Lehigh Bulletin

WINTER 2014 LEHIGH BULLETIN

A CREATIVE SPACE, REBORN With the Mountaintop project, Lehigh is bringing new life—and new creative energy—to a former Bethlehem Steel research space on South Mountain. cozy up & connect Photos that take you back and stories that keep you connected…

CONgRATUlATiONS! Larry & Jami Miksiewicz ’81

Offensive lineman Larry Miksiewicz ’81 and cheerleader Jami (Frank) Miksiewicz ’81, lehigh pictured here after the 1980 victory over throwback Lafayette, met during their junior year and UNIVERSITY FRONT LAWN. NOV. 6, 2013 A crowd of approx- were married in Packer Memorial Church imately 1,600 students, faculty and staff gathered to condemn almost 29 years ago. Larry and Jami sent intolerance and foster unity in the wake of a racially motivated photo contest vandalism at the UMOJA House. At the rally, the University WINNER! two of their three children to Lehigh. community showed their unity and willingness to tackle important issues related to diversity and inclusion. (See story, Page 8) This photo submission received the highest number of votes on Facebook during the contest voting period.

2014social_winter_fullpg_ad-fp.indd 1 1/10/14 2:05 PM “I challenge us to challenge each other and to challenge ourselves.” Jovan Campbell ’14

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STAFF Volume 100, Number 1, Winter 2014

STAFF DEPARTMENTS

EDITOR 4 FROM THE PRESIDENT Tim Hyland 5 Correspondence ASSOCIATE EDITORS Kurt Pfitzer, Karl Brisseaux ’11 80 TRIVIA A Rivalry Beyond Any Other CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mike Unger, Carla Prieto ’14 6 ON CAMPUS Brian M. Schleter, Linda Harbrecht, Up on the Mountain 6 The Consummate Newsman Robert Nichols, Dawn Thren 26 The buildings once were home to the industrial engineers of mighty Bethlehem Steel. Today, the 7 FOUR QUESTIONS Seymour Hersh DESIGN vast empty spaces that have been left behind represent an unprecedented opportunity for Lehigh— Pentagram and may even offer a glimpse into the future of higher education.by the Bulletin Staff 8 A Call to Action DESIGN DIRECTOR 10 Decrying ‘Generational Theft’ Kurt Hansen 11 LENS ART DIRECTORS The Struggle and the Glory The Comforts of Home David Pryor, Michelle Boehm 30 Nothing about writing has ever come easy for Stephanie Powell Watts. But after years of struggle 12 Is There a Way Forward PHOTOGRAPHER and more than a few doubts, Powell appears on her way to becoming a literary star. by Tim Hyland for Syria? Christa Neu 14 RESEARCH BUSINESS SUPPORT Sue Gaugler 34 Attacking from All Angles 14 Malaria’s Big Surge 15 SCHEMATIC CONTACT US Lehigh University Alumni Association From computer science to data imaging to molecular research, Lehigh researchers are using their The Power of Solar Power 27 Memorial Drive West unique perspectives and varied expertise to crack the code of cancer. by Brian Schleter Bethlehem, PA 18015-3734 16 Small But Mighty Time for a Change (610) 758-3135 Fax: (610) 758-3316 17 A Journey into the Hotline: (610) 758-alum ‘Proof of Islam’ Editor Tim Hyland on the ever-evolving face of the Lehigh Bulletin, and how the CLASS NOTES AND REMEMBRANCES 18 CULTURE magazine’s new look serves the confident, dynamic Lehigh of today. Jessi McMullan ’05 (610) 758-3675 18 For Sametz, a New [email protected] and Difficult Commission SUBSCRIBERS For address changes, send 19 EXHIBIT Since my arrival here at Lehigh late last spring, that fit perfectly with the new brand image we the mailing label, along with Is It Art? your new address, to: I have been continually amazed by this university. have cultivated around the theme of “Redefining Alumni Records / Lehigh University 19 ‘First Four’ Wins Top Honors From the ambitious and inquisitive students What It Means to Lead”—an image of confidence 125 Goodman Drive to the brilliant faculty, the dedicated staff to the and dynamism that has helped shape everything Bethlehem, PA 18015-3055 20 Freestyle Furniture Design deeply committed alumni, I have found Lehigh to from our new University website to our marketing 610-758-3015 [email protected] be a wholly unique place—a university that knows efforts to the magazine you hold in your hands. 22 SPORTS what it is and what it stands for, and knows, too, After months of work, and after gathering input ADVERTISING just how great it can be when it’s at its very best. from key stakeholders including our alumni, we Sue Gaugler 22 The Countdown to 150 This is a truly special place, and you are rightfully ultimately came up with the design and content Lehigh University 125 Goodman Drive proud to call yourself alumni. that you see in this issue today. We believe we have Bethlehem, PA 18015-3754 23 STATS I hope you will be proud, too, of the magazine created precisely what we wanted to create, way (610) 758-3015 Adelou ‘Lou’ Adesida ‘15 that you now hold in your hands. back when we began this process: A magazine wor- [email protected] When we decided to pursue a redesign of the thy of representing Lehigh. 24 Another Measure of Success Bulletin months ago, our goal was simple: We I invite you to share your thoughts and com- LEHIGH ALUMNI BULLETIN wanted to create a magazine that would directly ments on our new design. You can reach me at Vol. 100, No. 1, Winter 2014 44 CLASS NOTES mirror all of the characteristics that make Lehigh the address at the right, or email me at any time at one of the best (according to our peers) and most [email protected]. Published three times a year by the 59 Choral Arts Reunion beloved (according to our alumni) universities Thank you for your support. And thank you, as Lehigh University Communications and Public Affairs Office, in coop- in the world. We wanted a magazine that would always, for reading the Bulletin. eration with the Lehigh University ON THE COVER An aerial view look and feel classic yet contemporary, historic Alumni Association, Inc. of Buildings B and C at Moun- yet modern, literary yet cutting-edge. We wanted The Spirit of Spirit Week taintop, where Lehigh is moving 38 forward with a plan to open up a magazine that would reflect the impressive and amazing history of this place, yet also conveyed Sure, the game is important. Really important. But in the end, Spirit Week isn’t just about exciting new opportunities for the energy and excitement that pervade our cam- Gratefully, football. It’s about a tradition that has tied generations of Lehigh students and alumni together. students. (See story, Page 26) pus every single day. And we wanted a magazine Tim Hyland, Editor photos by Christa Neu Photo by Christa Neu

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STAFF Volume 100, Number 1, Winter 2014

STAFF DEPARTMENTS

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‘A Remarkable Leader’ Prepares to Say Good-Bye

Lehigh President Alice Gast will to step down in July 2014, after

eight years at Lehigh, to become President of Imperial College London.

Lehigh President Alice P. Gast, the first woman to serve as the uni- president for research and associate provost at the Massachusetts versity’s president, announced in early January that she would step Institute of Technology for almost five years. She served as associate down on July 31, 2014, after accepting an appointment as the Presi- chair of the department of chemical engineering at Stanford Univer- dent of Imperial College London. sity, where she established herself as a world-class researcher and “As excited as I am about joining Imperial College London, there is professor. During her years at Stanford, Gast received the National much I will miss about Lehigh,” said Gast in an e-mail to the campus Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator Award, the Na- community. “One of the things that drew me to South Mountain is Le- tional Academy of Science Award for Initiative in Research, a Gug- high’s commitment to its students. Each year I am struck by the person- genheim Fellowship, and the Alexander von Humboldt Award. al and intellectual growth of our students over the course of their years Gast continued her work as an international scholar while serving here. I feel a special pride in their accomplishments. I will remember as Lehigh president. In September 2010, she was one of three new sci- and carry with me always their hugs and handshakes at commencement ence envoys named by the U.S. State Department—a role that includes and our many conversations at lunches, dinners and around campus.” encouraging U.S. global engagement in science and technology, and Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a advising the White House, the State Department and the U.S. scien- reputation for excellence in teaching and research that attracts tific community about the knowledge and insights she gains from her Exploring and Growing, 14,000 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality. travels and interactions as a private citizen. Her work as a science en- It was ranked 10th in the World University Rankings published by voy has included travels to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. Times Higher Education. Innovative research at the college explores The daughter of a biochemist, Gast began her academic career as Intellectually and Personally the interface between science, medicine, engineering and business, a student at the University of Southern California, where she distin- delivering practical solutions that improve quality of life and the en- guished herself as valedictorian of her graduating class in 1980. She vironment. Gast will be Imperial’s first woman president. went on to earn her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Princeton Universi- Brad Eric Scheler, chairman of Lehigh’s Board of Trustees, said af- ty. Before receiving her Ph.D., she accepted a National Science Foun- ter the announcement that a search committee would be appointed dation post-doctoral fellowship at L’Ecole Superieure de Physique et As I think about my time at Lehigh, I am guided by what brought students. Learning to work and live with people, who come from differ- in the near term and that he would keep the university community de Chimie Industrielles in Paris, after which she formally began her me here almost eight years ago. It is Lehigh’s commitment to its ent backgrounds, and have different views, is essential to a fulfilling and informed about developments in the search process. He praised Gast research and teaching career as a member of the chemical engineer- students, a commitment beyond just providing the best faculty and successful life. Learning can take place at times when there is disagree- for her seven-and-a-half years of service as the 13th president in Le- ing faculty at Stanford. best facilities. It is a commitment to creating an environment that ment, and when we come together when there are conflicts. high’s 148-year history. As she transitions to the next phase of her career, Gast says she provides students opportunities to explore and to grow, both intel- An ugly incident at the UMOJA House this past November, when “Alice has been a remarkable leader. With boundless energy, en- will always fondly recall the memories she’s made over the past sev- lectually and personally. there was racist spray painting and eggs thrown at the house in the thusiasm, wisdom, judgment and insight, Alice has advanced and eral years, which included everything from watching Lehigh’s bas- I think the value of a college education is determined by what our middle of the night, demonstrated that we still have work to do to best positioned Lehigh to be at the forefront of higher education in ketball team upset Duke to events like Spring Fling and Spooktac- graduates become in their years after Lehigh. It is the contributions create the welcoming climate of mutual respect and understanding the 21st century,” said Scheler. “Her commitment to students and ular. On behalf of her husband, Bradley J. Askins, and her children, they make to society and the fulfillment they feel in their careers and that we want. Soon after the incident, some 1,600 members of the her advocacy with respect to the import of residential research uni- Rebecca and David, she thanked the university community for wel- in their lives that are the best measures of the value of their years Lehigh community gathered at the flagpole in the center of campus versities in educating leaders and improving society made her the coming her family to South Mountain. here. These contributions and fulfillment are evident in the great to condemn all acts of intolerance and aggression. Hurtful actions right and ideal leader for Lehigh. We thank Alice for her tireless ser- “Brad and I have called Lehigh home for the past seven and a half stories our alumni bring back, stories of lives well lived. take many forms, some more visible than others. All are corrosive to vice and dedication to Lehigh.” years,” said Gast. “It is our good fortune to have been part of this Lehigh has a strong history of helping students to learn to think crit- a healthy environment. All are unacceptable. During Gast’s tenure, Lehigh completed a campus-wide strategic wonderful, smart, caring and welcoming community.” ically, to bring their knowledge to bear on open-ended problems, and to As the rally demonstrated, the Lehigh community stands united planning and implementation process; concluded a $500-million work together in diverse teams. The Mountaintop program is our most in its condemnation of the unacceptable and its commitment to a capital campaign and has since raised an additional $225 million in recent and boldest effort to give students the chance to do this. It will more inclusive Lehigh. I believe that we are on the right path. I will new resources for the university; expanded work in and with the City put Lehigh in the vanguard of innovation in higher education. continue to do all I can to make Lehigh a place where every student of Bethlehem; increased the size of the university’s footprint with Last summer 35 students participated in five pilot projects at feels comfortable, where every student feels at home. the addition of the 750-acre Stabler Campus; increased the universi- Mountaintop. If you have not already done so, please look at the vid- Lehigh University is an institution made strong by its great peo- ty’s international presence and has perpetuated and expanded inno- eo highlighting these Mountaintop projects, which can be seen at ple. Lehigh’s alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends are ambassa- vative new approaches to student-directed learning with the launch our new Mountaintop site, Lehigh.edu/mountaintop. Their words dors and supporters, and important role models for our students. of Lehigh’s Mountaintop Campus initiative. capture, better than mine ever could, the excitement of pursuing in- You are the defining part of Lehigh’s commitment to its students that During her remaining months on South Mountain, Gast will con- tellectual passions in a unique learning environment. makes South Mountain the special place that it is. tinue to focus on issues of diversity and inclusion at the university, to Scott Belair’s generous gift allows us to begin turning Buildings B I want to thank the many of you who have wished me well in my build upon the momentum of the Mountaintop initiative, to raise ad- and C into extraordinary spaces of learning and discovery. This com- new position as President of Imperial College London. Now is not ditional resources for the university and to be a resource to the Board ing summer students will conduct a second set of Mountaintop pilot the time for goodbyes. There is more to do, and I look forward to the of Trustees in ensuring a smooth transition to a new presidency. projects. From there Mountaintop will evolve and grow in phases. days and months ahead at Lehigh as we create an environment that In her e-mail, Gast expressed gratitude to Lehigh’s alumni com- To fully realize our vision and ambitions for this project, we hope to provides students opportunities to explore and to grow, both intel- munity for continuing to engage students and support initiatives to raise as much as $200 million—$100 million for capital investments, lectually and personally. improve all aspects of the university. and another $100 million in endowment to support the program- “I have learned a tremendous amount from our alumni and ming that will make those buildings so revolutionary. friends and I greatly value my relationships with so many dedicated In addition to great spaces, an environment that provides students and passionate supporters. Their commitment to the University and opportunities to explore and to grow, both intellectually and personally, our students is what distinguishes Lehigh University from other in- requires mutual respect and cultural understanding. A diverse student Gratefully, stitutions,” said Gast. body enriches our campus, and enhances the learning experience for all Alice P. Gast, President Before becoming Lehigh’s 13th president, Gast served as vice

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‘A Remarkable Leader’ Prepares to Say Good-Bye

Lehigh President Alice Gast will to step down in July 2014, after

eight years at Lehigh, to become President of Imperial College London.

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FOUR QUESTIONS FOR Seymour Hersh, Investigative Journalist ON CAMPUS NEWS FROM LEHIGH

A ‘Consummate Newsman’ Marty Baron, executive editor for the Washington Post,

is a true believer in good journalism.

STUDENT LIFE Martin “marty” baron ’76, ’76G has won more than his share of honors over the GROWING STRONGER course of his nearly 40-year career in journalism. Lehigh’s sororities and fraternities In 2001, Baron was named the nation’s top newspaper editor by Editor & Pub- continue to show improvement on lisher magazine. Three years later, he won the same honor from the National Press a number of fronts, according to a Foundation. During his much-lauded tenure as editor of the Boston Globe, he and report released last summer by his staff won a remarkable six Pulitzer Prizes in categories ranging from public ser- the university’s Greek Accredita- vice to national reporting to criticism. tion Committee. Now, Baron has another honor to brag about: Lehigh commencement speaker. Of the 30 fraternities and soror- Baron, who has served as executive editor for the Washington Post since Jan. FIGURE 1 ities reviewed this past academic 2, 2013, and was recently described by the National Journal as “the consummate year, nine chapters earned gold sta- newsman,” will deliver the address—and receive an honorary degree, as well— tus, 13 earned silver and four earned during Lehigh’s 148th commencement ceremony on May 19, 2014. a bronze ranking. Four chapters “His great experience and leadership throughout his impressive journalistic ca- ranked “poor,” as opposed to five last reer will be an inspiration to our students,” said Lehigh President Alice P. Gast. “His year. The office of fraternity and work illustrates the critical role that good journalism can play in informing and en- sorority affairs (OFSA) reviewed gaging people on important issues.” Lehigh’s history the rankings report with chapter in journalism Baron earned his B.A. and MBA from Lehigh and landed his first newspaper job dates back to the representatives and is working with at the Miami Herald. He moved to the Los Angeles Times, where he became busi- 19th century. The those that ranked poorly to help university has ness editor. In 1996, he was appointed associate managing editor of The New York offered a degree in them improve, said Tim Wilkinson, Times and in 2000 he was named executive editor of the Miami Herald. journalism since OFSA director. 1927, and the In Boston, Baron became one of the leading figures in the news industry. His Brown & White has The accreditation process was been published journalists won widespread praise for their coverage of the Catholic Church clergy since 1894. Today, developed in 2004 as part of abuse scandal, and were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2003. the department the Strengthening Greek Life Task of journalism and While some observers predict that the 21st century will see newspapers fade into communication Force. “Our goal is fostering a history, Baron remains steadfast in his belief that good journalism can form the basis remains at the living and learning experience that forefront of the for good business. Speaking to the New England Associated Press Executives Associ- fast-changing enriches student life on campus,” field, thanks in Wilkinson said. “The past year has ation in 2012, he said that newspapers were “badly bruised”—but “not beaten. large part to the cutting-edge SEYMOUR HERSH The renowned “While there is absolutely no reason to be comfortable or complacent, there is not been without its challenges, but CHRISTA NEU also no reason to lose confidence in our capacity to survive—and even eventually work from faculty everyone involved in this process investigative journalist came to Lehigh such as Jeremy in early October to deliver the annual to prosper.” Littau, whose shares a commitment to a campus work examines Tresolini lecture. social involvement culture that is respectful, inclusive in online virtual and accepting.” communities.

1 You’ve been openly critical of the 2 You’ve been reporting for years 3 Do you see any value to our sur- 4 Are there any big shoes left to CONSTRUCTION Obama administration. Why? on the excesses of the government’s veillance capabilities? drop with regard to NSA revelations? A WELCOME SPACE Look, he’s smart. He’s really bright. surveillance efforts. Do you think we I always think with the NSA—all this All I can tell you is that there are For generations, Packard Lab lobby His foreign policy is … I’m just sort of need this level of surveillance? meta-data stuff—look, meta-data is people in the government who are has served as a prominent reminder shocked how close it is to the Bush/ I’m a skeptic. I ended up thinking, after great for police work because after a really concerned about what (NSA of Lehigh’s proud heritage in engi- Cheney (administration). This isn’t a years of reporting on the CIA and the crime, you can go and really do things. leaker Edward Snowden) has. And neering. By spring 2014, the lobby great insight. He continued the war KGB, that if we didn’t have either of You could find out, for example, if a there also could be some stuff that will be expanded and reshaped into in Afghanistan. What are we doing these agencies, we’d probably be just cell phone was used once, two hours should be published. But some of it … a vibrant perspective on the legacy in Afghanistan? I’m troubled by that. as well off. They didn’t do any good before the event and never again. You I don’t know why, if I’m the president of the engineering college. Exhibit It looks like now, (U.S. Secretary of and they certainly did a lot of bad stuff. can go back five years and determine of Brazil, that I’m surprised we copy and architectural designer Ralph State) Kerry is going to take a stab at that this phone was only used once. him. We copy everybody. We copy the Applebaum Associates is optimizing doing something about the Middle And then you have some leads. But European Union. Of course we do. And NEWSROOM the lobby’s space for students and East, with the peace talks. But I think you had to have the event. So for they would do it too, I suppose, if they Martin “Marty” visitors while showcasing the ex- it was June of 2009, (Obama) went to police work, it’s probably essential. It could. That doesn’t mean it should Baron ‘76 ‘76G ploits of Lehigh engineers over time. Cairo and gave a really great speech will probably be a good thing in the be (the case). It’s crazy to do it. It’s a earned plaudits about the Middle East and the need to long run. But for stopping someone waste of an asset. for his work as Planned improvements include new editor of the meeting spaces, a media wall and a do something, but he didn’t do much. who wants to throw a bomb … they Boston Globe. complete renovation of the beloved So yeah, saying I’m disappointed couldn’t find the brothers in Boston.

DINA RUDICK/THE BOSTON GLOBE VIA GETTY IMAGES GLOBE BOSTON DINA RUDICK/THE “Old No. 1” Packard automobile. would be putting it in a mild way.

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FOUR QUESTIONS FOR Seymour Hersh, Investigative Journalist ON CAMPUS NEWS FROM LEHIGH

A ‘Consummate Newsman’ Marty Baron, executive editor for the Washington Post,

is a true believer in good journalism.

