to purchase hard alcohol.  This has been talked about for a long time within the Greek community, but bringing this plan into action is predicted to have both positive and negative results.  The bigger concern of the Greek community is whether or not this new social plan is actually going to work, and if not, how long is it going to last.  So far, I've seen majority of fraternities on this campus take the new social rule fairly seriously.  However, in order for it to work, all must commit to making the change.  The question is, is it worth it?

Here are the proposed positive aspects of this change in social policy at Lehigh:

-Reduced number of students (mainly freshmen in the first semester) being sent to the hospital for alcohol related incidents

-Lehigh police claim they will no longer bust parties on the Hill (in fraternity homes on the campus) if hard alcohol is not present; therefore, Lehigh students will no longer have to venture into the streets of Southside Bethlehem to attend these "mixer" events

-No longer having to look at the God awful Bankers bottles - it is actually poison

However, this new proposed idea is expected to bring all perps to Lehigh's campus.  There are many questionable aspects of this new social policy and what is expected to come of it.  For example:

-I am not quite sure how the Lehigh police would ever be able to walk into a party, see a freshman who is clearly not of the legal drinking age consuming a cup of beer or glass of wine.  Regardless of what type of alcohol it is, if a cop sees a minor drinking, isn't it his duty to stop it?  How are the cops honestly going to turn a cheek to underage drinking - no matter what the beverage is.

-Alcohol is alcohol.  Though hard alcohol is mainly the reason students from Lehigh are shipped off to the hospital semester after semester (i.e. too many shots), other alcoholic beverages can end you up in the same place.

-Beer and wine? This campus is about to double in size. Actually.

-What most students, including freshmen, will do to take matters into their own hands in order to make sure they are "wasted" before attending one of these hard alcohol-free mixers: pound shots during their own pregames in order to be nearly incoherent by the time they get to the party.  Since there will be no hard alcohol, people will find it necessary to take matters into their own hands. This will serve as the biggest problem this new social policy will result in.


My question is, what are other students thoughts on this change of "Lehigh culture."  Personally, I see way more negativity radiating from the idea than I do positivity, but maybe I'm just being pessimistic because I just turned 21 and it is finally legal for me to drink whatever alcoholic beverage I desire.  I am interested to see how this will pan out, and whether or not this new policy will survive into next semester.  Only time will tell.

Just Back, Already Swamped

We've been back at Lehigh for what now...3 days? Naturally, majority of people I have talked to are already swamped.  Professors at Lehigh cannot help themselves when it comes to piling on work.  Normally, coming back from spring break and being hit with a million assignments would bother us, but on top of it all the weather since we have been back has been BEAUTIFUL, and it's only going to get better.  Or in our cases, worse.  It's painful enough to go to class when the weather is so nice, never mind having to lock ourselves up in Fairmart for hours post-class time.  I understand there is work that has to be done before the end of the semester, but Lehigh students can only dream that professors could appreciate the beautiful weather as much as we do and lighten the load.

Spring Break

This year, I am finally going away for spring break and I could not be more excited.  Of course, this is far from a problem for me, as I am looking forward to roasting in the Puerto Vallarta sun for five days.  I have taken up a problem with something else, naturally - the amount of work I have ALREADY been assigned pre-break.  And I am sure I am not the only one.

So far, I already have a two page, single-spaced paper due the Monday we return from spring break, along with being challenged with the task of keeping a journal of my spring break adventures.  Not for anything, but remembering to journal in every move I am making spring break is far from what I want to be doing.  And I am not completely certain my professor is going to appreciate the stories I have to tell, nor will I feel comfortable reporting them.

Honestly, Lehigh Professors, why is is necessary to assign work over the ONLY 5 day break we are given in the spring semester?! It is only five days; isn't there any way work can be postponed until after our tease of summer vacation.  We know you don't want to be working over spring break, so why are you making us?!  Personally, I'm in dire need of this break.  That 2 page better is looking all the less appealing as Friday gets closer and closer...

School Today? As Always

Here's a problem all Lehigh students will agree on, especially students who have friends at other colleges who actually respect national holidays - why don't we get off on Presidents' Day?! Happy Birthday George Washington, from every school but Lehigh.

Why is it that Lehigh only allots 5 days off per semester? In the fall, we are only off for two days for pacing break and three days (luckily) for Thanksgiving.  In the Spring semester, our only break is spring break which encompasses the 5 day allowance in one shot. This policy seems semi-ridiculous to me.  When the rest of the country's institutions are celebrating a national holiday, it seems rather unfair to hold classes.  Public schools around the world enjoy this glorious Monday off, as do private institutions who lack this strict limited-days-off-per-semester policy.  Everyone could use a random Monday in the middle of February off.  But whoever makes Lehigh's calendar begs to differ.

Up, Up, and...Up

As you're driving through South Side Bethlehem, approaching Lehigh University, there is only one direction you can look in to get a glimpse of the entire campus - up.  Lehigh was carved into a mountain in the 1800s, and continued to expand but upwards and downwards ever since, into the extremely steep campus we know today.  With the winding roads that were so strategically (or some not-so-strategically) engineered, the seemingly 90 degree angle the campus exists on is camouflaged.  However, if you are not venturing around campus via vehicle, you immediately will encounter the uphill battle...with stairs.

One of the biggest complaints amongst Lehigh students is the absurd and awkwardly shaped and sized stairs that can be found all over the campus.  Granted, the stair are completely necessary and provide "shortcuts" from building to building.  But, there are few places you can stand on Lehigh's campus and not have a view of some set of stairs.  They're al over the place, and when they come they seem to come in hundreds.  When planning to walk up from East Packer, no matter what route you take, one thing is for sure - you better brace yourself; no matter how in shape you are it is almost a guarantee that you will be panting by the time you reach the top of campus.

These specific set of stairs are known as the "death stairs," and I became very familiar with them freshman year when they were the only obstacle to stand between me and the dining hall.  I blame my hatred for these stairs (combined with the other million in between) for my lack of gym use freshman year.  The battle with these stairs was not worth the workout.  Instead my workout consisted of taking on these babies multiple times a day.

Personal Problem

Tonight, I'm going to use my blog to post about a personal problem I'm having right now at Lehigh (which I know Professor Littau will not appreciate nor approve of).  WHERE IS THE ENTHUSIASM ABOUT THE GIANTS WINNING THE SUPER BOWL? This is Lehigh! Half the school is from New Jersey and another majority is from New York.  That's a double team for the Giants due to the fact that New Jersey doesn't have its own team (things I may never understand) causing most Jersians to typically support New York teams.  It's killing me that I cannot go to that parade tomorrow, but after last night it seems as though everyone has forgotten about the victorious team of Superbowl XLVI.  Where are the Jerseians/New Yorkers - and why aren't you celebrating!

Parking Map

This is a screen shot of the parking layout map provided by Lehigh's Parking Services' website.  The yellow indicates available student parking that does not require a permit (i.e. the only other parking besides the spot they pay $200 for to park outside of their resident halls).  Notice, the limited amount of yellow space (I counted 12) that exist between Johnson Hall and East Packard (because East Packard is considered off campus, and students are subjected to the rip off $0.25 per 15 minutes from that point on).

Why did they ever get rid of that parking lot in front of the UC? Lehigh, we needed that space...