DINA RUDICK/THE BOSTON GLOBE VIA GETTY IMAGES GLOBE BOSTON DINA RUDICK/THE “Old No. 1” Packard automobile. would be putting it in a mild way.

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Conversations about social hierarchies and privilege, Peterson says, are part of the A Call to Action reason why FBR’s efforts early in the fall semester were met with some resistance. Others agree, but they say that such conversations, while not always comfortable, Students lead efforts to improve the campus climate by bringing conversations can be invaluable. “[Conversations about privilege] are uncomfortable, they can be messy, and people’s feelings are going to be hurt for a while,” said Rita Jones, director about diversity and inclusion to the forefront. of the Women’s Center and a faculty member in women, gender and sexuality studies. “Let’s be okay with being uncomfortable.” To that end, university leadership, including President Gast and Provost Farrell, have regularly met with students to develop a list of action items to work toward making Lehigh more inclusive. They plan to establish a permanent student group Early in the fall 2013 semes- that will work on projects that will positively affect the campus climate. Diversity and FIGURE 2 ter, a group of undergraduate inclusion will be the major topic for the February 2014 Board of Trustees meeting.

students came together to “What’s happening now, and what will continue happening in the coming weeks CHRISTA NEU lead the campus community and months, is figuring out how we coordinate our efforts to avoid duplication,” in taking a proactive stand says Henry Odi, vice provost for academic diversity. “If we’re not coordinated, there against inequality and dis- will be duplication of efforts, there will be people working in silos, and there will be crimination. an increase in frustrations. Working alone is not going to help us grow.” They called themselves “We need to move ahead on the ideas that will make the biggest difference now, FBR—short for “From Beneath and develop a thoughtful, comprehensive plan going forward that incorporates the APPOINTMENT TRISH the Rug”—and expressed their best of our ideas,” says John Smeaton, vice provost for student affairs. “Short-term BOYLES NAMED NEW view that Lehigh needed to and long-term initiatives that change the culture are essential.” LGBTQIA DIRECTOR open up the dialogue about Lehigh will assess the need for a curricular requirement related to diversity and Trish Boyles, a former professor diversity issues on campus. inclusion. Odi says that while there is a strong offering of such courses currently of business and entrepreneurial In October, the students offered, the university must also expand those courses and recruit more diverse studies at Muhlenberg College and posted fliers in buildings faculty. He is currently leading an effort alongside department chairs and faculty to strategic director with HouseLogix across campus that touched facilitate the development of inclusion action plans for each academic department. Inc., has been appointed director on a wide range of topics re- Russell said it was important to avoid underestimating Lehigh’s ability to address of Lehigh’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, lated to discrimination. They its issues and transform the culture. “Why are we in the business of education if Lehigh’s Interna- Transgender, Queer, Intersex and staged a silent protest on we can’t take on this challenge?” asks Russell. “We bring an 17- or 18-year old to tional Week, which Ally (LGBTQIA) program. was celebrated in October 4, held open forums campus, with professors who are masters of information; why do we do that? It’s early November, is “I am delighted that Dr. Boyles to engage the community in because we know the capacity for learning is unlimited.” one of the largest will be joining the Lehigh family,” events of its kind dialogue, and worked with The university is working to create a curriculum for incoming first-year stu- in the country. It is said Vice Provost of Student university leadership on sev- dents prior to their matriculation. This summer opportunity will be geared planned each year Affairs John Smeaton. “I know she by Lehigh’s Global eral objectives. At Founder’s toward first-generation college students and other identified student populations Union, which is will be a valuable contributor to comprised of Day on October 10, student in order to support their successful transition to Lehigh. The UMOJA House is an more than 50 our university-wide commitment speaker Brenda Martinez ’15 important component of Lehigh’s effort as well–leadership is working closely with student groups. to embrace and put into action the challenged the university CHRISTA NEU students to develop more programming in the space and is considering potential values embedded in the Principles community to take a more facility improvements as well. “The UMOJA House should be a shining beacon in of our Equitable Community.” proactive stand against dis- terms of residential life that reflects our commitment to the celebration of diversity Boyles has been involved in crimination. She called at- and culture,” says Peterson. several campus organizations for tention to the protests and While university leadership acknowledges the fact that changes must continue, LGBT support and education, the fliers, and she read anonymous statements from current under- at Lehigh with respect to issues of equity and inclusion. The rally was they also recognize the fact that Lehigh’s progress on these issues over the years has and has conducted doctoral-level graduates, which described instances where students felt targeted or followed by a march to the UMOJA House. empowered students to speak out and challenge the community to improve. The In the wake of research on LGB individuals. Her marginalized as a result of their identity. “The impetus for the rally was generated by students, with advocacy and equity unit of student affairs–the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the a bias incident educational background in strategic Sadly, an incident of hate and racial intolerance followed only support from the faculty and help from the administration,” said Women’s Center, and LGBTQIA services–and several academic departments have this fall, Lehigh is planning and management and her taking important weeks after Martinez’s speech. In the early morning hours of No- Provost Pat Farrell. “It was a student idea to have such a rally, and helped students find their voice. steps to address practical experience in managing vember 6, the UMOJA House—a residence hall established in 1989 I really consider that very impressive—not only how the rally origi- “What we’ve done in this office and in other offices is this: we put students in po- issues of diversity people, planning and projects will as a safe space for underrepresented students of color—was egged, nated, but also that so many on campus were willing to come out and sitions to be confident and comfortable at this institution and still feel supported, and inclusion on be critical to fostering university- and racial slurs were spray-painted on the exterior of the building support the overall notion that we can and should take responsibility which is why they aren’t transferring out,” says Russell. campus. wide support for sexual and and on sidewalks and staircases near UMOJA and McClintic-Mar- for improving the climate on campus.” “The emergence of the FBR group has been a gift to Lehigh,” says Smeaton. gender-variant students, Smeaton shall House (M&M). The vandalism came at a time when UMOJA “My initial thought at the rally was ‘Wow, the students are not “Their passion, courage to speak said. At Lehigh, Boyles will head up was celebrating its tenth year on ‘The Hill’; it moved there from here alone. There are people who are paying attention,’” says Tyrone out, and their focus on unity and the office that seeks to change the Warren Square in 2003. Russell, director of multicultural affairs. “But more so, it made me constructive conversation cen- university climate by inspiring a After the incident—one which President Alice P. Gast swiftly feel that you shouldn’t let the act of two or three people make you tered on improving Lehigh has vision of diversity that is aware of, condemned as “cowardly and hateful”—Lehigh came together to feel as if the whole world is against you.” been amazing. engaged in and appreciative of is- demonstrate unity and condemn intolerance. “The provost and I are While the rally was an important moment for the campus com- Adds Farrell: “I think the most sues related to sexual orientation strongly supportive of, and will continue to be involved with, the stu- munity, James Peterson, director of Africana studies and associate important thing is that we’re now and gender identity/expression. dent groups that have come together to make Lehigh a welcoming professor of English, says that it should not be considered an end viewing this issue be a constant “I think LGBTQIA Services at place of mutual respect,” Gast said in a message to the entire campus point in Lehigh’s effort to create a more inclusive environment for topic of conversation. I think, in Lehigh is well-positioned to make community. “We all need to stand together as a community against all students, no matter their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or the past, it’s been almost episod- strong and widespread partner- all acts that are motivated by intolerance and aggression.” socioeconimic background. Peterson believes that it is easier for ic—maybe giving the illusion that ships across campus,” she said. Horrified by the photos of the vandalism that circulated on social the community to embrace FBR’s mission in the aftermath of what the issue was raised, the issue was “Based on my conversations ... media, several professors and their students gathered for an impromp- happened at the UMOJA House incident, because the students were addressed and the problem was I believe there is a campus-wide

tu discussion in the Maginnes Hall lobby the day of the incident. The proactive in jumpstarting conversations on some challenging topics. solved. We now recognize that it’s CHRISTA NEU vision and growing momentum discussion continued in Grace Lounge in the University Center. Later “FBR is the model on leadership on equity for us. It’s collabora- not episodic, and it will take sus- towards the creation of a climate that evening, more than 1,600 students, faculty and staff assembled tive, it’s proactive and I think it’ll be sustainable,” says Peterson. tained, consistent effort o to make that not only accepts, but truly on the University Front Lawn for a rally organized by FBR and others, “These are the same kinds of students that were involved in The the kind of progress we’d like to empowers LGBTQIA students to where community members spoke out and shared their experiences Movement. It was a different time, but it’s the same kind of student.” make.”—Bulletin staff be themselves.”—Linda Harbrecht

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BELONGINGS The Comforts of Home

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APPOINTMENT A NEW THINGS FROM HOME DEAN FOR CBE For first-year students at Lehigh, as Calling her a “renowned scholar for freshmen everywhere, moving and an experienced academic lead- away from home and into a dorm can er,” Lehigh President Alice P. Gast be both exhilarating and nerve-wrack- in December introduced Georgette ing. And for those who feel more of Chapman Phillips as the next dean the latter than the former, having a of Lehigh’s College of Business and few reminders of home can go a long

Economics (CBE). AP PHOTO/MARK LENNIHAN way to making the transition to col- Currently the vice dean for lege life easier. As Lehigh’s freshmen technology-enhanced learning at moved into their new homes in late the University of Pennsylvania’s August, photographer Christa Neu Wharton School and previously asked some of them to talk about vice dean of Wharton’s Under- their most prized possessions from graduate Division, Phillips on July home—the items that they needed to 1 will assume the newly endowed bring along, for reasons either senti- CBE deanship created by the gen- mental or silly. Here’s what they said. erosity of Kevin ’84 ’13P and Lisa Clayton ’13P. “Georgette is truly a leader in the 1 Jillian Dziegielewski business school community,” said Decrying ‘Generational Theft’ “Friends’ DVDs. My sister and I have Gast. “This is a pivotal time for the watched them since we were kids.” college, and I am excited that she According to a panel of business experts, it’s time for 4 will bring her talents to Lehigh.” 2 Bruke Mammor Phillips was chosen from a the Millennial Generation to wake up to financial reality. “My camera. Photography is a pretty 3 top-caliber pool of international big hobby of mine.” scholars and educators because of her intimate understanding of 3 Jessica Sanyour 5 the issues and opportunities facing “My lucky hat, from my hometown of business education. The United States’ economic outlook and rising national debt were at the fore- Summit.” In six years as vice dean of Whar- front of a panel discussion held at Lehigh in October, as leading business minds ton’s Undergraduate Division, encouraged students to get involved in a debate about their financial future—a 4 Brett Irwin future that, according to many experts, could push the nation to the brink. “My pocket Buddha.” In a packed Perella Auditorium at Rauch Business Center, Lehigh students, faculty and staff witnessed a spirited discussion of key economic and political 5 Andy Freedman issues facing the millennial generation. The event, “Generational Theft: How the “My Bose headphones.” Millennial Generation will Pay the Price for Washington’s Paralysis,” featured Ken Langone, co-founder of The Home Depot; Geoffrey Canada, president of the 6 Drew Davis Harlem Children’s Zone; and Stanley Druckenmiller, investor and philanthropist. “A terrible towel. I’m from Pittsburgh. FIGURE 3 Stephanie Ruhle ’97, a Bloomberg Television anchor, moderated the panel I’m a big Steelers fan.” discussion and subsequent question-answer period. Brad Scheler ’74, chairman of Lehigh’s board of trustees, delivered opening remarks. 7 Jessica Sanyour Druckenmiller opened the panel discussion by sharing a series of slides that “Two pairs of sneakers; I love them, I 6 Phillips guided the world’s premier compared trends in poverty among the elderly and children under 16 over the lounge around in them, I run in them. 7 undergraduate business program, last half-century. Data indicates overwhelmingly, he said, that while entitlement They’re so helpful, so useful.” serving over 2,400 students, and In early November, programs like Social Security have resulted in a significant decrease in poverty Bloomberg established herself a leader in the Businessweek among the elderly, poverty among children is at a dangerous level. Over the next 20 8 Jillian Dziegielewski world of business education. ranked the the years, he said, America’s economic situation will become more and more unstable “My mug.” part-time MBA Phillips has received numer- program at if no substantive reforms are adopted.“We should applaud the achievements of Lehigh’s College 9 Megan Kienze. ous teaching awards and is an of Business and entitlements and what they have done for seniors,” said Druckenmiller. “I love internationally recognized scholar Economics as entitlements, but I want them for you guys”—he said to the students in the audi- “A picture of my dog. His name’s the 12th best in with research focused on the the nation. That ence—“when you’re 65, and not just me.” Fenway ... My dog is my favorite thing intersection of law, economics and ranking marks Druckenmiller said that the current estimated national debt of $16.7 trillion on this earth.” an improvement public policy within the context of over the previous does not reflect the liabilities in Social Security, Medicare and other benefits owed the built environment. She holds a magazine rankings by the federal and state governments to future Americans, which gives the public a in 2011, when the Juris Doctor degree from Harvard program ranked skewed perspective on the economic climate. The obligations from entitlements, Law School and a bachelor’s degree 15th nationally. he said, amount to nearly $200 trillion.“We need to get you people off your butts from Bryn Mawr College. and into the streets,” said Langone. “I’m talking about the whole [millennial] “There’s a strong business generation. A 3,000-mile journey starts with the first step.” 8 foundation at Lehigh on which to The issue of entitlements will have a particularly adverse effect on lower-income build,” she said. “And the College Americans, Canada said.“I’m not worried about you all at Lehigh,” he said. “You of Business and Economics is in all are in a pretty exclusive class in America. It’s not going to be easy for you, but a great position to be a national you’ve all got a real shot at the American dream. But I am terrified for the kids at the leader and advocate for important Harlem Children’s Zone and places like that. ... There is no way that we can leave undergraduate and graduate pro- a debt on these kids that’s going to destroy their opportunity to actually make it.” grams that emphasize such timely The Generational Theft talk was part of Lehigh’s 5x10 bLUeprint program, an 9 areas as globalization, entrepre- events series with a specific focus on freshmen. It was co-sponsored by the Class neurship and technology.” of 2017, the College Republicans and the College Democrats. — Karl Brisseaux ’11

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BELONGINGS The Comforts of Home

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the U.S. or other Western nations might be able to “Opposition military elements long since vet- THE TOLL OF THE Is There a Way Forward for Syria? intercede and stop the conflict, Barkey suggested ted by the United States received little, in fact, in SYRIAN CRISIS that regional countries take the lead in beginning terms of arms, equipment, and training,” he said. the process of negotiating an end to the civil war. “The regime’s supporters, however, are motivated. During a conference at Lehigh, experts examined the Syrian conflict—and how it might finally be solved. Until that happened, he said, no progress would Iran needs the Assad regime to ensure it will be of be possible. service to Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Tehran’s first line 120,000+ “This is first and foremost a regional crisis and of defense against Israel, and Russia’s Putin wants have been killed. the regional powers need to own the process,” said Assad to survive as a symbol of a resurgent Russia. Barkey, who has written extensively on the Middle What is left, then, to discuss about Syrian political East. “We will help, but you need to own the pro- transition at Geneva?” cess. At this moment, they [the regional powers] “The U.S. is not seen as a strong backer of the don’t own the process.” opposition when you compare the U.S. backing the opposition to Russia’s support for Assad,” DOUBTS ABOUT GENEVA said Ghanem. “The opposition does not trust that During that same panel, all five experts agreed that it will be able to achieve much in Geneva because a solution coming out of a Geneva seemed unlikely. it knows it will not have a strong ally at the table, 2have left Syria.M Some expressed concern at the lack of timely and Assad will.” peace negotiations, and wondered what other Even still, some audience members draped the solutions were possible. Syrian Arab Republic flag—the flag of Assad’s re- “If not Geneva, then how do we construct a gime—over auditorium seats in Zoellner’s Baker second, alternative international and legitimate Hall and expressed their outrage over the U.S.’s framework for the conduct of diplomacy in the support of the opposition. Three people were Syrian conflict?” asked Frederic Hof , a senior fel- eventually escorted out of the hall after being low with the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center asked by Barkey to quiet down. in Washington, D.C. The dismal prospect for negotiations does not 4are displaced insideM Syria. Mona Yacoubian, a senior adviser for the Stim- make the issue any less pressing, however, and son Center in Washington, D.C., echoed Hof’s panelists emphasized that Syria is suffering a concern, saying, “The situation on the ground is humanitarian crisis. such that if we do nothing, I fear we end up in a Radwan Ziadeh, who was a visiting scholar at 850,000 place where there is no space for diplomacy.” Lehigh and a fellow at the Institute for Social Policy Syrian refugees are now in Diplomacy and a peaceful end to the Syrian civil and Understanding in Washington, D.C., said his Lebanon, more than 500,000 war have been main talking points among Western mother, brother and sister have all been displaced are in Turkey and in Jordan, nations since Assad’s forces, with the help of the Is- and have taken refuge in three different countries. more than 200,000 are in Iraq, lamic militant group Hezbollah, launched offensive “I never thought that I would have mass graves and nearly 130,000 are in Egypt. initiatives last spring to capture Syrian rebel areas. in my hometown,” said Ziadeh. “I never thought M IF WE DO NOT ACT QUICKLY, A GENERATION 1.1of the refugees are children.

AP PHOTO/KHALIL HAMRA AP PHOTO/KHALIL OF INNOCENTS WILL BECOME LASTING 70,000 Thought leaders and policy makers from might be solved by negotiation. But there was CIVIL UNREST refugee families are living around the country gathered at Lehigh for three much disagreement as to whether a peaceful solu- The Syrian conflict CASUALTIES OF AN APPALLING WAR without fathers, and more than days in early November to discuss the ongoing tion could come to fruition. continues to 3,700 refugee children are wreak havoc on separated from both parents. Syrian conflict—as well as the way forward for a In the first of these panels, “Views of the Re- the Syrian people, nation fractured by civil war. gion from Inside Syria,” moderator and CNN leaving more than –ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, UNITED NATIONS The Workshop on Global and Regional Impli- senior international correspondent Ivan Watson 100,000 dead HENRI BARKEY, cations of the Syrian Crisis began with a keynote asked Marwan Kabalan, director of the Sham and 6 million who organized the address by Anne C. Richard, Assistant Secretary Center for Research and Studies in Syria, if he displaced. Syria conference of State for Population, Refugees and Migration at saw any hope to getting out of the “bloodbath” at Lehigh this fall, has authored, the United States State Department. The speech that is the Syrian civil war. co-authored and was followed by vocal debate, and the at-times “I’m not very optimistic about the situation in When Assad noticed that the opposition was that the people in the mass graves would be my edited five books, heated conversations continued at the Zoellner Syria and about [the proposed Geneva convention gaining strength and becoming a formidable own people.” 1/2of refugee households in and has had edi- Arts Center the following day, as scholars, politi- on the conflict],” Kabalan said, “because it is not threat to his regime, he enlisted the overt help of Ghanem said some of his family is “not okay” and Jordan now rely on children to torials published cal analysts, ambassadors and others engaged in only up to the Syrians to decide to end this conflict.” Hezbollah, said Ghanem. that other family members have been displaced. generate income. by the Washington Post the Wall spirited conversations about a conflict that has left Mohammed Alaa Ghanem, senior political The opposition, once backed strongly by the “Everyone in Syria has been impacted by the un- Street Journal, more than 120,000 dead since 2011. adviser for the Syrian American Council in Wash- U.S., recently linked forces with extremist groups speakable violence that is engulfing them,” he said. and the Los Ange- The conference was organized by Henri Barkey, ington, D.C., was slightly more optimistic, saying as well. That has put the U.S. in a difficult position Added Heydemann: “The price for all of this is les Times, among the Bernard L. and Bertha F. Cohen Professor that neither the ruling Assad regime nor the var- and made the prospect of peace negotiations even not being paid by those who, at the end of the day, other outlets. of International Relations at Lehigh and a for- ious opposition groups fighting it were capable of more elusive. have warm, dry and safe places to sleep after a decent mer member of the U.S. State Department Policy throwing the kind of knock-out punch that could Steven Heydemann, Vice President of the Center meal. The price—in life, limb, shelter, and sanity—is % 77of refugee babies born Planning Staff. ultimately win the war. “Therefore, both parties for Applied Research on Conflict at the U.S. Insti- being paid by Syrian civilians.”—Carla Prieto ’14 In two panel discussions on the second day, must come to a negotiation,” he said. tute of Peace, said he believed that “the credible To learn more about the conference, visit http:// in Lebanon have no birth experts explored the possibility that the conflict In the following panel, which explored whether threat of an American military strike is now gone. syria.cas2.lehigh.edu/ certificates.

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SCHEMATIC The Power of Solar Power

1 Matthias Falk installed a 24-panel STUDY RETHINKING photovoltaic SURFACE TENSION solar array on Anand Jagota, professor of chem- his property in ical engineering and director of January 2011. Lehigh’s bioengineering program, 1 His records has pondered for more than a show that the decade the possibility that some panels, which solids, especially soft biomaterials cost $20,000 and geometrically altered mate- after incentives, rials, might exhibit the mechanical generated force of surface tension. Recently, more than 7,000 he proved that they do. Working kWh/year. with collaborators at the Leibniz Institute for New Materials (INM) in Saarbruecken, Germany and KELLY AUSTIN, 2 The invest- Cornell University, Jagota showed assistant professor ment paid off. that surface tension does indeed of sociology, After the panels studies how the were installed, manifest itself in certain com- global agriculture pliant solids. The group reported market often Falk’s family had their results in the journals Phys- negatively impacts to purchase just ical Review E and the Proceedings the developing Malaria’s Big Surge 2,750 kWh of of the National Academy of Sciences. world. Recently, electricity from she found that one Kelly Austin says the West’s unyielding demand for food is the grid. The discovery, says Jagota, should crop in particular 2 motivate scientists and engineers is problematic be- to rethink many of their assump- cause of its global allowing a global health crisis to unfold. tions. “It has generally been agreed health impacts: 3 A solar that surface tension in solids was coffee. More than oven does its 20 million farmers part, too. grow coffee world- 5 wide, even though Falk bought it the crop has no The developed world has an insatiable appetite for food, and the developing from Central nutritional value, world is doing everything in its power to meet the ever-growing demand. American Solar and its production But while the short-term economic benefits of doing so are apparent, the long- Energy Project. It has been linked to term negatives of this agricultural explosion aren’t. heats up to 300 everything from degrees, even in deforestation and Kelly Austin is working to change that. malnutrition to Austin, an assistant professor of sociology and anthropology, has developed a winter, using just hunger and poor unique niche in academia: She studies how global economic forces—in particular, the the sun. schooling. economic inequities between the developed and developing worlds—affect health and environmental conditions in some of the world’s most economically disadvan- taged regions. After previously conducting research that linked coffee exports to a 4 Other host of ecological, economic and social imbalances, Austin late last year published a improvements to new paper that shows that increasing rates of agricultural exports in Southeast Asia the house paid and sub-Saharan Africa are leading to spikes in the rate of malaria. It’s a growing dividends. health problem that continues to fly under the global radar. A tankless water “I was really interested to learn about the continued high global burden of ma- heater, an energy laria,” Austin says. “It’s a forgotten disease that people don’t really think about.” efficient heating felt only at the atomic scale,” he According to Austin, over 3 billion people are at risk of acquiring malaria, and 3 system and effi- says. “We have shown that surface there are over 220 million cases annually. Almost 1 million die of malaria each year, cient appliances tension in these compliant solids and most of these deaths are among children below the age of 5. By some measures, cut energy use is a real thing and that it manifests further. Falk it is a bigger global health issue even than HIV/AIDS. 4 itself at relatively large scales.” He As Austin began investigating the topic, she found that while global malaria notes that his gas adds: “As a basic mechanical force, rates had declined for much of the 20th century, they began climbing again in some bill has not in- surface tension in compliant solids FIGURE 4 regions in recent decades. Rates were particularly high, she found, in the poorest creased, either. will play a role in all mechanical parts of Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and in the Amazon forests of Brazil. phenomena involving compliant What these regions had in common, Austin says, were fast-growing agricultural op- materials, especially biomaterials. erations— and the deforestation that allowed those operations to take off. 5 The bottom How do things fracture, stick, Deforestation, she says, appears to be a prime driver of the rising malaria rates. line? It works. Falk’s detailed slide, have friction, deform? What According to the “It was really interesting to learn how there were so many mechanisms by which are the elastic forces that resist a NIH, approximate- deforestation could impact malaria rates,” she says. “When you fell trees to clear records show the ly 1,500 cases of improvements cell when it spreads on a gel? How malaria are report- land, you’re exposing to sunlight pools of water that had been previously shaded. strongly do dust particles stick to ed every year in And the stumps that you leave behind are prime mosquito habitat as well.” CAMPBELL HARRY save about the United States, the inside of a lung? We’re going even though But there are even more problems, Austin notes. Deforestation inevitably leads $2,000 a year in to have to rethink many of the malaria has been to loss of biodiversity and can also cause widespread changes to the nutrient base. In 2007, Matthias Falk, an associate professor ed their house into a model of energy efficiency, energy costs. The eliminated from questions involving compliant this country since Bird populations are reduced, leading to more mosquitoes. It’s a devastating chain of biological sciences, and his wife, Jutta Mar- shrinking their energy consumption by combin- family at times materials.” The research was sup- the early 1950s. of events, and the problem may only get worse. “These nations are naturally posi- zillier, an adjunct professor of biological sciences, ing a solar array with a host of other energy-saving gives power back ported by the Division of Materials tioned in areas that are primed for agricultural production, and they should [seek saw that even when their house stood vacant for a solutions. The improvements have cut their ener- to the grid. And Science and Engineering in the economic gains],” she says. “But clearly, research like this indicates ... that food that month while they were visiting family in Germany, gy use by a third, Falk says. “Everything humans do the investments Office of Basic Energy Sciences of is produced for export on this grand scale is more likely to entail environmental and it devoured a surprising amount of electricity. has an impact,” he says. “One has to try one’s best will pay off in the U.S. Department of Energy. health costs that could stifle development in the long term.” Tim— Hyland So, over the course of five years, they convert- to minimize that impact.” 10-20 years.

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SCHEMATIC The Power of Solar Power

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STUDY GETTING A LIFT FROM CARS More than half of high school students diagnosed A Journey into the ‘Proof of Islam’ with severe behavioral disorders never graduate. The Center for Adolescent Research in Schools An ancient text receives its first English translation. (CARS) at Lehigh, a national research center, is concluding a five-year, $10 million study of these students that was funded by the U.S. Department of Education. CARS program coordinator Lee Kern and her peers have enrolled nearly 700 stu- Aladdin Yaqub has spent four decades studying pool of refreshing waters for all.” dents with emotional, developmental and learning Muhammad al-Ghazali (c. 1058-1111), the pivotal Yaqub discovered this pool in his late teens in his native Baghdad, disabilities from five states in the largest interven- Muslim theologian, jurist and mystic. The as- where al-Ghazali wrote Moderation in Belief. The son of a bank man- tion program of its kind in the nation. The program sociate professor of philosophy is fascinated by ager who taught English, Yaqub first readThe Deliverer from Error, designs individual intervention packages for each al-Ghazali’s logical concept of God as omnipotent in which al-Ghazali describes a six-month spiritual crisis when he student. Kern, the Iacocca Professor of Special and not required to be benevolent, not even to his couldn’t speak because Allah had dried up his tongue. Yaqub iden- Education in the College of Education, said many ALADDIN YAQUB, most obedient servants. tified with al-Ghazali when he suffered his first major depression, of the students “have very complex psychiat- an associate Yaqub recently completed the first complete which lasted five months. In al-Ghazali’sThe Revival of the Religious ric, family, academic and other needs requiring professor of English translation of al-Ghazali’s Moderation in Sciences, a poetic explanation of Islamic rituals and doctrines, Yaqub philosophy, studies specialized services that may not be readily avail- logic, truth theory, Belief, an almost scientific defense of everything found stability. He was captivated by al-Ghazali’s view of God creat- able. We’re very pleased with the outcomes and the philosophy of from God’s attributes to the Prophet Muhammad’s ing a universe so excellent that it would not have changed even if he positive effects that our efforts have had. We’re mathematics, miracles. Published by the University of Chicago had endowed humans with all his attributes. CELL SERVICE optimistic for the long term.” metaphysics, and Press, the edition contains a small book of foot- When he was a mathematics major at the University of Baghdad, Researchers see Islamic philosophy. notes, including reconstructions and dissections Yaqub was told about Moderation in Belief by a student who was applications for of al-Ghazali’s labyrinthine arguments, which are skeptical of Sufi mystics like al-Ghazali. The skeptic hoped Yaqub Small but Mighty nanocarbons in photovoltaic cells, designed to explain why Moderation is a bible of would think less of the author when he read al-Ghazali’s claims that With words and art, physicists illuminate the liquid crystal Sunni orthodox theology, and why al-Ghazali has God does not care about people or animals. Yaqub was disappoint- devices, batteries been called “Proof of Islam” and “the common ed by al-Ghazali’s relatively harsh view, but he changed his position versatility of nanocarbons. and supercapaci- when he reread Moderation in graduate school at tors, electron field the University of Wisconsin. This time he realized emitters and other electronic devices. that it was perfectly logical for al-Ghazali’s God to be sometimes less than benevolent. This brutal honesty, says Yaqub, kept Modera- Two LEHIGH physicists have made significant contributions to an tion from a complete English translation for over international magazine’s special issue on nanocarbon materials. 900 years. It was considered “too unpleasant.” Slava V. Rotkin and Tetyana Ignatova produced the cover illustra- Moderation contains all of Yaqub’s academic tion for the fall 2013 issue of the Electrochemical Society’s journal specialties: logic, truth theory, metaphysics, and Interface and wrote an article about the versatility and potential of the philosophy of religion, mind and body. Yaqub nanocarbons. Rotkin, an associate professor of physics, and Ignatova, became a forensic footnoter: His annotations a Ph.D. candidate, generated 3-D graphics for the image. Monica include debates about schools of theology and Shell ’14, a design major, designed and colored the image under the styles of argument, long exercises in logic, expla- supervision of Johanna Brams, a senior instructional technologist. nations why a translation is literal or liberal. The Interface issue is titled “New Frontiers in Nanocarbons.” The Yaqub received philosophical help on the proj- article by Rotkin and Ignatova is titled “Discovering Properties of ect from Roslyn Weiss, professor of philosophy and Nanocarbon Materials as a Pivot for Device Applications.” BOOK TELLING THE WHOLE STORY an authority on Jewish philosophy. He received Nanotechnology has been defined as the engineering of systems If a picture is worth a thousand words, a mathe- linguistic help from his wife, Connie, a teacher with dimensions smaller than 100 nanometers. Nanocarbons come matical equation can be worth a thousand pictures. of English as a second language, who helped him in a variety of shapes and geometries, ranging from nanoparticles, This Information Age twist on a popular saying balance readability with accuracy, content with nanowires and nanotubes to graphene—a lattice of interlocking resonates with William Schiesser and others who intent. Connie also helped Aladdin balance mood hexagons—and hollow spherical molecules called fullerenes. Nano- use mathematical models to gain a clearer picture disorders that cause him to write in a white heat carbons have a high degree of mechanical stability and stiffness, of the physical world, including the interior of the and made him take a 2013 sick leave from teaching. unusual interfacial thermal conductance and optical performance. human body. Models based on differential equa- “Without her I wouldn’t have survived,” says Yaqub. Particularly striking is the unprecedented strength of nanomaterials SLAVA V. ROTKIN, tions, he says, are much more adept than humans He acknowledges his mood disorders, in the hope no more than a layer of atoms thick. associate profes- at interpreting the huge streams of data generated that mental illness can be treated as normally as Those properties have opened up applications in photovoltaic sor of physics at by modern medical imaging tools. Schiesser, the physical illness. Lehigh, previously cells, liquid crystal devices, batteries and supercapacitors, electron served as an assis- R.L. McCann Professor Emeritus of Engineering Yaqub is now translating The Book of Monothe- field emitters and other electronic devices. Nanocarbons are also tant professor at and Mathematics in the department of chemical ism by Abu Mansur al-Maturidi, another pivotal used as fillers in automobile tires, tennis rackets and other products. the Beckman Insti- engineering, published his 11th book, Partial Differ- Islamic treatise by a medieval Persian theolo- Ignatova studies the interaction of photoluminescent RE ions tute. He received ential Equation Analysis in Biomedical Engineering: gian. He insists the edition, scheduled for a 2015 with DNA-wrapped NT hybrids. By examining how the brightness his Ph.D. from Case Studies with Matlab (Cambridge University release by Brigham Young University Press, is the Ioffe Institute of RE light emission diminishes, she has deduced the attraction in St. Petersburg, Press), one year ago. The book solves differential tougher than his edition of Moderation. Aimed or repulsion between DNA and RE at distances that cannot be re- Russia, and serves equations that model the diffusion of proteins at scholars, it will have side-by-side texts in Ar- solved by microscopy. as a referee for into the retina (critically important to the onset abic and English. Why is Yaqub climbing another Rotkin and his students conduct research on a variety of nanocarbon more than than 20 of macular degeneration), the dynamics of kidney mountain during a major depression? “I’m a projects. With Anand Jagota, professor of chemical engineering, Rotkin scientific journals. dialysis, the healing of wounds and other phenom- fool,” he says with a smile. has investigated the wrapping of nanotubes (NT) with DNA strands in ena. In “retirement,” Schiesser has joined research Connie Yaqub is more generous. “Aladdin really an effort to make it easier to manipulate the tubes in solution. Recently, teams at the Perelman School of Medicine at the has a gift for making things understandable. He has Rotkin’s group collaborated with the Los Alamos National Laboratory University of Pennsylvania and at the University of an extremely inquisitive mind. He likes to share his in a study of gel-like materials that mimic the environment inside Michigan’s Medical School. His next two books will knowledge, which makes him a fantastic teacher the body or living cell.—Kurt Pfitzer be published in March by John Wiley & Sons Inc. CHIN MARCOS and a fantastic spouse.”—Geoff Gehman ’89G

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EXHIBITION Is it Art?

MUSIC BUILDING It’s a simple question that really isn’t simple at all: What counts For Sametz, A New and YOUR OWN as art? That’s the question that a group of students from Lehigh’s Advanced Museum Studies program are asking with an exhibit, currently on display in Zoellner’s Lower Gallery, titled “Is it Art?” Difficult Commission The exhibit, which continues through May, was inspired by a controversial New York Times feature that first ran in1997. The sto- The choral conductor’s next composition will honor the victims ry began, quite plainly, “The debate continues about where art is today and what so many people still want it to be.” The debate has yet of the Sandy Hook school shooting of 2012. to be settled. Nor will it likely ever be. And that is precisely the point of the Lehigh exhibit, says Ricar- do Viera, professor of art and curator of the Lehigh University Art Galleries. The student curators of the exhibit wanted visitors to be challenged to ask and answer that very ques- Steven Sametz, who has earned international acclaim as a composer and a con- tion, as they are confronted by images ranging from ductor, has received the 10th Raymond and Beverly Sackler Music Composition advertisements to cutting-edge sculpture. Prize, which is presented by the University of Connecticut. “Is it art? And who gets to say so?” Viera He will use the $25,000 award to compose a new work to be premiered in Con- asks. “We continue to have that conversa- necticut in 2015 and reprised at Lehigh. The harpsichord is essential to tion, and we’re having it here.” The proposed project, tentatively titled “A Child’s Requiem,” is a response to Baroque music, but not every the Sandy Hook Elementary School killings of December 2012, says Sametz, who concert hall houses the keyboard is a native of Westport, Conn. The work will be scored for children’s choir, mixed STEVEN SAMETZ instrument. Eugene Albulescu, choir and orchestra. is the Ronald J. concert pianist and music director “I am currently working with schools to develop a libretto drawn from children’s Ulrich Professor of the Lehigh University Philhar- of Music, director responses to tragedy and loss,” Sametz says. “There has been a growing movement of Lehigh Choral monic, has teamed with Willard of responses from area schools and beyond, and it may be that we start to get na- Arts and artistic Martin, a renowned harpsichord tional responses from teachers, parents and their children. The more responses we director of the maker in South Bethlehem, to get, the richer the potential of the project becomes.” professional a build a harpsichord he can take on Sametz, who has earned increasing renown in recent years as both composer and cappella ensemble, tour. The blueprint of the instru- The Princeton conductor, is the Ronald J. Ulrich Professor of Music and director of Lehigh Univer- Singers. ment, which Albulescu unveiled in sity Choral Arts. Choral Arts consists of Choral Union, Dolce, the Glee Club and the a performance of Bach’s Bran- select University Choir, which has toured on several continents. Sametz also serves denburg Concerto No. 6, is based as artistic director for the elite a cappella ensemble, The Princeton Singers, and is on a 17th-century illustration the founding director of The Lehigh University Choral Composer Forum, a summer discovered by Martin. Albulescu’s course of study designed to mentor emerging choral composers. wife, flautist Linda Ganus, painted In addition to the Connecticut premiere of “A Child’s Requiem,” Sametz says a depiction of Orpheus taming he also plans to reprise the new work at Lehigh, and to develop an exhibition of the animals on the harpsichord’s artwork from young children expressive of their thoughts on loss, which will be dis- lid. “The amazing thing about this played at the time of the performances. instrument,” says Albulescu, “is The competition, organized by the University of Connecticut’s School of Fine that it weighs just 50 pounds. With Arts, is an international award that supports and promotes composers and the a proper cover, you can check it in performance of their new musical works. Every second year, entrants are asked to as luggage when you fly.” compose a piece for a specific area of the musical arts, chosen by the faculty of the UConn music department, such as jazz ensemble, choir, opera, wind ensemble or chamber ensemble. LITERATURE WHY THE This year’s prize is for chorus and orchestra, and entries were received from sev- MELODRAMA? en nations and 17 states. Cultural observers have long held that melodrama champions the status quo, but Matthew Bush says the genre famous for its emotional appeal is also employed to celebrate radical narratives and revolutionary politics. In his forthcoming book, Pragmatic Passions: Melodrama and Latin American Social Narrative, Bush, NEVER FORGET assistant professor of Spanish and The nation marked director of Latin American Studies, the one-year examines works by 20th-centu- anniversary of the Newtown tragedy ry Latin American writers who on Dec. 14. use melodrama to express the political and social issues of their time. These works often address societal problems, such as regional differences in Venezuela or social marginality in urban Argentina. “Melodrama,” says Bush, “attempts to represent a specific reality and a

AP PHOTO/CRAIG RUTTLE AP PHOTO/CRAIG path to do something about it.”

18 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 19 CULTURE CULTURE

EXHIBITION Is it Art?

AP PHOTO/CRAIG RUTTLE AP PHOTO/CRAIG path to do something about it.”

18 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 19 CULTURE CULTURE

A Message from the Office of Gift Planning

FILM TOP HONORS FOR ‘FIRST FOUR’ Freestyle Furniture Design The First Four, a student-produced Lehigh documentary highlighting four of The joy of furniture making, says Amy Forsyth, can be found only when the first five women appointed to Lehigh’s English faculty, won top creating something entirely new. in OUR LiVES honors at the Greater Lehigh Val- ley Film Festival at the ArtsQuest Judie and Emery Center in November. The film was recognized in the Rosenbluth ’63 category of short film (15-50 minutes), and was produced by Liana Bachelor of Science, Business Administration Prodorutti ’16, an English major; Laura Casale ’15, a journalism and English dual major; Meghan Barwick ’15, a journalism major; and Nadia Sasso, an American studies graduate student. They were advised by Michael Kramp, associate professor of English, and Julia Maserjian, a digital historian in Lehigh’s Library and Technolo- gy Services group. The professors highlighted in the film–Rosemarie Arbur, Eliza- beth Fifer, Rosemary Mundhenk For more information on how you can and Barbara Traister–joined the make an impact through a planned university faculty during a time of significant change at Lehigh. The gift to Lehigh, please contact First Four consists of individual Lorraine Wiedorn at (610) 758-4874. and group interviews with these professors, as well as archival foot- age and images from yearbooks, newspapers and other periodicals. “Learning about these women and telling their story inspired Furniture maker Amy Forsyth’s work combines furniture, A DESIGNER AT me to become more involved in sculpture, architecture and performance. She uses whatever means HEART Before feminism and the Women’s Center and materials will realize the initial idea. Her creations bridge the taking up furniture design, Amy in particular,” said Barwick. “As a unconventional with the familiar, taking everyday objects and turn- Forsyth trained group of four women ourselves, it ing them into something unexpected. as an architect at was a really valuable experience Her latest project is a collaborative effort with an Indiana-based Penn State and to work on this project.” artist to design and build furniture for a 2014 exhibition at Philadel- Princeton. She is —Karl Brisseaux ‘11 phia’s The Center for Art in Wood. also an accom- As part of the center’s Bartram’s Boxes Remix (BBR), Forsyth, plished musician. associate professor of architecture, is working with Katie Hudnall, an assistant professor and furniture maker at the Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis, to build two pieces of furniture that will engage each other. The project’s title is a reference to the boxes containing seeds, plants and curiosities that Bartram began sending rowing up in the Lehigh Valley, Emery Rosenbluth “If we had limited our gifting to annuities, we would not to his colleagues in England in 1735. received a scholarship to attend Lehigh and always have received the pleasure in our lifetime of assisting Central Reflecting Bartram’s mail-order business, Forsyth and Hudnall began planning their furniture in 2012. Each designer sent the other knew he and his wife, Judie, would provide the same Florida students in obtaining their education. That is something drawings and small sculptural objects to inspire larger pieces. Over opportunityg for others. They felt that it was important for other that I want to know while I am living.” the course of this past spring, they met and drew what they thought students to receive an excellent education at his alma mater. In addition to their scholarship support, Emery and Judie these ideas might become. For the exhibit, Forsyth built a cabinet that she describes as a “I was able to enjoy the Lehigh life because a family are actively involved at Lehigh attending on- and off-campus “self-portrait.” The cabinet doors incorporate truss-like wooden established a scholarship for a young Allentown man to go events, including Lehigh Summit and Alumni Weekend. As a hinges inspired by Hudnall, with doors that draw on Native American to Lehigh to study business administration. That gift greatly 50th Reunion Fund Committee member, Emery helped organize transformation masks. Inside is a table built from one of Hudnall’s impacted my life,” he said. “It allowed me to live on campus, a large turn-out of his Tau Delta Phi pledge class and is currently drawings. Since this project is for an exhibition rather than everyday use, expressing an idea is more important than function, Forsyth says. participate in all activities, and grow from those experiences.” planning another get-together at the 150th Lehigh Lafayette “I’m not interested in furniture that’s been done already, like arts The Rosenbluths established the Judie and Emery H. game at Yankee Stadium in 2014. and crafts. I think it’s wonderful stuff, but I approach my work as an Rosenbluth Jr. ’63 Endowed Scholarship Fund to help students “I have a great deal of pride in the university and, in artistic practice, so I’m always looking for something new. “As an architect, you plan everything out and you hope someone in Central Florida study business administration at Lehigh. In particular, in recognizing how much it has grown over the years,” will build it just the way you draw it. As a furniture maker, I like the creating their fund, they opted for a combination of annuities, he said. “Honestly, I wouldn’t mind going back to being a fact that I am doing it myself, and I learn something about what I’m which allows the life income to assist in retirement planning, student again.” making as I go.” —Rob Nichols and outright gifts so students can receive benefits immediately. 20 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 21 CULTURE CULTURE

A Message from the Office of Gift Planning

STATS Adeolu “Lou” Adesida ’15

SCORE WAIT ‘TIL NEXT YEAR The Countdown to 150 It was a defeat that nobody in South Bethlehem saw coming. The oldest rivalry series in college football is heading With the Patriot League championship on the line on Nov. 23, to New York City in 2014. Lafayette upset Lehigh in the 149th playing of the Rivalry, 50-28, to finish the season 5-6 overall—but more importantly, 4-1 in the league. The victory gave Lafayette its Next fall, the most-played rivalry in college football is hitting the road—for just first win in the series since 2007 the second time in history. and their first outright league Tickets are selling fast for the historic 150th playing of “The Rivalry,” as Lehigh crown since 1994. FIGURE 5 will battle ancient rivals Lafayette at Yankee Stadium in New York on Nov. 22, 2014. “It wasn’t our best day of Lehigh sold out its initial allotment of tickets within just weeks of their release, and football,” Lehigh head coach Andy the New York Yankees organization provided additional tickets to both schools in Coen said afterward. November, which also sold quickly. Lafayette outgained Lehigh 498 The week leading up to the game will feature a host of events, as Lehigh cele- to 307, and was particularly sharp brates its participation in one of the greatest traditions in college athletics. Events through the air, as freshman quar- In a rivalry already scheduled include a performance by the University Choir at Carnegie Hall series as long terback Drew Reed threw for 378 and storied as and a joint Lehigh-Lafayette Wall Street bell-ringing at the New York Stock Ex- Lehigh-Lafayette, yards and three touchdowns. For there are countless change. More events will be added in the months leading up to the game. Lehigh, senior tailback Keith Sher- plays that stand The game is expected to be a complete sellout by kickoff next November. As of out as highlights. man had 18 carries for 140 yards For Lehigh, one press time, more than 40,000 tickets had already been sold or held for students of on the day, while fellow senior Lee of those plays both institutions, and demand remained strong. came in 1995, Kurfis caught seven passes. when wideout “There are always expectations with that game, really right from the beginning of Afterward, Coen and his Brian Klingerman the season,” said Lehigh coach Andy Coen. “It’s really an event, not necessarily just a made a stunning Mountain Hawks were left to rue one-handed catch game. It’ll be certainly very special playing the game in Yankee Stadium and every- on a deep route sluggish play both at kickoff and in double overtime thing that will go on around that game. It will be exciting for the students, the fans and at the start of the second half. But to beat Lafayette the players on both teams. It’s going to be an exciting year, without a doubt.” 36-30. The win the coach gave credit to Lafayette came in the first The Lehigh-Lafayette game is being played at a neutral site for just the second for a well-deserved win. year that the time, and the first in more than 120 years. In 1891, on the only other occasion that Patriot League “It wasn’t for lack of effort or used overtime, the game was not played in either Easton or Bethlehem, Lehigh emerged victorious and secured emotion or pride in the institu- Lehigh the Patriot as the teams clashed (for the third time that season) in Wilkes-Barre. tion,” Coen said. “It just wasn’t our League title. For the 150th, Lafayette will be the designated home team. Tickets purchased day and they played well. That’s through Lehigh will be on the third base/left field side of the stadium. Fans should why they won the game.” visit www.lehighsports.com/rivalry150 for additional information about tickets, transportation, tailgating and more.

2014 TICKETS SPORT Track and Field events in high school, but I eventually be to [set a personal record] again, didn’t do as well, but everyone else did, $89 started high jumping. and in doing so I would hope to qualify you want to study more so that you fall EVENT High Jump for indoor nationals, and definitely for on the higher end of the class average. Sections 127B–130, 220B-222, DAILY ROUTINE DURING THE SEASON the outdoor season I’d want to go to 132-134 PERSONAL BEST High Jump: 2.18m I wake up, do work until I have class and outdoor nationals, the final round. I MENTORS [My mentors] obviously (7’ 1.75” - school record); Triple Jump: then go to class. After that I go straight also want to get into higher divisions include my parents, and my three $63 13.00m (42’ 8”) to practice, eat dinner right after, shower, in things like Penn Relays, being able older siblings. My siblings all went to Sections: 125-127A, 225-234 do some more work, hopefully be done to jump in the championship sections, college; they’ve all graduated, so I saw HOMETOWN Philadelphia by 1 or 1:30 [in the morning], watch the elite sections. [The championship what they did preparing for everything. $45 some T.V. and then sleep. and elite sections] jump on Saturday at And now that I have a visual example CLASS Junior Penn Relays is when you have guys of what they do, I see things I should Sections: 118-124, 320C-332B, BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT I was academ- like Usain Bolt running, and so it’s a and shouldn’t do. Being the youngest 135-136, 235-239 MAJOR Accounting ic all-American [last spring]. To become hyped environment, and that’s the definitely helps. an academic all-American, you have to kind of environment I want to be at. GPA 3.52 be top 48 on the East Coast in your event LEADERSHIP STYLE My style is and have a cumulative GPA of 3.25. That BEFORE MY EVENTS, I LISTEN TO leading by example. As far as athletics ON-SALE DATES CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS combines what you’ve done on the field Chill, relaxed Hip-Hop. I like to listen go, people will always look up to you if National Association of Black or on the track and what you’ve done in to Big L, Dr. Dre, J. Cole, A$AP Rocky, you’re excelling in what you’re doing. April 2 Accountants (NABA) and Student- school. Everyone on that list is obviously Kendrick Lamar, and Michael Jackson If they see that you can combine doing Lehigh student section tickets Athlete Mentors (SAMs) one of the top performers on their team sometimes too. well in school and doing well in your on sale and in the classroom. sport, people recognize that and say HOW I GOT STARTED I was actually I AM MOTIVATED BY The people ‘Wow, he or she is well-rounded.’ So playing basketball in high school, FAVORITE ATHLETE IN ANOTHER around me motivate me because I’m that inspires people to investigate and LUXURY SUITES and playing in the summer on the AAU SPORT Allen Iverson really competitive. I’m also pretty see how that athlete prepares outside To inquire about securing a Luxury

circuit. I wanted to stay in shape self-motivated, but if I see people doing of their sport, outside of school and see STEVE BOYLE Suite, email [email protected] because I was only practicing once or FAVORITE PRE-MEET MEAL Pasta well that kind of just motivates me to do what makes them excel. twice a week. I figured the best way better, especially in school. If you’re get- to do it was with track. I did running GOALS THIS SEASON My goal would ting grades back on a test and say you -Karl Brisseaux ‘11

MARK BONIFACIO/NY DAILY NEWS ARCHIVE VIA GETTY IMAGES

22 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 23 ATHLETICS ATHLETICS

STATS Adeolu “Lou” Adesida ’15

MARK BONIFACIO/NY DAILY NEWS ARCHIVE VIA GETTY IMAGES

22 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 23 ATHLETICS Be visionary. Another Measure of Success Through his visionary leadership, Asa Packer Lehigh prepares student-athletes to excel on the field, in the classroom—and in the real world, too. set the foundation for generations of students to learn and live among the nation’s personal effectiveness and overall team success. brightest scholars. At Lehigh, that training be- gins in the first year. Through the P.R.I.D.E. program, first year stu- You can too. dent-athletes are made aware of the many on-campus resources available to them, so that they are better able to balance their social, academic and athletic commit- As an Asa Packer Society member, you improve the student ments. Student-Athlete Mentors (S.A.M.), train upperclassmen experience through financial aid, innovative academic programs, leaders and peer educators, and athletics support, and more. help ease the transition to college for their new teammates. Lehigh’s Emerging Leaders pro- Imagine What You Can Provide: gram prepares student-athletes to lead first by example in order to $1,000 develop credibility among teammates. It involves empowering ath- Software for campus computer labs letes to hold themselves and others accountable academically, athleti- $5,000 cally and socially. “In the fall, the Emerging Lead- A student leadership conference ers program is open to any sophomore or junior student-athlete,” said Sterrett. “In the spring semester, the $7,500 program helps coach-identified indi- COURTESY OF LEHIGH ATHLETICS COURTESY Undergraduate research award viduals and future team captains de- AN ONGOING The 2012-2013 academic and athletic year was, in velop the vocal leadership skills needed to effectively support, refocus EFFORT Julie part, highlighted by the championship-level suc- and confront their teammates.” $10,000 Sterrett ‘07, assis- cess of several varsity teams. The Mountain Hawks The most selective of Lehigh’s offerings, the Leadership Lega- tant director for A visiting lecture series athletics leader- secured league crowns in men’s tennis, men’s la- cies program, supports veteran leaders and current team captains ship development, crosse, women’s and men’s golf, and men’s cross as they apply their knowledge and skills to actively lead their says Lehigh country. Meanwhile, 47 percent of student-athletes teams in season. $25,000 student-athletes were recognized on the Patriot League’s Academic Finally, a senior capstone experience, called Launch, connects grad- are expected to Honor Roll (for GPAs of at least 3.2). uating student-athletes to athletics alumni and encourages meaningful Student scholarship for one year practice leadership “in everything Lehigh’s athletes prepare for academics and reflection and identification of transferable leadership skills. they do.” competition with vigor, but a third component— Beyond educational programs, experiential learning and lead- leadership development—plays an important ership involvement opportunities are varied. The Student-Athlete role in molding students for achievement in ev- Council is a group of approximately 25 students who work collec- erything they set out to accomplish, says Julie tively to enhance the college experience for all student-athletes Sterrett ‘07, assistant director for athletics lead- through community service (via the C.O.A.C.H. program), campus All Society members enjoy special benefits, including exclusive event ership development. collaborations, and alumni partnerships. The Student-Athletes invitations and access to the powerful Lehigh network. President’s “I coordinate and facilitate our leadership Leading Social Change team engages in meaningful dialogue and education efforts for student-athletes, teams, service projects locally, nationally and internationally. and Founder’s Associates receive additional benefits, including and coaches” says Sterrett. “Our programming All in all, Lehigh’s slate of opportunities is robust but flexi- presidential communications and the opportunity to participate strengthens the connection between student af- ble enough to accommodate the often jam-packed schedules of in the Lehigh Summit, an educational and leadership event, held fairs and athletics by offering the practical appli- student-athletes. The Patriot League has recognized Lehigh stu- cation of student development and leadership the- dent-athletes for their commitment to leadership through the Out- this year on April 25-27, 2014. ories within the context of sport.” standing Leadership and Character award, established in 2012. In A two-time All-Patriot League selection in soft- fact, all of the winners of the award are Mountain Hawks: Chris Lum For more information about becoming a member of the Asa Packer ball and a member of the dean’s list throughout ’12 (football) and Jana Basubas ’12 (soccer) won the inaugural men’s her career at Lehigh, Sterrett has been working and women’s award, while Michael Colvin ’13 (football) and Rebecca Society and on making your impact at Lehigh, please call with undergraduate athletes since 2008. The Le- Guman ’13 (basketball) won in 2013. (610) 758-5071 or visit www.lehigh.edu/asapackersociety. high Athletics Leadership Academy, housed in the “It’s a win-win situation,” says Sterrett. “By challenging our ath- office of student leadership development, offers letes to clarify expectations and act on core values, we’re strengthen- comprehensive, developmentally incremental and ing the culture of leadership at Lehigh. In turn, our student-athletes interactive educational programs to catalyze lead- are prepared to continue to lead effectively in their personal and ership awareness and efficacy in order to maximize professional lives beyond college sports.” —Karl Brisseaux

24 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 25 ATHLETICS Be visionary. Another Measure of Success Through his visionary leadership, Asa Packer Lehigh prepares student-athletes to excel on the field, in the classroom—and in the real world, too. set the foundation for generations of students to learn and live among the nation’s personal effectiveness and overall team success. brightest scholars. At Lehigh, that training be- gins in the first year. Through the P.R.I.D.E. program, first year stu- You can too. dent-athletes are made aware of the many on-campus resources available to them, so that they are better able to balance their social, academic and athletic commit- As an Asa Packer Society member, you improve the student ments. Student-Athlete Mentors (S.A.M.), train upperclassmen experience through financial aid, innovative academic programs, leaders and peer educators, and athletics support, and more. help ease the transition to college for their new teammates. Lehigh’s Emerging Leaders pro- Imagine What You Can Provide: gram prepares student-athletes to lead first by example in order to $1,000 develop credibility among teammates. It involves empowering ath- Software for campus computer labs letes to hold themselves and others accountable academically, athleti- $5,000 cally and socially. “In the fall, the Emerging Lead- A student leadership conference ers program is open to any sophomore or junior student-athlete,” said Sterrett. “In the spring semester, the $7,500 program helps coach-identified indi- COURTESY OF LEHIGH ATHLETICS COURTESY Undergraduate research award viduals and future team captains de- AN ONGOING The 2012-2013 academic and athletic year was, in velop the vocal leadership skills needed to effectively support, refocus EFFORT Julie part, highlighted by the championship-level suc- and confront their teammates.” $10,000 Sterrett ‘07, assis- cess of several varsity teams. The Mountain Hawks The most selective of Lehigh’s offerings, the Leadership Lega- tant director for A visiting lecture series athletics leader- secured league crowns in men’s tennis, men’s la- cies program, supports veteran leaders and current team captains ship development, crosse, women’s and men’s golf, and men’s cross as they apply their knowledge and skills to actively lead their says Lehigh country. Meanwhile, 47 percent of student-athletes teams in season. $25,000 student-athletes were recognized on the Patriot League’s Academic Finally, a senior capstone experience, called Launch, connects grad- are expected to Honor Roll (for GPAs of at least 3.2). uating student-athletes to athletics alumni and encourages meaningful Student scholarship for one year practice leadership “in everything Lehigh’s athletes prepare for academics and reflection and identification of transferable leadership skills. they do.” competition with vigor, but a third component— Beyond educational programs, experiential learning and lead- leadership development—plays an important ership involvement opportunities are varied. The Student-Athlete role in molding students for achievement in ev- Council is a group of approximately 25 students who work collec- erything they set out to accomplish, says Julie tively to enhance the college experience for all student-athletes Sterrett ‘07, assistant director for athletics lead- through community service (via the C.O.A.C.H. program), campus All Society members enjoy special benefits, including exclusive event ership development. collaborations, and alumni partnerships. The Student-Athletes invitations and access to the powerful Lehigh network. President’s “I coordinate and facilitate our leadership Leading Social Change team engages in meaningful dialogue and education efforts for student-athletes, teams, service projects locally, nationally and internationally. and Founder’s Associates receive additional benefits, including and coaches” says Sterrett. “Our programming All in all, Lehigh’s slate of opportunities is robust but flexi- presidential communications and the opportunity to participate strengthens the connection between student af- ble enough to accommodate the often jam-packed schedules of in the Lehigh Summit, an educational and leadership event, held fairs and athletics by offering the practical appli- student-athletes. The Patriot League has recognized Lehigh stu- cation of student development and leadership the- dent-athletes for their commitment to leadership through the Out- this year on April 25-27, 2014. ories within the context of sport.” standing Leadership and Character award, established in 2012. In A two-time All-Patriot League selection in soft- fact, all of the winners of the award are Mountain Hawks: Chris Lum For more information about becoming a member of the Asa Packer ball and a member of the dean’s list throughout ’12 (football) and Jana Basubas ’12 (soccer) won the inaugural men’s her career at Lehigh, Sterrett has been working and women’s award, while Michael Colvin ’13 (football) and Rebecca Society and on making your impact at Lehigh, please call with undergraduate athletes since 2008. The Le- Guman ’13 (basketball) won in 2013. (610) 758-5071 or visit www.lehigh.edu/asapackersociety. high Athletics Leadership Academy, housed in the “It’s a win-win situation,” says Sterrett. “By challenging our ath- office of student leadership development, offers letes to clarify expectations and act on core values, we’re strengthen- comprehensive, developmentally incremental and ing the culture of leadership at Lehigh. In turn, our student-athletes interactive educational programs to catalyze lead- are prepared to continue to lead effectively in their personal and ership awareness and efficacy in order to maximize professional lives beyond college sports.” —Karl Brisseaux

24 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 25 UP ON THE

With the official launch of the Mountaintop initiative, Lehigh aims to rethink teaching and learning in the 21st century.

BY TIM HYLAND

PHOTOS BY THEO ANDERSON

What does a 21st century environment for to pursue answers to open-ended questions and, learning, discovery and engagement look like? in the process, will be challenged to increase their How should the development of young people, capacities for independent discovery, for taking the process of discovery, and the engagement with intellectual risks and learning from failures, for partners and constituents be interrelated in the collaboration, for recognizing important problems context of higher education? and opportunities, and for effecting constructive How should people in different fields of study, and sustainable change. and at different levels of formal attainment, relate The core idea of Mountaintop, in short, is to to one another? offer students the freedom to engage in the most And how can universities foster these kinds of open kind of learning environment possible—one interdisciplinary relationships in a way that not that will allow them to define the boundaries of only conveys new knowledge to participants, but their educational experiences. And to hear students ultimately delivers important solutions for an ever who have already experienced Mountaintop tell it, more complicated world? the freedom they enjoyed up on South Mountain On a chilly, rainy Friday afternoon this fall, stands out as perhaps the most powerful experi- Lehigh students, faculty and staff gathered on ence they’ve had at Lehigh. campus to ask—and, through an open, hour-long These students came to Mountaintop in differ- conversation, attempt to answer—those very ques- ent ways, and the pilot projects they took part in ran LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Penn tions. The impetus for gathering, the second of two the academic gamut—from automotive engineering Scott ‘13 (left) and held in the course of a week in late November, was and film production to public health and interior James Suh ‘14 the official launch of the Mountaintop project, a design. Some students ended up precisely where used their Moun- potentially groundbreaking initiative that could they thought they would; others took detours into taintop experience allow Lehigh to take the lead in rethinking the wildly unexpected new paths. But almost all said to conceptualize boundaries of higher education. the automobile of they were grateful for the opportunity—and excit- tomorrow. With a $20 million gift from Scott Belair ’69, Le- ed for what their peers might come up with on the high is working to transform two soaring former Mountain in the years to come. Bethlehem Steel research bays on South Mountain Here, we share a few of these students’ stories— into vibrant and unique learning environments— stories that hint at the vast possibilities of these places where students will be given the freedom spaces, and this project and this university.

26 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 27 UP ON THE

With the official launch of the Mountaintop initiative, Lehigh aims to rethink teaching and learning in the 21st century.

BY TIM HYLAND

PHOTOS BY THEO ANDERSON

26 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 27 JACOB PUZYCKI ’14 There were times during the project that I doubted myself and my During the project, we learned that we weren’t the only ones who skin of the Xiphias Concept vehicle, there is now the world’s first Technology for Developing Communities Project decisions, but our advisers—Michael Kramp and Julia Maserjian— wanted a more open-ended space where any number of creative purely topology-optimized automotive chassis—showcasing the were amazing at making us trust our own instincts. It was stressed activities can take place. We found inspiration in the renovated Navy promise that computational simulation offers in the development of My group members and I had quite an interesting experience this to us over and over that this was OUR project and we could do what yards of Brooklyn and Philadelphia, as well as the newly designed super-efficient structures. Without our experience with Mountain- summer. We were given a very undefined goal: utilize new technolo- we wanted with it. I think that these types of projects are essential to headquarters of Google and Autodesk. Our ultimate vision for the top over the summer, we simply would not have had the chance to gies and new innovations to help eliminate poverty in small Kenyan being a well-rounded student because they give us the freedom and C2 bay includes several open-plan floors, movable ‘creativity cells,’ pursue such a radical, immersive end goal. communities. responsibility to create something. We weren’t given much guidance multiple prototyping and shop spaces and numerous amenities that And for that reason, we’d like to say thanks once again to the To begin we wanted to see how feasible it was for inexperienced on what to do, tough decisions had to be made, and we all felt confi- would allow for longer stays on the Mountaintop campus. Lehigh community and also to express our enthusiasm for seeing the individuals to use new technologies, so we built our own 3D printer, a dent in making them. While working on our own project was fun, it was perhaps even Mountaintop experience take shape at the university. technology that was new to me and had blown my mind just months I’m extremely proud of the work Nadia, Liana, Meghan and I did, more fascinating to see what other groups were working on. From 3D before. Through that process, we discovered that we were capable of and of being able to have been a part of a great initiative at Lehigh. printers, to refugee housing, to the car of the future, we watched these more than we had thought we were. None of us had real experience complex projects develop in what was not much more than a shell of a JAMES SUH ’14 in engineering, yet we were able to build this complicated device, as building with relatively few resources on hand. Imagine what the stu- Xiphias Car Project long as we had proper guidance, support and motivation. MEGHAN BARWICK ’15 dents could do if the building was specifically designed to help them That mental framework became the foundation of our project: ‘First Four’ Film Project explore, create and develop their brilliant ideas into something more! As a designer, I always dreamed about working on a long-term auto- that people are capable of much more than they may think they are. From what I’ve noticed, as we grow up we thoughtlessly and motive project—where I can take a leading role to provide a unique We decided that the best thing we could do for a group of people Being able to take part in the Mountaintop projects this summer has unnecessarily limit ourselves in what we believe to be possible. and desirable design package and work in conjunction with engi- struggling with poverty was to empower them to help themselves. been amazing. Mountaintop could be a place of creativity and innovation where we neers to allow the project to develop much further. Fortunately, I So, after undergoing four weeks of brainstorming and idea anal- I was so excited to be asked by my professor and advisor for the free ourselves from our existing notions of how the world has to be, was able to find talented students who share my passion in cars yet ysis, we decided that we would develop a curriculum that Kenyan project, Michael Kramp, because he knew how excited I was about where we can restore our imagination so that we can better solve the have distinctive academic and professional backgrounds at Lehigh: community leaders could use to help struggling entrepreneurs in film. Since we don’t have a film major (or minor for that matter), I problems of the future. We need science, technology, engineering Penn Scott ‘13 (IDEAS), Marcus Risland ‘14 (finance) and myself ‘14 their communities. The curriculum focuses on developing business knew I’d have to bushwhack in a sense to get to where I wanted to be. and math in order to make progress, but we can’t forget about what (design). Our interdisciplinary team immediately went to work. My skills and discovering creative new ways of thinking, so that people This project was exactly what I needed. inspires and directs that progress: creativity. Campus Square dorm room became our office where we met to make might solve problems in their communities—benefiting their own I got to plan and execute a film with three other girls. We were progress on the car every day. lives and giving sustainable growth to their local economies. independent and relied on each other to keep the project going. A larger workspace, financial support and exposure to the Lehigh I can say for sure that this project has changed the way I think For the project, I got to travel to California to meet one of the PENN SCOTT ’13 community and beyond were much needed components of the proj- about ‘work.’ It was the first time I’ve set the criteria for what four amazing Lehigh professors featured in our film. Without the Xiphias Car Project ect. The Mountaintop program offered us all of that. During our ‘success’ looks like and it built an important bridge between my Mountaintop initiative backing the project, I would have never had time this summer, we were able to focus on the car (while being) college experience and ‘the real world.’ I’m really excited for where the opportunity to practice what I want to be a part of my career By the time Building C-2 opened for the summer pilot program, surrounded by other motivated student teams in Mountaintop. The this project will go, and hope to continue this work through the rest after graduating. James [Suh] and I had already spent several months pulling together atmosphere where we can feed off each other’s enthusiasm worked of the school year or even beyond. Who knows where it will take me? And since finishing, it’s been so exciting. We’ve premiered it at the foundations of our car design. We’d been grinding out models and incredibly well with the openness of the building C2. Lehigh to a room full of students and faculty; and we’ve show it at a sketches late into each night, using nightstands for desks, cramped As a team, we are most grateful for the university’s trust in our film festival, and won an award for best short (15 to 50 minutes). I between our computers and his closet. ambitious idea. I can still clearly remember our first meeting with LAURA CASALE ’15 learned a great deal through making the film about the subject mat- The prospect of staking out a better habitat for bringing the Xiphi- the administration; although we did not have materials to prove our ‘First Four’ Film Project ter and the skills it takes to create a work like this. as Concept to life thrilled us, so we arrived right when the doors thoughts, the conversation was about how to make this a reality and opened in May to claim our spot. During our hundred days over the what are the specific steps to get there, rather than disapproval. I am To me, the Mountaintop projects are a real testament to—and ex- summer, with the assistance of Miguel Roman ‘13, Robert Vargo ‘14 extremely thrilled to be involved in a program where students were ample of—the opportunities available here for Lehigh students. I LISA GLOVER, GRADUATE STUDENT and the Lehigh community at large, our team explored the develop- in the driver’s seat to work on something that they are truly passion- became involved in the projects solely due to a professor I had first Creativity Space Project ment of innovative solutions in automotive engineering and design. ate about. semester sophomore year, Michael Kramp. I had Professor Kramp There’s a fine line that an open workspace like C-2 must tread, We are officially wrapping up our work this semester. However, for Introduction to Film, and I expressed to him interest in film For the Creativity Space project, we were charged with designing a between offering teams a chance to build off each other’s enthusiasm this project allowed our student supporters like Miguel Roman ’13 as a possible career. As a result of that he asked a fellow classmate, place for Integrated Product Development and Technical Entrepre- while leaving room for their privacy, and the building’s unique setup and Robert Vargo ’14 to start their individual projects. For the rest Meghan Barwick, and me to be part of a film calledThe First Four. neurship students to work on their endeavors. We expanded on this walked it quite gracefully. We had a blast exchanging ideas with of my time at Lehigh, I will be extending my work with the concept It really was the best experience I’ve had at Lehigh thus far, be- idea, developing a space where all members of the university could groups building refugee shelters or augmented reality spaces as we by working on a full-scale ergonomic study of the vehicle. I realize cause not only did it teach me valuable film skills, but it also allowed be creative and innovative. raced forward designing a supercar concept. that not many undergraduate designers (even the professionals) get me to meet or talk to four amazing women (four of the first five women As a former architecture major and current Technical Entre- Perhaps what our team is most grateful for is the university’s trust to design the entire car with their purest vision and I am extremely on Lehigh’s English faculty) who have basically paved the way for me preneurship master’s student, I am passionate about creating and in our ideas and in our self-motivation. This [Mountaintop] pro- grateful for the opportunity I have. I would like to say thanks again and other women at Lehigh. The stories they told me and the lessons designing. While I have access to the resources that make my dreams gram took a risk by exploring a new educational model, but I know to the Lehigh community and I hope to be involved with the Moun- I learned will stay with me for the rest of my life. This project made possible, most Lehigh students do not (or may not be aware of them). we aren’t the only group who walked away with some great results at taintop program even after my time at Lehigh. L me more aware of gender inequalities, how far we have come, how far These students are just as excited and inventive as I am but access to the end of the summer. we still have to go, and why I have to be a part in making sure change basic resources such as a woodshop, laser cutter and 3-D printer is, Even as the fall semester got underway, we pressed on with our To learn more about Mountaintop, and President Gast’s vision for the continues to happen. in most cases, difficult to attain. project and are only now officially wrapping up work. Beneath the project, visit lehigh.edu/mountaintop.

28 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 29 JACOB PUZYCKI ’14 There were times during the project that I doubted myself and my During the project, we learned that we weren’t the only ones who skin of the Xiphias Concept vehicle, there is now the world’s first Technology for Developing Communities Project decisions, but our advisers—Michael Kramp and Julia Maserjian— wanted a more open-ended space where any number of creative purely topology-optimized automotive chassis—showcasing the were amazing at making us trust our own instincts. It was stressed activities can take place. We found inspiration in the renovated Navy promise that computational simulation offers in the development of My group members and I had quite an interesting experience this to us over and over that this was OUR project and we could do what yards of Brooklyn and Philadelphia, as well as the newly designed super-efficient structures. Without our experience with Mountain- summer. We were given a very undefined goal: utilize new technolo- we wanted with it. I think that these types of projects are essential to headquarters of Google and Autodesk. Our ultimate vision for the top over the summer, we simply would not have had the chance to gies and new innovations to help eliminate poverty in small Kenyan being a well-rounded student because they give us the freedom and C2 bay includes several open-plan floors, movable ‘creativity cells,’ pursue such a radical, immersive end goal. communities. responsibility to create something. We weren’t given much guidance multiple prototyping and shop spaces and numerous amenities that And for that reason, we’d like to say thanks once again to the To begin we wanted to see how feasible it was for inexperienced on what to do, tough decisions had to be made, and we all felt confi- would allow for longer stays on the Mountaintop campus. Lehigh community and also to express our enthusiasm for seeing the individuals to use new technologies, so we built our own 3D printer, a dent in making them. While working on our own project was fun, it was perhaps even Mountaintop experience take shape at the university. technology that was new to me and had blown my mind just months I’m extremely proud of the work Nadia, Liana, Meghan and I did, more fascinating to see what other groups were working on. From 3D before. Through that process, we discovered that we were capable of and of being able to have been a part of a great initiative at Lehigh. printers, to refugee housing, to the car of the future, we watched these more than we had thought we were. None of us had real experience complex projects develop in what was not much more than a shell of a JAMES SUH ’14 in engineering, yet we were able to build this complicated device, as building with relatively few resources on hand. Imagine what the stu- Xiphias Car Project long as we had proper guidance, support and motivation. MEGHAN BARWICK ’15 dents could do if the building was specifically designed to help them That mental framework became the foundation of our project: ‘First Four’ Film Project explore, create and develop their brilliant ideas into something more! As a designer, I always dreamed about working on a long-term auto- that people are capable of much more than they may think they are. From what I’ve noticed, as we grow up we thoughtlessly and motive project—where I can take a leading role to provide a unique We decided that the best thing we could do for a group of people Being able to take part in the Mountaintop projects this summer has unnecessarily limit ourselves in what we believe to be possible. and desirable design package and work in conjunction with engi- struggling with poverty was to empower them to help themselves. been amazing. Mountaintop could be a place of creativity and innovation where we neers to allow the project to develop much further. Fortunately, I So, after undergoing four weeks of brainstorming and idea anal- I was so excited to be asked by my professor and advisor for the free ourselves from our existing notions of how the world has to be, was able to find talented students who share my passion in cars yet ysis, we decided that we would develop a curriculum that Kenyan project, Michael Kramp, because he knew how excited I was about where we can restore our imagination so that we can better solve the have distinctive academic and professional backgrounds at Lehigh: community leaders could use to help struggling entrepreneurs in film. Since we don’t have a film major (or minor for that matter), I problems of the future. We need science, technology, engineering Penn Scott ‘13 (IDEAS), Marcus Risland ‘14 (finance) and myself ‘14 their communities. The curriculum focuses on developing business knew I’d have to bushwhack in a sense to get to where I wanted to be. and math in order to make progress, but we can’t forget about what (design). Our interdisciplinary team immediately went to work. My skills and discovering creative new ways of thinking, so that people This project was exactly what I needed. inspires and directs that progress: creativity. Campus Square dorm room became our office where we met to make might solve problems in their communities—benefiting their own I got to plan and execute a film with three other girls. We were progress on the car every day. lives and giving sustainable growth to their local economies. independent and relied on each other to keep the project going. A larger workspace, financial support and exposure to the Lehigh I can say for sure that this project has changed the way I think For the project, I got to travel to California to meet one of the PENN SCOTT ’13 community and beyond were much needed components of the proj- about ‘work.’ It was the first time I’ve set the criteria for what four amazing Lehigh professors featured in our film. Without the Xiphias Car Project ect. The Mountaintop program offered us all of that. During our ‘success’ looks like and it built an important bridge between my Mountaintop initiative backing the project, I would have never had time this summer, we were able to focus on the car (while being) college experience and ‘the real world.’ I’m really excited for where the opportunity to practice what I want to be a part of my career By the time Building C-2 opened for the summer pilot program, surrounded by other motivated student teams in Mountaintop. The this project will go, and hope to continue this work through the rest after graduating. James [Suh] and I had already spent several months pulling together atmosphere where we can feed off each other’s enthusiasm worked of the school year or even beyond. Who knows where it will take me? And since finishing, it’s been so exciting. We’ve premiered it at the foundations of our car design. We’d been grinding out models and incredibly well with the openness of the building C2. Lehigh to a room full of students and faculty; and we’ve show it at a sketches late into each night, using nightstands for desks, cramped As a team, we are most grateful for the university’s trust in our film festival, and won an award for best short (15 to 50 minutes). I between our computers and his closet. ambitious idea. I can still clearly remember our first meeting with LAURA CASALE ’15 learned a great deal through making the film about the subject mat- The prospect of staking out a better habitat for bringing the Xiphi- the administration; although we did not have materials to prove our ‘First Four’ Film Project ter and the skills it takes to create a work like this. as Concept to life thrilled us, so we arrived right when the doors thoughts, the conversation was about how to make this a reality and opened in May to claim our spot. During our hundred days over the what are the specific steps to get there, rather than disapproval. I am To me, the Mountaintop projects are a real testament to—and ex- summer, with the assistance of Miguel Roman ‘13, Robert Vargo ‘14 extremely thrilled to be involved in a program where students were ample of—the opportunities available here for Lehigh students. I LISA GLOVER, GRADUATE STUDENT and the Lehigh community at large, our team explored the develop- in the driver’s seat to work on something that they are truly passion- became involved in the projects solely due to a professor I had first Creativity Space Project ment of innovative solutions in automotive engineering and design. ate about. semester sophomore year, Michael Kramp. I had Professor Kramp There’s a fine line that an open workspace like C-2 must tread, We are officially wrapping up our work this semester. However, for Introduction to Film, and I expressed to him interest in film For the Creativity Space project, we were charged with designing a between offering teams a chance to build off each other’s enthusiasm this project allowed our student supporters like Miguel Roman ’13 as a possible career. As a result of that he asked a fellow classmate, place for Integrated Product Development and Technical Entrepre- while leaving room for their privacy, and the building’s unique setup and Robert Vargo ’14 to start their individual projects. For the rest Meghan Barwick, and me to be part of a film calledThe First Four. neurship students to work on their endeavors. We expanded on this walked it quite gracefully. We had a blast exchanging ideas with of my time at Lehigh, I will be extending my work with the concept It really was the best experience I’ve had at Lehigh thus far, be- idea, developing a space where all members of the university could groups building refugee shelters or augmented reality spaces as we by working on a full-scale ergonomic study of the vehicle. I realize cause not only did it teach me valuable film skills, but it also allowed be creative and innovative. raced forward designing a supercar concept. that not many undergraduate designers (even the professionals) get me to meet or talk to four amazing women (four of the first five women As a former architecture major and current Technical Entre- Perhaps what our team is most grateful for is the university’s trust to design the entire car with their purest vision and I am extremely on Lehigh’s English faculty) who have basically paved the way for me preneurship master’s student, I am passionate about creating and in our ideas and in our self-motivation. This [Mountaintop] pro- grateful for the opportunity I have. I would like to say thanks again and other women at Lehigh. The stories they told me and the lessons designing. While I have access to the resources that make my dreams gram took a risk by exploring a new educational model, but I know to the Lehigh community and I hope to be involved with the Moun- I learned will stay with me for the rest of my life. This project made possible, most Lehigh students do not (or may not be aware of them). we aren’t the only group who walked away with some great results at taintop program even after my time at Lehigh. L me more aware of gender inequalities, how far we have come, how far These students are just as excited and inventive as I am but access to the end of the summer. we still have to go, and why I have to be a part in making sure change basic resources such as a woodshop, laser cutter and 3-D printer is, Even as the fall semester got underway, we pressed on with our To learn more about Mountaintop, and President Gast’s vision for the continues to happen. in most cases, difficult to attain. project and are only now officially wrapping up work. Beneath the project, visit lehigh.edu/mountaintop.

28 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 29 Listening to Stephanie Powell Watts talk about the craft and process of writing, one has to wonder how she ended up as a writer at all. ¶ Because mostly, she makes writing sound like one big struggle—and an unending struggle at that. ¶ “There were so many times where I wanted to divorce writing, and so many times where I thought, ‘Why can’t I do something else?’” says Watts, an associate professor of English. “But if your story doesn’t work, you have to figure it out. And either you do figure it out, or you stop. For a lot of writers, that’s very difficult. ¶ The rejection in this business is just awful. It’s very hurtful. Well, the first time isn’t that hurtful. But the 12th time certainly is.” ¶ Fortunately for Watts, a native of rural Western Carolina, the rejections aren’t nearly as common as the honors these days—and though she may not always enjoy writing, there’s no denying the fact that she is really, really good at it. ¶ In October, Watts was named one of the 2013 winners of the Whiting Writers Award, one of the most distinguished honors in the literary world. Given each year to up-and-coming writers in fiction, nonfiction, poetry and theater, the award has in past years been handed out to such stars as Mark Doty, Jonathan Franzen and Tony Kushner, among many others. Around the same time, Watts was putting the finishing touches on her first novel, which will be published in the wake of the hugely successful short-story collection, We Are Taking Only What We Need. That collection, which drew on the stories—both happy and not so happy—of the people Watts knew and loved growing up, earned widespread praise, including the 2012 Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence and the Pushcart Prize. ¶ Shortly after accepting her Whiting Award, Watts sat down with the Bulletin to discuss her still difficult transition from South to North, the ways her hometown informs her writing and, of course, the day-to-day struggle that is the writing life.

HOW DID YOU END UP HERE AT LEHIGH? SO IT’S BEEN A DECADE NOW. BUT I HAVE TO ASK: HAVE I was in graduate school at the University of Missouri, where I YOU FULLY ADJUSTED TO LIFE UP HERE IN THE NORTH? got a Ph.D. in creative writing, fiction writing and 20th century It’s still an adjustment. I won’t lie. It’s one of those things you have African-American literature, with an emphasis on folklore—Afri- to get used to with time. For the first two or three years I was here, can-American folklore in particular. I then went to Memphis for a I found myself being constantly surprised. Now I’m not as surprised year, where I was visiting writer at Rhoads College, and then I ended anymore. But it’s still an adjustment. People are just different here. up here. I was actually the first pure writer hired by the English There’s a different way to this world. In the South, there is a sense of department. My emphasis is on creative writing, while the rest courtesy that lubricates the social interactions between people. Peo- of the department is really about faculty who are much more re- ple are polite. That doesn’t necessarily mean that people like you, search-based. A year later they hired my husband, who is a poet, as though. That’s important for people to understand. I’ll hear people a professor of practice, and they also started a writing program, be- visiting the South say, ‘Oh, they are just so nice,’ and I’ll have to say, cause we wanted to offer a writing minor for our students. I’ve been ‘They’re not your friend.’ That’s very different than here. There’s a here since 2004 now. different way of interacting. And then there’s the weather. It’s not

30 | LEHIGH BULLETIN PHOTOS BY CHRISTA NEU WINTER 2014 | 31 Listening to Stephanie Powell Watts talk about the craft and process of writing, one has to wonder how she ended up as a writer at all. ¶ Because mostly, she makes writing sound like one big struggle—and an unending struggle at that. ¶ “There were so many times where I wanted to divorce writing, and so many times where I thought, ‘Why can’t I do something else?’” says Watts, an associate professor of English. “But if your story doesn’t work, you have to figure it out. And either you do figure it out, or you stop. For a lot of writers, that’s very difficult. ¶ The rejection in this business is just awful. It’s very hurtful. Well, the first time isn’t that hurtful. But the 12th time certainly is.” ¶ Fortunately for Watts, a native of rural Western Carolina, the rejections aren’t nearly as common as the honors these days—and though she may not always enjoy writing, there’s no denying the fact that she is really, really good at it. ¶ In October, Watts was named one of the 2013 winners of the Whiting Writers Award, one of the most distinguished honors in the literary world. Given each year to up-and-coming writers in fiction, nonfiction, poetry and theater, the award has in past years been handed out to such stars as Mark Doty, Jonathan Franzen and Tony Kushner, among many others. Around the same time, Watts was putting the finishing touches on her first novel, which will be published in the wake of the hugely successful short-story collection, We Are Taking Only What We Need. That collection, which drew on the stories—both happy and not so happy—of the people Watts knew and loved growing up, earned widespread praise, including the 2012 Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence and the Pushcart Prize. ¶ Shortly after accepting her Whiting Award, Watts sat down with the Bulletin to discuss her still difficult transition from South to North, the ways her hometown informs her writing and, of course, the day-to-day struggle that is the writing life.

30 | LEHIGH BULLETIN PHOTOS BY CHRISTA NEU WINTER 2014 | 31 terribly different here than in the South, because I grew up in west- world—a kind of historical continuity—that’s really hard to manufac- ern North Carolina, but we do obviously have a little more cold and ture. I am always reading child-rearing books, and one of the ones snow up here. I was reading recently was talking about the importance of talking to your kids and telling them about their family stories. It was all IS THE REST OF YOUR FAMILY STILL IN NORTH CAROLINA? about the importance of getting them to understand that there was For the most part, yes. I have a brother who lives outside of Wash- something before them, and that there will be something after them. ington, D.C. He’s a math guy, and does computer programming for a And while I think that’s very important, I think it can also get really living. I have four younger brothers in all, and the rest of the others suffocating, especially if some of those stories are less than happy are all in North Carolina—though, thankfully, not in the same house. and especially if some are downright tragic.

TELL ME ABOUT THE TOWN WHERE YOU GREW UP. YOUR FICTION DEALS WITH A LOT OF THOSE STORIES YOU It’s called Lenoir, and it’s pronounced Len-OR. It’s not Len-WA. It’s WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT. I’M WONDERING IF YOU FEEL in the foothills of the state—just a really beautiful place. Rolling hills AS THOUGH YOU NEEDED TO GET AWAY FROM THAT PLACE and mountains all around. It’s mostly known for its furniture man- IN ORDER TO TELL THESE STORIES ABOUT THAT PLACE. ufacturing industry. If you had watched The Price Is Right 20 years I think this is one of those things about being writer, where you do ago, all of the furniture that they were giving away would have been need to have a certain kind of mindset. People talk about the impor- from Lenoir. Of course, most of that industry is gone now. So it’s a tance of displacing yourself, about getting lost somewhere else, and struggling down in some sense, and that kind of reminds me of this how that might help you think about what was valuable and terrible place, as does the fact that all during my childhood, there was a big about the place you left, but I also think you can accomplish that you in some way to get it right. Which meant that I knew I had to after I won it, it seems that I have a lot of interesting people out there huge star up on one of the hills overlooking our town. But anyway, even if you’re still there. That distance that you need, I think, is not get it right. You can’t represent them in a way that makes them look trying to find my email address. It’s really been great. it’s a beautiful place, and people are struggling. It’s very much a small necessarily geographical. You just have to be able to see everything stupid or laughable. You have to be able to show all of their flaws and town. The Main Street has seen better days. My uncle still has a busi- in all of its facets, and still be connected with it. Now, some people beauties and complexities. I didn’t want to mess that up. SO WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW? ness on that street called Marvin’s One-Stop Record Shop, and as I can do that and still be right there in the midst of it. I do think it took ANOTHER NOVEL? joke, the name of the store itself tells you how viable a business it is. distancing myself from that place in order for me to really figure out YOUR STORIES ARE OBVIOUSLY BASED IN THE PLACE Yes, it’s a novel. I feel like I’m being a little bit nervous about it. Obvi- He still does sell records, though, so if you ever need records and are what I wanted to do with it. WHERE YOU GREW UP. ARE THE CHARACTERS BASED ON ously no matter what you write, you want it to be good, but I have to in the area, please stop by. REAL PEOPLE? OR MAYBE COMPOSITES OF PEOPLE? say, I really, really want this to be good. WHEN DID YOU START WRITING? Some of my stories have the germ of people that I know—somebody HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CHILDHOOD? I have always written. I was always writing as a kid and I always wanted I once met or somebody even that I love—but so long as they are pre- HOW DO YOU DEFINE ‘GOOD?’ I think it was a good childhood. It’s one of those kind of very South- to write, but I never considered myself ultimately being a writer. sented with honesty, they usually don’t care that I’ve written about I just don’t want it to be a situation where people buy it and their re- ern childhoods, I would say. Going to college was a really big decision for me. I come from a very them. Sometimes people might say, ‘Oh, didn’t your brother say action is, ‘Oh, wow, I thought she was good. This sucks!’ People love to religious family, and at least my understanding of that religion at the such-and-such that’s in the book,’ or ‘That’s just like something your tear others down, they really do. People love to anoint and they love to time was that college was not something that I should do—that it grandmother would say.’ But again if it’s done with honesty, people tear down, and that’s just part of the human condition. Both are won- wasn’t my mission in life. As a first-generation college student, there just go with it. But I rarely have a single character that is about just derful things to do, I guess, because they make you feel god-like. was a lot of push and pull on me at the time. I thought, well, I could one person. One of my characters might do something or be in a situ- at least go somewhere and try [college], but then if it didn’t work out, ation like somebody I knew, but the rest is all fiction. YOU’VE BEEN THROUGH WRITER’S STRUGGLES, HOW I could change directions and do something practical. Part of me did HAVE YOU ENJOYED TEACHING AND HELPING STUDENTS want to do something practical and make some money. DID YOU HAVE ONE OR TWO KEY MENTORS WHO HELPED DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES? YOU ALONG THE WAY? It’s a great experience. I love teaching and I love my students. The BUT YOU DID CHOOSE COLLEGE AND YOU DID CHOOSE I’ve had a lot of great feedback in my career, and I’ve had a lot of won- thing is, you just have to be so careful with people who are just trying WRITING. WHY? derful professors and friends who helped me out. And I have to say, this out for the first time, who are just trying this life. It’s a difficult I guess I would say that I just eased into it, and then I just kept going. my early stories were terrible! life, and a long struggle. You have to be careful not to injure some- I am pretty stubborn and difficult at times, and I’m not sure that peo- body in the midst of that struggle. It’s a real balance where you have ple really tried very hard to stop me. I can be like talking to a brick IS THAT JUST YOU SAYING THAT? to say to them, ‘Well, this part is good, but here’s what you need to wall. There were times when I was an undergrad where I felt really No, they are really bad. They are underdeveloped, just bad, bad work on.’ It’s very hard to not make this a personal criticism and it’s uncertain as to whether I would ever actually graduate. But by con- stuff. And that’s one of the hardest things about writing. That’s hard not to hear it as a personal criticism. But the thing is, I was in trast, when I got my master’s, I felt absolutely certain that I was go- where the real commitment comes in. Malcolm Gladwell has that graduate school with adults who were much older than my students ing to get my Ph.D. I knew that was something I wanted to do. But up whole idea about the notion of 10,000 hours of practice to mastery, are, and it was difficult for them, too. It’s not just hard because they until then, at pretty much any time, I felt as though I could have just and I think there’s a lot to it. You have to be willing to stick it out are young. It’s hard because the experience itself is hard. I want to be quit and gone home and done ‘the right thing.’ and see what can happen. able to help them with that—to be a facilitator, a helper, somebody that can help them down that road, rather than being somebody cre- SO HOW DID YOU GET TO THAT PLACE OF CERTAINTY? HOW DID YOUR SHORT STORY COLLECTION, WE ARE ating a big huge moat with crocodiles inside. Because I really do have There is a time and a place in life when things have to become real, ONLY TAKING WHAT WE NEED, GET PUBLISHED. some very talented students here. THAT SEEMS LIKE LOADED TERMINOLOGY: or you have to let them go. That was what happened to me. I finished Well, I sent it along to this little boutique publisher, and my thought “SOUTHERN CHILDHOOD.” my degree, and I felt like, ‘I’m either going to do this and work hard at was, ‘I’m going to send this out and just hope that it gets published, WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS Yep. It was about a big family, and dirt roads, and not enough money. it and do the best I can possibly do, or I’ll let it go.’ And right around and if it does, then I’ll send my novel.’ The short story collection OR IN 20 YEARS? We had lots of interesting characters and everyone had a lot of very then, I decided I was going to graduate school, and I made that was going to be my entrée into the writing world. I don’t know, I guess I don’t know enough about the writing life to answer close-knit interaction. Sometimes that could be really wonderful, commitment to myself. When I was in graduate school, I remember maybe everybody has these dreams, but I had these daydreams that, necessarily. I am guessing the anxiety and insecurity is and sometimes that could make you crazy. My son, I realize, won’t feeling as though I had my ‘come to Jesus’ moment, and I remember about winning Pulitzers and move to the Barbados. But honestly, just part of it. I feel that will always be there, and I guess in have that same experience—he won’t have people running in and out thinking, ‘This is going to be my life. This is going to keep me from I have been shocked that it did so well. I had just brought my son some way, I hope it always will be there. I think it’s a good mo- of the house all of the time. But he can have a new beginning entirely. feeling like a loser or a bad person. I’m going to do it and I’m going home from the hospital, and two days after that, I got the call that tivator. It spurs me to think, ‘OK, this can be better. How can He just won’t have that family around him. Both of my parents come to do the best I can.’ But even then, who knew how it was going to it was going to be published. It’s been a whirlwind since, but a really I make it better? As for your question, I would say that in 10 from very large families. My father was the oldest of eight, and my ultimately turn out? wonderful whirlwind. years I hope I’m still working, and still writing, and fighting the mother was the sixth of ten. That’s a lot of people, and most of them good fight, because I think there is something missing in a so- are still relatively close to or still in North Carolina. HOW WAS YOUR GRADUATE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE? THAT COLLECTION DID REALLY WELL WITH THE ciety that doesn’t know how to tell a story or doesn’t read its I loved it. I felt part of a community, and I loved thinking about CRITICS, AND THIS YEAR YOU FOUND OUT YOU HAD stories. There are so many amazing stories from unlikely plac- DO YOU MISS YOUR FAMILY—AND EVEN THE CRAZINESS writerly things. I know this is going to sound high-falutin, but I WON THE WHITING AWARD. WHAT CAN YOU TELL es, just like those people I knew from those poor dusty roads in THAT FAMILY BRINGS ALONG WITH IT? recall thinking about how, when you were writing a story, even fiction, US ABOUT THAT AWARD? North Carolina. So I guess I would say, I hope I’m still writing, Yes, I do. There’s a certain kind of anchor that family gives you in the somebody’s life was being represented, and that person has entrusted It’s just one of those names that people in this field recognize. And and sitting on a stack of my own books at the dinner table. L

32 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 33 terribly different here than in the South, because I grew up in west- world—a kind of historical continuity—that’s really hard to manufac- ern North Carolina, but we do obviously have a little more cold and ture. I am always reading child-rearing books, and one of the ones snow up here. I was reading recently was talking about the importance of talking to your kids and telling them about their family stories. It was all IS THE REST OF YOUR FAMILY STILL IN NORTH CAROLINA? about the importance of getting them to understand that there was For the most part, yes. I have a brother who lives outside of Wash- something before them, and that there will be something after them. ington, D.C. He’s a math guy, and does computer programming for a And while I think that’s very important, I think it can also get really living. I have four younger brothers in all, and the rest of the others suffocating, especially if some of those stories are less than happy are all in North Carolina—though, thankfully, not in the same house. and especially if some are downright tragic.

32 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 33 ATTACK FROM ALL AANGNGLESLES Story by Brian M. Schleter Illustration by Simon Pemberton

Despite impressive medical advances, cancer continues to frustrate clinicians—and overcome its victims. At Lehigh, a diverse group of researchers is employing varied techniques to try and defeat cancer once and for all.

century is but a small speck on the time- Their findings may lead not only to safer drugs to line of the history of science. But the fight cancer, but just as importantly, more accurate last century has yielded more scientific and cost-effective screening tools to catch the dis- breakthroughs in the area of cancer re- ease before it has a chance to ever develop. search than anyone could have possibly The latter goal is the focus of a study currently foreseen 100 years ago: A greater collective under- being led by Xiaolei Huang, an associate profes- standing of what causes cancer, how to prevent it sor of computer science and engineering, who is and how to treat it has saved countless lives. working to defeat cancer through two different For all the astonishing advances made by physi- research projects. Huang is a computer scientist cians and scientists, though, there is much we still who uses imaging analysis to study the function- don’t know about how cancer cells develop, the ing of human cells, the brain, the eye and the mechanisms they use to spread, and how to stop body as a whole. More recently, she’s turned her them. At Lehigh, a cadre of cancer researchers is attention to cervical cancer—which, despite great working to answer some of these very questions. advances in cancer treatment, remains one of Supported by federal research grants, they are lead- the most common causes of cancer death among ing investigations that are enhancing our knowledge women worldwide. of the biological and chemical properties of disease. Early detection through widespread use of the

34 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 35 ATTACK FROM ALL AANGNGLESLES Story by Brian M. Schleter Illustration by Simon Pemberton

34 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 35 Pap screening test and other diagnostic proce- STOP THE GROWTH, STOP THE DISEASE conversation with his sister. The lab where she Most current targeting strategies take aim at dures has significantly improved survival rates, yet In a separate five-year, $1.3 million project sup- worked was exploring why PAD4 showed up more specific cancer surface proteins. However, they each year, 12,000 American women are diagnosed ported by the National Institutes of Health, Huang in cancer cells than in healthy cells in breast can- have had limited success against solid tumors in with cervical cancer and 4,000 women die of the is collaborating with Dimitrios Vavylonis, an asso- cer patients. Researchers have found no good way part because cancer cells are almost identical and disease, according to the Centers for Disease Con- ciate professor of physics in the College of Arts and to measure PAD4 activity, which is the only way share similar protein markers to noncancerous trol and Prevention. Sciences. They’ve teamed up to study how actin to verify whether potential drug agents would be cells. Drugs inadvertently accumulate in healthy In poorer countries, cervical cancer remains proteins come together to form microfilaments, a effective at neutralizing it. tissues, limiting their efficacy and causing toxic one of the leading causes of cancer death among key component of the cytoskeleton—or structural Pires’ interest lies in manufacturing synthetic side effects. For this reason, fewer than 10 percent middle-aged women, Huang says. More than framework—of yeast cells. Through their work, molecules that can be used to probe biological of new drugs move past Phase III clinical trials, 275,000 women died from cervical cancer world- the duo hopes to gain a fuller understanding of systems and responses. He set out to develop a where therapeutic effects are evaluated. wide in 2008, and nearly 90 percent of the deaths how cancer grows—and, by extension, how that test, or assay, capable of screening as many drugs Cancer cells do have important differences from occurred in developing parts of the world, ac- growth can be halted. as possible to find what works and what doesn’t. other cells, however, and Thévenin has focused cording to the American Cancer Society. Cervical “Actin is a very important protein in cells,” “Our focus isn’t just making molecules for the specifically on one element: The fact that malig- cancer can be a silent killer; it grows slowly and Huang says. “It plays an important role in cell heck of it, but to try to answer something about nant tumors create an acidic micro-environment its symptoms often do not start until the cancer division and cell movement. As it relates to cancer a living organism,” he says. “It occurred to me we around themselves. With that in mind, Thévenin has spread to nearby areas. research, given this fundamental understanding could design a small molecule that would look like has created a homing device—a pH(Low) Insertion In many nations, early detection through Pap of how cells divide and what triggers abnormal cell the protein that PAD4 acts on.” Peptide (pHLIP)—that selectively targets tumors testing isn’t available due to a lack of laboratories division, we can aid in the search for drugs that The work, carried out with the assistance of in mice solely based on their acidity rather than on and trained personnel for conducting screening, block cancer from spreading.” an undergraduate student on a Lehigh science any specific marker. diagnostic and follow-up tests. An alternative test When a cell is about to divide, Huang says, the scholarship last summer, involved creating a Thévenin’s peptide is paired with a unique and is the cervigram, which involves taking a digital actin filaments in the cytoskeleton start to con- “light bulb test” of sorts. First, the researchers stable chemical link that Pires created to latch a photo of the cervix. While the technology is low- dense in the center of the cell, forming a dense synthesized PAD4 and attached a chemical sig- cancer-fighting drug with an antibody capable of cost and more widely accessible in resource-poor ring-like structure that constricts until it snaps. nal to it that would illuminate if the protein is bonding with specific proteins inside the cancer- regions, experts differ on its effectiveness as a The cell then divides into two identical daughter working. This switching on/off effect can only be ous cells. Once the bond is made, the “traceless conclusive diagnostic tool. cells. Biologists have many theories on where ac- observed under fluorescence. The trial worked, linker” they designed switches “off” and the un- Through a grant from the National Science tin filaments come from, how they mesh into this and the results of the study were published in modified, FDA-approved cancer chemotherapy Foundation, Huang was granted access by the cohesive network and how they coordinate to the research journal ChemBioChem. “We now we drug is delivered. The project was supported in National Library of Medicine and the National achieve these tasks. What they don’t have is any have the easiest, most reliable assay for this class part by a Lehigh University Faculty Innovation Cancer Institute to databases containing some firm answers. of proteins out there,” Pires says. Grant. FIG grants help faculty members establish 100,000 anonymous images of cervical lesions and Actin filaments can be seen on three-dimen- One of many next steps is to use the test to new research project or expand existing projects, the accompanying notes made by physicians and sional images of cytoskeletons taken over time screen thousands of available molecules for the with the goal of creating a new line of research that imaging professionals. with fluorescence microscopy. These images of- purpose of finding the ones that could potentially can grow for years to come. Huang, an expert in image object segmenta- fer clues on how the network changes. Huang work as a drug. A Penn State research team pub- In the realm of cancer, at least, Lehigh seems to tion, and her group developed a computer sys- and Vavylonis proposed developing computer lished a study last year identifying a drug that be moving in precisely that direction. In its own tem that categorized each image according to software capable of tracking individual filaments inhibits the PAD4 protein, and results showed it unique way—interdisciplinary, practical, highly color, texture, size and shape. With access to and segmenting them by pinpointing their cen- capable of reducing tumors in mice by 70 percent. focused—Lehigh is taking on the challenge of beat- comparison images, clinicians can more accu- terline, but the task was complicated by the fact But the drug was highly toxic, making it a poor ing cancer head-on—and producing results. L rately grade the severity of new lesions.“The that the intensity (or brightness) varied along candidate for use in humans. Pires is collaborating advantage of computers is their ability to do each individual filament. Additionally, the con- with that team and others to try and develop more quantitative things,” she says. “To make a pre- trast between the filaments and the background effective agents using the assay he developed. cise diagnosis, we need quantitative informa- created photographic noise that needed to be can- He is also interested in replicating the test on tion. How many objects are there? What’s the celled out. “For a computer this was not trivial at PAD4 samples from actual human cancer cells. size of each one? What are the subtle differenc- all,” Huang says. “The challenge was to develop a This could yield greater knowledge of the protein’s es between them? [With] those kinds of things, quantitative image analysis algorithm to be able to structure and potentially lead to new drugs that computers can do better than humans.” deal with all these issues. If we could extract out all more safely target cancer cells without producing After the databases were indexed, Huang cre- the filaments and identify the junctions, we would side effects in normal tissues. “We’ve never had ated a program capable of correctly classifying have their topology.” a way to measure this before,” says Pires. “There the severity of the disease in a new, undiagnosed Recently, Huang and Vavylonis took a big step could be surprises in how PAD4 gets turned on/off patient by comparing that patient’s image against toward achieving that goal: A student in Huang’s in live human cells. What are the things they can known patient outcome data from other records in lab developed new software that, for the first time, turn on, especially in context of cancer cells? What the database. “My interest was, ‘Can I look at these can automatically find the centerline for filaments are the balancing effects of that?” (unlabeled) images and … develop some comput- comprising an actin meshwork in yeast cells, which er-assisted interpretation of these images so we can are commonly used to study biological pathways NEW APPROACHES, NEW HOPE make this diagnosis more accurately?” she says. and in drug research. The results of their study were Treatment of cancer patients has stalled in recent The system could prove to be a powerful tool published in in the journal Cytoskeleton. history despite advances in the biomedical field. to help doctors differentiate low-grade cervical The death rate for breast cancer has remained lesions from high-grade lesions and invasive can- FLIPPING THE SWITCH unchanged for the past three decades, driving the cer, possibly negating the need for expensive and In the chemistry department, another researcher need for more highly targeted therapies. invasive follow-up tests. Other similar methods is looking to devise new methods of inhibiting In another project that aims to tackle that only perform processing or segmentation of cer- the growth of a particularly virulent type of can- challenge, Pires is collaborating with Damien vigrams without patient classification. Huang’s cer cells. Marcos Pires, an assistant professor, is Thévenin, another assistant professor of chemis- cervigram image interpretation algorithm, by con- studying a protein called PAD4—short for peptidyl try, to develop a novel methodology for delivering trast, can produce a cervical dysplasia diagnosis arginine deiminase type 4—that plays a key role in anti-cancer agents to tumors without damaging with high accuracy. In fact, in a recent trial using regulating immune suppression and gene expres- healthy cells. The peptide “homing device” tech- 280 new images from women in Costa Rica, Huang sion. The enzyme is believed to help certain cancer nique they’ve pioneered releases the unmodified found that adding image study to traditional Pap cells become more aggressive and more resistant drug only when it reaches the inside of targeted and HPV tests significantly improved the accuracy to drug therapies. cancer cells. This represents a major advance over of diagnosis related to high-grade lesions. Pires first became interested in PAD4 after a previous methods.

36 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 37 Pap screening test and other diagnostic proce- STOP THE GROWTH, STOP THE DISEASE conversation with his sister. The lab where she Most current targeting strategies take aim at dures has significantly improved survival rates, yet In a separate five-year, $1.3 million project sup- worked was exploring why PAD4 showed up more specific cancer surface proteins. However, they each year, 12,000 American women are diagnosed ported by the National Institutes of Health, Huang in cancer cells than in healthy cells in breast can- have had limited success against solid tumors in with cervical cancer and 4,000 women die of the is collaborating with Dimitrios Vavylonis, an asso- cer patients. Researchers have found no good way part because cancer cells are almost identical and disease, according to the Centers for Disease Con- ciate professor of physics in the College of Arts and to measure PAD4 activity, which is the only way share similar protein markers to noncancerous trol and Prevention. Sciences. They’ve teamed up to study how actin to verify whether potential drug agents would be cells. Drugs inadvertently accumulate in healthy In poorer countries, cervical cancer remains proteins come together to form microfilaments, a effective at neutralizing it. tissues, limiting their efficacy and causing toxic one of the leading causes of cancer death among key component of the cytoskeleton—or structural Pires’ interest lies in manufacturing synthetic side effects. For this reason, fewer than 10 percent middle-aged women, Huang says. More than framework—of yeast cells. Through their work, molecules that can be used to probe biological of new drugs move past Phase III clinical trials, 275,000 women died from cervical cancer world- the duo hopes to gain a fuller understanding of systems and responses. He set out to develop a where therapeutic effects are evaluated. wide in 2008, and nearly 90 percent of the deaths how cancer grows—and, by extension, how that test, or assay, capable of screening as many drugs Cancer cells do have important differences from occurred in developing parts of the world, ac- growth can be halted. as possible to find what works and what doesn’t. other cells, however, and Thévenin has focused cording to the American Cancer Society. Cervical “Actin is a very important protein in cells,” “Our focus isn’t just making molecules for the specifically on one element: The fact that malig- cancer can be a silent killer; it grows slowly and Huang says. “It plays an important role in cell heck of it, but to try to answer something about nant tumors create an acidic micro-environment its symptoms often do not start until the cancer division and cell movement. As it relates to cancer a living organism,” he says. “It occurred to me we around themselves. With that in mind, Thévenin has spread to nearby areas. research, given this fundamental understanding could design a small molecule that would look like has created a homing device—a pH(Low) Insertion In many nations, early detection through Pap of how cells divide and what triggers abnormal cell the protein that PAD4 acts on.” Peptide (pHLIP)—that selectively targets tumors testing isn’t available due to a lack of laboratories division, we can aid in the search for drugs that The work, carried out with the assistance of in mice solely based on their acidity rather than on and trained personnel for conducting screening, block cancer from spreading.” an undergraduate student on a Lehigh science any specific marker. diagnostic and follow-up tests. An alternative test When a cell is about to divide, Huang says, the scholarship last summer, involved creating a Thévenin’s peptide is paired with a unique and is the cervigram, which involves taking a digital actin filaments in the cytoskeleton start to con- “light bulb test” of sorts. First, the researchers stable chemical link that Pires created to latch a photo of the cervix. While the technology is low- dense in the center of the cell, forming a dense synthesized PAD4 and attached a chemical sig- cancer-fighting drug with an antibody capable of cost and more widely accessible in resource-poor ring-like structure that constricts until it snaps. nal to it that would illuminate if the protein is bonding with specific proteins inside the cancer- regions, experts differ on its effectiveness as a The cell then divides into two identical daughter working. This switching on/off effect can only be ous cells. Once the bond is made, the “traceless conclusive diagnostic tool. cells. Biologists have many theories on where ac- observed under fluorescence. The trial worked, linker” they designed switches “off” and the un- Through a grant from the National Science tin filaments come from, how they mesh into this and the results of the study were published in modified, FDA-approved cancer chemotherapy Foundation, Huang was granted access by the cohesive network and how they coordinate to the research journal ChemBioChem. “We now we drug is delivered. The project was supported in National Library of Medicine and the National achieve these tasks. What they don’t have is any have the easiest, most reliable assay for this class part by a Lehigh University Faculty Innovation Cancer Institute to databases containing some firm answers. of proteins out there,” Pires says. Grant. FIG grants help faculty members establish 100,000 anonymous images of cervical lesions and Actin filaments can be seen on three-dimen- One of many next steps is to use the test to new research project or expand existing projects, the accompanying notes made by physicians and sional images of cytoskeletons taken over time screen thousands of available molecules for the with the goal of creating a new line of research that imaging professionals. with fluorescence microscopy. These images of- purpose of finding the ones that could potentially can grow for years to come. Huang, an expert in image object segmenta- fer clues on how the network changes. Huang work as a drug. A Penn State research team pub- In the realm of cancer, at least, Lehigh seems to tion, and her group developed a computer sys- and Vavylonis proposed developing computer lished a study last year identifying a drug that be moving in precisely that direction. In its own tem that categorized each image according to software capable of tracking individual filaments inhibits the PAD4 protein, and results showed it unique way—interdisciplinary, practical, highly color, texture, size and shape. With access to and segmenting them by pinpointing their cen- capable of reducing tumors in mice by 70 percent. focused—Lehigh is taking on the challenge of beat- comparison images, clinicians can more accu- terline, but the task was complicated by the fact But the drug was highly toxic, making it a poor ing cancer head-on—and producing results. L rately grade the severity of new lesions.“The that the intensity (or brightness) varied along candidate for use in humans. Pires is collaborating advantage of computers is their ability to do each individual filament. Additionally, the con- with that team and others to try and develop more quantitative things,” she says. “To make a pre- trast between the filaments and the background effective agents using the assay he developed. cise diagnosis, we need quantitative informa- created photographic noise that needed to be can- He is also interested in replicating the test on tion. How many objects are there? What’s the celled out. “For a computer this was not trivial at PAD4 samples from actual human cancer cells. size of each one? What are the subtle differenc- all,” Huang says. “The challenge was to develop a This could yield greater knowledge of the protein’s es between them? [With] those kinds of things, quantitative image analysis algorithm to be able to structure and potentially lead to new drugs that computers can do better than humans.” deal with all these issues. If we could extract out all more safely target cancer cells without producing After the databases were indexed, Huang cre- the filaments and identify the junctions, we would side effects in normal tissues. “We’ve never had ated a program capable of correctly classifying have their topology.” a way to measure this before,” says Pires. “There the severity of the disease in a new, undiagnosed Recently, Huang and Vavylonis took a big step could be surprises in how PAD4 gets turned on/off patient by comparing that patient’s image against toward achieving that goal: A student in Huang’s in live human cells. What are the things they can known patient outcome data from other records in lab developed new software that, for the first time, turn on, especially in context of cancer cells? What the database. “My interest was, ‘Can I look at these can automatically find the centerline for filaments are the balancing effects of that?” (unlabeled) images and … develop some comput- comprising an actin meshwork in yeast cells, which er-assisted interpretation of these images so we can are commonly used to study biological pathways NEW APPROACHES, NEW HOPE make this diagnosis more accurately?” she says. and in drug research. The results of their study were Treatment of cancer patients has stalled in recent The system could prove to be a powerful tool published in in the journal Cytoskeleton. history despite advances in the biomedical field. to help doctors differentiate low-grade cervical The death rate for breast cancer has remained lesions from high-grade lesions and invasive can- FLIPPING THE SWITCH unchanged for the past three decades, driving the cer, possibly negating the need for expensive and In the chemistry department, another researcher need for more highly targeted therapies. invasive follow-up tests. Other similar methods is looking to devise new methods of inhibiting In another project that aims to tackle that only perform processing or segmentation of cer- the growth of a particularly virulent type of can- challenge, Pires is collaborating with Damien vigrams without patient classification. Huang’s cer cells. Marcos Pires, an assistant professor, is Thévenin, another assistant professor of chemis- cervigram image interpretation algorithm, by con- studying a protein called PAD4—short for peptidyl try, to develop a novel methodology for delivering trast, can produce a cervical dysplasia diagnosis arginine deiminase type 4—that plays a key role in anti-cancer agents to tumors without damaging with high accuracy. In fact, in a recent trial using regulating immune suppression and gene expres- healthy cells. The peptide “homing device” tech- 280 new images from women in Costa Rica, Huang sion. The enzyme is believed to help certain cancer nique they’ve pioneered releases the unmodified found that adding image study to traditional Pap cells become more aggressive and more resistant drug only when it reaches the inside of targeted and HPV tests significantly improved the accuracy to drug therapies. cancer cells. This represents a major advance over of diagnosis related to high-grade lesions. Pires first became interested in PAD4 after a previous methods.

36 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 37 BALANCING ACT After doffing her cap, drum major Elizabeth The Drummond ’14 leads members of the Marching 97 through their pac- es in a pre-game Spirit performance of Spirit Week PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRISTA NEU

So, in the end, the game didn’t turn out the way we’d all have liked. After five straight years of owning The Rivalry, Lehigh in November finally saw its winning streak against Lafayette end, as the underdog Leopards rolled into Goodman Stadium and won the 149th game in this great series, 50-28. It was a difficult pill for the Lehigh faithful to swallow (as is every loss to those folks over in Easton), and players, coaches, families, students and fans alike certainly took it hard. But as important as the game is—and yes, it is very, very important—Lehigh-Lafayette isn’t just about football. Rather, the game itself serves as the capstone event of a weeklong celebration of the history and traditions—some old, some new—that make Lehigh such an incredible and unique place, and a reminder that, even in the years when the Mountain Hawks don’t win, it is truly wonderful to be involved in a rivalry as storied as this one. This year, the Bulletin sent staff photographer Christa Neu out to campus to capture just some of the events that make Lehigh-Lafayette Spirit Week so memorable, every single year, for generation after generation of Lehigh students. In the pages that follow, you will see some of the images that she returned with. Who knows? They might cheer you up a bit, and make you forget that less-than-ideal result in November. —Tim Hyland

38 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 39 BALANCING ACT After doffing her cap, drum major Elizabeth The Drummond ’14 leads members of the Marching 97 through their pac- es in a pre-game Spirit performance of Spirit Week PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRISTA NEU

38 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 39 A MEASURE OF COMFORT Offen- sive linemen Matt Douglas ’15 (opposite) and A.J. Hood ’14 (opposite, bottom) console each other after the loss to Lafayette, Hood’s final game as a Mountain Hawk.

IN SYNC The Nupes (opposite, top) of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity (l-r, Kelly Petty ’14, Jovan Campbell, Paul Komikview Tosin and Scott Grant) step it up at the Dance Marathon in Grace Hall.

DON’T BED ON IT Spectators cheer on their favorite teams at the annual bed races (top two photos), while a trombonist from the Marching 97 serenades the assembly (above left).

UNDER THE STARS As evening falls, students gather on the front lawn of the University Center (above right).

IN THE GAME Members of the cheer- leading squad (left) keep the crowd energized at Goodman Stadium.

40 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 41 A MEASURE OF COMFORT Offen- sive linemen Matt Douglas ’15 (opposite) and A.J. Hood ’14 (opposite, bottom) console each other after the loss to Lafayette, Hood’s final game as a Mountain Hawk.

IN SYNC The Nupes (opposite, top) of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity (l-r, Kelly Petty ’14, Jovan Campbell, Paul Komikview Tosin and Scott Grant) step it up at the Dance Marathon in Grace Hall.

DON’T BED ON IT Spectators cheer on their favorite teams at the annual bed races (top two photos), while a trombonist from the Marching 97 serenades the assembly (above left).

UNDER THE STARS As evening falls, students gather on the front lawn of the University Center (above right).

IN THE GAME Members of the cheer- leading squad (left) keep the crowd energized at Goodman Stadium.

40 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 41 A TOUGH TALK Head coach Andy Coen(above) consoles his team after the defeat to Lafayette. Next year, the Mountain Hawks will have the chance to avenge the loss when they take on the Leopards at Yankee Stadium (see story, page 22)

IMPORTANT GUESTS Niki Noto and Ali Nejad, hosts of the popular ESPN show “ESPNU Road Trip,” spent much of Spirit Week at Lehigh, learning more about the rivaliry, its history and its importance to both schools.

TOP BILLING The annual Lehigh- Lafapalooza featured (bottom left) a concert by Disco Lemonade of Boston and a laser show by P.A.W.N. Lasers of Philadelphia. Lehigh fans (bottom right) cheer a Mountain Hawk touchdown.

CHOOSE YOUR HUE The popular bed races (opposite, top) inspired at least one contestant to don patriotic colors. Meanwhile, for Fall Fest (opposite, bottom), students adorned the UC’s front lawn with brown-and-white balloons.

42 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 43 A TOUGH TALK Head coach Andy Coen(above) consoles his team after the defeat to Lafayette. Next year, the Mountain Hawks will have the chance to avenge the loss when they take on the Leopards at Yankee Stadium (see story, page 22)

42 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 43 NOTES NOTES

The 70th Reunion was the begin- How many are still here to add LEHIGH DISPATCH ning of a terrific summer! My family the reunion to their bucket lists? had a wonderful summer starting Sixty three, as of September. The Editor’s note: We hope this issue finds you before Reunion. with a week at our daughter’s office gave us a printout that shows Thanks again for your correspondence. Welcome to Class home in Frisco, N.C. We enjoyed we lost 11 class members in the past lots of good seafood and the pristine year. Insurance agents with actuarial Notes, where you can find out what your fellow alums are up beaches of the Outer Banks. A high- tables might say that 63 out of an to. Thanks to our dedicated correspondents for the work you do light of our trip was releasing white original class of 503 isn’t bad. (This is to keep our extended Lehigh community together, and special rock doves, which have an amazing without including the service-inter- instinct to return to their loft/home rupted men who chose to be associat- thanks to Class Notes Editor Diana Skowronski, who can be from several hundred miles away. ed with a later graduation class.) reached at (610) 758-3675 or [email protected]. The doves are bred by Liz Browning Comparing this and last year’s Fox, who is a graduate of U.N.C. class lists is both a happy and sad Chapel Hill and has been training exercise in memory. Most of us Royal V. Mackey, 740 Editor’s note: To share doves for many years. She releases already knew of the deaths of Bill N. Wymore Rd., Mait- your news or if you them for weddings, memorials and Hittinger and Newt Bugbee, ’40 land, FL 32751-4237. ’42 would be interested in more! Each person in our family mentioned in our previous column. (407) 622-5484 (H) becoming your class’s correspondent, got the chance to release a dove. Bill was also saluted in the Alumni reaching out to classmates and writ- They spiraled up into the sky then Bulletin with a description of his sig- This is the first time ing a column three times a year, please collectively flew home! nificant accomplishments. (Bill was in some 66 years that contact Diana Skowronski at 610-758- Between birthdays and anniver- honored by a large group of friends ’41 I have had to fabricate 3675 or [email protected]. saries involving the whole family, with a Celebration of Life event on a column FOUR TIMES in a row. we got to spend two weeks at Long campus in October.) Richard Ware, bless him, sent me Hello classmates: Beach Island, N.J. We saw lots of The other nine men who left us a short message to indicate he is The 70th Re- damage and destruction from Hur- were these: Bill Belser, Charles Lehigh Looks Forward still coping. This is summer in New ’43 union is over and our ricane Sandy. We stayed in our usual Conklin, Ralph Evans, Bob Hampshire so he has no snow with attendance was a total of seven ’43 house in Beach Haven Terrace that Heironimus, George Kocyan, which to contend. classmates, with which we are ex- had been beautifully renovated. We Chuck Lehr, Lew Page, Bob Robert Wolfenden dishes on the big 150th. Denny Gilchrist confirmed it tremely pleased. Dave Troxel and I had a grand time biking, crabbing Schmoyer and TomWinco. had been a long time since he had spent lots of time making telephone and kayaking with our two girls and We went back to the yearbook corresponded, but he gave me little calls to the 68 classmates on our list. their families. The weather was of our 50th Reunion and the 60th to put in a column. As you may I would like you to know the names great and we all had fun together. memory book to re-read biographies remember Denny is a Navy Vet and of the seven that were able to attend: Les Titlow, 583 Riverwoods and study photos of these men and Is everyone excited for the 150th meeting of The Rivalry? Here on the designs of Lehigh.edu and MyLehigh.lehigh.edu. The changes to still lives in the Annapolis area do- Charles Kucher, Thomas Mac- Way, Bethlehem, PA 18018. (610) many other classmates. The year- campus we are starting to feel the energy behind this once-in-a-life- these websites are important as we offer more ways for you to connect ing good things for other Navy Vets. Allister and daughter Dawn ’85, 691-0531(H); [email protected] book is a masterpiece of memories, time event. Lehigh has been planning special activities to commem- with us virtually. Lehigh offers a lot of interesting and dynamic con- Thanks guys – you are the only ones Dave Troxel, Phil Varricchio, John and David Troxel 13 Balsam Way, but it also a demonstration of how orate next year’s milestone game. The lineup of events will include tent online from career services to educational webinars, and we will who wrote!! So I’ll file this with the deGrouchy, John Corson and a Malton, NJ, 08053. (856) 797-2235 wonderful it is to have volunteers intellectual dialogues, gatherings and walking tours in New York, continue to grow in this area throughout 2014. Make sure you go on- editor and hope someone has a hole- friend, and Suzy and Les Titlow. (H); [email protected]. who put it together under the direc- and even an appearance of Lehigh Choral Arts on the main stage of line and visit our new websites to see what we have to offer you. in-one and can find their computer I received a very nice note from tion of Fritz Von Bergen. Carnegie Hall. Make sure you stay in the loop on the latest develop- It is my hope that the changes in 2014 will welcome you to partici- to tell me about it, before I must file Tom MacAllister, thanking me for 70TH REUNION We made a “thanks for the ments by visiting lehighsports.com/rivalry150. We are working to pate in a bold new year at the university. You have a place here in our another column. WRITE ON!! the photos that my wife Suzy had MAY 15-18, 2014 memory” call to Fritz, who is living make sure there are a variety of ways you can participate and expe- Lehigh family: get connected, be involved, and live Lehigh proud! Charles H. Carter Jr., St. Mark taken and for the work that Dave ’44 in a retirement community in New rience this moment in Lehigh’s history. This year will bring new op- Village, Apt 403, 2655 Nebraska and I had to do to make the reunion Are you looking ahead to our 70th Holland, Pa. He and Myra are both portunities for you to connect with us, and we want to make it easier Ave., Palm Harbor, FL 34684-2608. a success. Tom stated that having Reunion? The Alumni Office well and active. They have cut back than ever to join the celebration. (727) 784-7416 (H); ccarter412@ his daughter attend the reunion was has organized committees. Class on travel, but still spend a lot of time Now that you are holding the firstBulletin of 2014 you are probably verizon.net an added pleasure. In closing, Tom president Kit and his fellow class with children and grandchildren. The noticing our fresh new design! We hope that you are enjoying the new Sincerely, asked us to please save a ’43 hat for correspondent, Ted, are hoping Swiss expatriate laments that he no look, which still highlights the great stories of Lehigh but in an updat- Robert W. Wolfenden him for 2018. you will come next May. There are longer skis in his beloved Alps, but he ed and visually exciting way. This new look reflects similar changes to Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations enough of us to make a quorum. compensates with local golf outings.

44 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 45 NOTES NOTES

HONORS Joseph R. Perella ’64

Reverend A. Wayne Schwab re- Beach, Fla.): Playing golf two days As I began to write this There are 285 mem- ports that his two books, “When the a week and will go to three days column it was late July bers of our class who Members Are the Missionaries” and when friends return from north. ’52 and I had a birthday ’50 maintain connection “Living the Gospel” are now on-line Very hot this time of year. My wife coming up. I was either going to be 38 to their alma mater by keeping us as e-books. Go to xlibris.com. Claudette has dementia and is in a or 83. I couldn’t remember which! all up to date regarding residence/ Tom Fisher informed me that nursing home. Speaking of age, we ’52ers know phone/e-mail. Should you know of he was presented with a wooden From Jim Gill (East Winthrop, a little bit about that subject. Class someone who relocated, encourage carving of the type of carrier-based Maine): Son Jamie and I did attend members and their mates know them to provide such information fighter he flew, with his picture the NAMI (National Assn. for cranky knees or their replacements. directly, or to me for forwarding. pinned to the cockpit. An attached Mental Illness) National Conven- They know migrating arthritis, There is neither a deductible, nor message said, “Thanks for your ser- tion in San Antonio in late June. especially when the weather chang- fee-for-service. vice.” Our thanks is fitting tribute to The 99-plus degrees of heat outside es. They know stiff lower backs On Saturday, August 24, 2013, all veterans. Good reminder, Tom. the hotel didn’t drain our energy for that scream with every step. Yes, after a volunteer buffet in the Asa Pat Kvochak e-mailed me to the news of increasing awareness “growing old is not for sissies,” but Packer Dining Room, Class President advise the death of her father, John of severe mental illness as a brain we octogenarians rejoice at being Ed Kaup and I paraded the class flag L. Kvochak in May of 2013. He circuitry disease and decrease of upright and thank Our Maker every at a reception/rally for the incoming was retired from E.I. DuPont as stigma among the public. I hope to day for the health and good lives Class of 2017. As we approached the a chemical engineer. Our belated use the visual resources I gained that we do have. temporary stage to deposit our flag condolences to his family. Please see from NAMI FaithNet sessions in a I must admit that I have been For the second time in the we were greeted enthusiastically the In Remembrance column. seminar I will offer to our Diocesan caught up in the C.J. McCol- 69-year history of the annual by the student body, seated on the Donald F. Williams, 1055 Cetro- Convention attendees next month. lum-mania. To those who don’t Columbus Day Parade, one flag-pole lawn. They must have nia Road, Apartment U - 2, Breinigs- Serving as Bishop Stephen Lane’s follow the Lehigh sports scene, C.J. of Lehigh’s most prominent noted the gray hair, did the math ville, PA 18031. (610) 395-1928 (H); Vicar of St. Andrew’s in Winthrop is a remarkable young man who alumni was honored as grand and acknowledged the effort. The [email protected] continues to allow me to be a part graduated May 2013 with a stellar marshal of the world’s largest flags were mounted in receptacles of a small, yet spiritually thriving, record in the classroom (journalism) celebration of Italian-American defining the outside edge of the stage. A quick look at my saved congregation. We share the building and on the basketball court. C.J. also culture and achievement. The Rally is quite an event aimed at Lehigh e-mail shows of the Friends Church, where Kay contributed his time and talent to With his wife, Amy, and firing-up the new students to being ’51 pretty slim pickin’s. often worshipped after we moved to the Bethlehem community working family, Joseph R. Perella ’64 comfortable in their new home, with What are you folks out there doing? Maine in 1992. I sense her presence with kids in the lower grades with led 35,000 marchers up Fifth a new family. President Alice Gast I’m writing this column at the end there even now. The Quakers finish their language skills. C.J.’s crowning Avenue in New York on the and certain other staff members of the summer. Kids are back in their Meeting for Worship at 10 a.m. moment came when he was chosen national holiday in October greeted volunteers at dinner and school, mornings chill us, afternoons and we begin ours at 10:30. We share in the top 10 in the NBA draft by the with an estimated one million presented brief messages to the new are still hot. Spiraling footballs soar more than the building, for sure. Portland Trail Blazers. He has since spectators from around the students at the rally, thereby having through the air and you can hear the From me (Tom Dowdell, Fargo, played in the Rookie Summer League world crowding the streets or school leadership made known by thud of oversized linemen attacking N.D.): Phyllis and I have had excit- where he was the leading scorer. cheering from home. their presence. the blocking sleds up the street at ing, inspirational and rewarding I received several e-mails regard- Perella, known as the “Gen- A few statistics may give you bet- N.D.S.U.’s practice facility. Lehigh times here in the Northern Plains ing C.J. Pete Shaw, Dick Schmidt tleman of Wall Street” for his ter appreciation for the Class of 2017: will play its first game this weekend. since we arrived some eight years and Wally Field all brought me up integrity, trustworthiness and Total undergraduate enroll- N.D.S.U. has already upset Kansas ago. Our young grandchildren to date on C. J.’s early doings in the character, has influenced the ment is 4,857 with a retention rate State last weekend. (David and Philip) have shot up in NBA. Pete mentioned C. J.’s pre-draft world of finance and investment of 93 percent. From Frank Donlon: Thanks for height and have just moved from the article in Sports Illustrated titled banking in a 40-year career There were 12,588 applicants and jogging us to send you a note. I’m elementary school, David to North “Poked, Prodded… then Picked,” in on Wall Street, while changing 3,882 (31 percent) accepted. Exactly sorry to say this is a first!!! Gradu- High School and Philip to Franklin which he writes about his own expe- countless lives through his 1,219 students matriculated with the ated in ’51; Marine Corps ’52-’54; Middle School. We practice “chasing rience leading up to the draft. C.J. is philanthropic work. Class of 2017. NYU MBA ’57; Bell System (NY Tel grandchildren.” Our first two boys, indeed a well-rounded, classy guy. A business administration The average SAT score was +AT&T) ’55-’85; finance director at Ross and Elliot Preston, drew us I will conclude with a letter from alumnus and Lehigh University between 1290 and 1470. Seton Hall Prep ’85-’94. Much more from Southern California to Wash- John Kerr, my former roommate Board of Trustees member, The university is now divided: importantly, I married the beau- ington D.C. to join in their lives. at Sigma Nu. Since 2001, John and Perella followed in the footsteps 37 percent in Arts and Sciences; 36 tiful Anne Rampp in ’57. We have Now college graduates of Grinnell Mims have been living near West of influential business leader percent Engineering and Applied six children, 20 grandchildren and and Florida State, and adults, they Chester, Pa., at Hershey’s Mill, a and fellow alumnus, Lee Iacocca Science; 24 percent Business and two great grandchildren. Health have moved on to new places and 750-acre gated community of about ’45 (above). Both men were Economics; 2 percent Computer - the ailments of the 80’s crowd. challenges, and we have discovered 1,800 homes situated in 25 villages given the honor of leading the Science and Business; and 1 percent It is truly a great life. Big regret is North Dakota. We expect to remain surrounded by a golf course. John parade at the pinnacle of their Arts and Engineering. not having kept up with my Lehigh here. Phyllis enjoys stirring up the and some of the other Lehigh alums careers—Perella as a Wall Street Herbert Schnall, retired group associations. My residence was retirees living here with her stories living there decided to form an icon and founding partner and vice president of Times Mirror Drinker 4. Some names that come and exploits. I enjoy the golf in alumni club. With help from the CEO of Perella Weinberg Part- Foundation, returned my e-mail, to mind include Alfred Schlott- the summer, the varied experiences University, they attracted alumni ners, and Iacocca, who served as declaring that “…he has been living man, (roomie) Richard Petersen shared in Kiwanis and our friends in from the classes of the ’40s, ’50s and grand marshal in 1982, as chair- in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., since and the now deceased Charles the Moorhead (Minn.) Presbyterian ’60s in the greater Philadelphia area man of Chrysler Corporation. retiring in 1988…lost his wife, Ann in Bowman. Wonderful memories!!! Church. Maybe Lehigh will make it and northern Delaware. Meetings November 2011 after 60 wonderful I hope you all had as much joy and again to the F.C.S. playoffs and play have included talks by administra- THE ORIGINAL Business icon Lee Iacocca years of marriage…hopes to see satisfaction over the years as I did. in the FargoDome. tion members on campus planning, ’45 (top) led the Columbus Day Parade as whoever makes it to our 65th in PS: warmest greetings to Bill Hoff- Send me some notes about you. a recent Stabler gift of 750 acres in grand marshal in 1982. 2015.” Thank you, Herb, and we also man and Theta Kappa Phi friends. Tom Dowdell, 3414 Waterford Saucon Valley and student life today. hope to be there to greet you. From Dick Gabriel (Jensen Drive S, Fargo, ND 58104. (701) 526- The spring 2013 meeting included THE SEQUEL As honored grand marshal, 3485 (H); [email protected] Joseph R. Perella ’64, with his wife, Amy, (left) led the 2013 Columbus Day Parade through Manhattan on October 14.

48 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 49 NOTES NOTES

ARCHIVE The (Very) Early Days of Track & Field

review from Edward Coll of Alfred 50TH REUNION Bill Cumming sent a note A number of classmates were University. Bill describes himself as MAY 15-19, 2014 alerting us that Gerry Feffer died able to meet with the leadership a “minimalist. . . . presenting a com- ’64 in February of complications from team and at least twenty other pelling story succinctly and cogently Rob Gibby sent me a note in May. Parkinson’s disease. (Bill, Gerry members of our adopted Class of with little flowery language.” The I’m feeling lazy in the 90 degree and Dave Decker graduated from 2015 this fall, thanks to the hospi- central figures are his grandparents Florida heat so I will quote most of the University of Virginia Law tality of Pat and Rick Penske, who who migrated here as children or it. “My wife’s son lives in Pine- School in 1967.) hosted an after game tailgate and fled the Ottomans as adults. Not hurst, N.C., and so do gryphon Phil According to his obituary in the pool party at their home in Saucon one to dally, Bill is already contem- Colwell, and his wife, Bonnie. When Washington Post, Gerry’s four-de- Valley following Lehigh’s victory plating his next novel, and we wish Kit and I were driving north from cade legal career included stints as over Central Connecticut (in double him success. Florida in late April, we stayed in an assistant U.S. attorney, and in overtime, 51-44 – the most points Some of our class have had Pinehurst for a few days. I was able the Justice Department during the ever scored in Goodman Stadium). surprises about their health. Alan to spend a few enjoyable hours Carter administration as deputy Classmates who attended were Barney is one. In the summer of with Bonnie and Phil on their patio assistant attorney general for crim- John Hughes, Jim Birdsall, Jim 2012, an infection on his pelvic bone overlooking the golf course. The last inal tax investigations. But he was Miller, Joe Walton, John Varady caused him to spend two and a half time we had seen each other was best known as a criminal tax defense and Rein Mannik. months checking into and out of as- about 20 years ago in Boston, when I lawyer with the Washington firm of Although plans for the 150th sorted hospitals in the Lehigh Valley. was on my way to visit my daughter Williams & Connolly from 1986 un- Lehigh Lafayette football game to be In mid-August, he came home, where at Bates, in Maine. til his retirement in 2010. He drew played in Yankee Stadium in 2014 things went well until October, when “After decades at IBM – his only national attention for his spirited are still being developed, your re- a relative of his original disease employer – Phil took early retire- defense of Leona Helmsley, the union team is already working hard struck. Al went back on another daily ment, and then went back to work at billionaire hotel empress charged to be sure that we have a nice venue round of infused antibiotics that IBM, as an independent consultant, with tax evasion.” for our reunion year reception. continued right until our reunion. and worked there another 10 years! Gerry is survived by his wife, You may be hearing shortly from His good news is that the infection is Bonnie worked as the manager of a Monique E. Yingling, and his sons other classmates about the Lehigh not cancerous and he does not have medical office while their two boys Andy, John and Casey. Tower Society, which provides to be hospitalized again. Al plans on were growing up. They will celebrate Finally I want to remind all of perpetual recognition to those who attending our 55th. their 50th wedding anniversary you again that we are fast approach- donate or pledge $10,000 or more to Some could not attend the about the time of our 50th reunion. ing our 50th Reunion. Mark your the university. A promise to include reunion for less dramatic reasons. I was in their wedding the weekend calendars, contact your Lehigh bud- Lehigh in your will at that level Llewellyn Jones and his wife, before we graduated, and Phil was in dies, and make plans to spend the provides immediate recognition, June, were deflected by family my (first) wedding two weeks later. weekend of the 15 through the 19 of and we are pursuing ways to join commitments. With a degree in They are parents, grandparents, and May in Bethlehem. And, if you have through donations to the Class of accounting from Lehigh and an great-grandparents, and are certain- not already done so, please make a 1965 Scholarship Fund without army commission through R.O.T.C., ly living the good life in the beautiful contribution to our reunion fund. having to make a single lump sum Lee served two years on active duty pinelands of North Carolina. David A. Riemondy, 774 Malibu $10,000 donation. at Fort Hood, Texas. Right after “My dad built a summer home in Lane, Indialantic, FL 32903. (321) Another twist to our 50th Re- the service, he worked in North the Poconos about 60 years ago, and 777-9659 (H), (321) 288-2476 (C), union – we are invited to process, in Carolina for DuPont for a few years, it is still in the family. When I ar- (321) 777-4852 (Fax); malibu4u@ cap and gown, with the Class of 2015 earning his M.B.A. at East Carolina rived this spring to open it up, there cfl.rr.com as they receive their diplomas on University. From there Lee worked was a note in the door from Doug graduation day. If you missed your in investments in the insurance Heiser, a gryphon from the class of You should have all first graduation, or just want to do industry in Connecticut and then ’66. Doug and I briefly worked for received an e-mail it again, this will be your chance. moved on to utilities and utility the same company in the late ’60s/ ’65from Rein Mannik, Ronald L. Workman, 1981 Ber- regulation. He met his future wife in early ’70s, but we hadn’t had any our 50th Reunion Chairman, with rel Court, Yardley, PA 19067-7225. Massachusetts and, after marrying, contact since then. some highlights of our plans for (215) 702-7041 (H); ron_workman@ moved to Pennsylvania, where they “After 30 years with a small our 50th – less than two years away prodigy.net have lived for 40 years, raising three family-owned steel distribution now. John Varady and Rein have children. Not busy enough in that company, the family decided they met with our university liaisons to Harry Brown and period, Lee picked up his certified no longer needed my services, and I discuss organizational and planning I had the privilege public accountant certificate. The found myself unemployed at 60 for details. They discussed the resources ’66of carrying the ’66 couple has two daughters and a son, the first time in my life. What was available to us for both the yearbook class flag in the parade of classes at plus three grandchildren. awful turned out to be wonderful. and event planning. Key in terms of the pep rally for first year students Next time. I did some fun consulting jobs, and event planning is the development of this past fall. It was a keen reminder Daniel Turse, 25517 Briarwyke started my own business doing a theme and a reunion logo. We will of how our class adopted the Class Drive, Farmington Hills, MI 48336- contract manufacturing in China be involving the Class of 2015 in as of 2016 just one year earlier. And, 1656. (248) 473-9287(H); daniel- with my son and a longtime friend. many of the activities as possible, and that means we are one year closer to [email protected] It is an internet-based business, and have a volunteer to help us with logo our 50th Reunion! Please hold the my son’s search engine optimization development. Our goal is to make the weekend of May 19-23, 2016 on your expertise is the key. We are having a weekend as unique and memorable calendars and start to make plans UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES good time, and it is making me keep as possible. There will be more com- for attending reunion that weekend. OLD SCHOOL Some things never change at Lehigh. Some things inevitably do. In up to date with technology.” munications coming from Lehigh as Those who live far away may want this undated photograph—probably from sometime in the late 1890s, according well as the Reunion Committee. We to start planning other family or to Lehigh historians—you can see evidence of both. In the background, as always, will continue to keep you up to date friend reunions and get togethers, looms South Mountain, which continues to serve as the backdrop of Lehigh ath- as our plans firm up. or leisure trips to vacation treasure letics today. Then there’s the high jump technique being illustrated here by some spots on the East Coast. It is not too unknown athlete—a technique that is just a tad different than that used today by early to begin planning. such modern Lehigh track stars as Adelou Adesida (see STATS, page 23).

54 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 55 NOTES NOTES

REUNION Robert Cutler’s 100th Birthday

markets), where he is identified as And speaking of next year’s Finally, several of our class- Marilyn Blacher-Re- co-founder, chairman and CEO; Lehigh Reunion, the Alumni mates, led by Dan Mulholland and ich, 324 Lincoln Ave. BuDhaGirl (fine jewelry, apparel and Association plans to make further Gus Gustafson, will stage football ’75Highland Park, NJ “soft accessories”), with locations in changes to the format, so that it will tailgates again for the 2013 season, 08904. (732) 846-1484 (H), (908) San Francisco and Dallas, where he no longer be primarily for the five- asking attendees to make donations 231-0443 (B); [email protected] is chairman; and Serena & Lily (up- year “quinquennial” anniversary to the McFillin Fund, in memory of scale home fashions and décor), of classes, but for all Lehigh alumni. departed friend Roger McFillin. In addition to the Sausalito, Calif., also listing him as This will provide greater opportu- Over the past 20 years, they’ve raised NSA, CIA, FBI, IRS, chairman. Just this year, Bill became nities to interact with upper- and in the neighborhood of $80,000 – all ’76 Facebook and Google a partner and investment commit- lowerclassmen, and women from directed to Lehigh Football. monitoring my every cyberspace tee chairman at Spanos Barber Jesse your time at Lehigh, including Now, on to the press releases: move, the E.D. fanatical “Pretend & Company. They are “an operation- living-group friends and peers. So, Dr. Stephen Klasko has been Doctors,” primarily female with ally focused investment firm based if you missed the 2013 Reunion named president of Thomas Jeffer- sexy names, have apparently hacked in San Francisco that invests in (our 40th!), you do not have to wait son University and president/CEO my long standing AOL account – consumer, business services and five years for another opportunity. of Thomas Jefferson University MarkLU76! Between the big three other marketing driven companies Also, I am sure you’ve noticed that Health Systems. Steve was formerly E.D. drugs, and who knows what else in the lower middle-market.” Lehigh has greatly diversified its dean of the College of Medicine at is being offered, I get about 10 to It is difficult to miss the promi- calendar of alumni activities and the University of South Florida, 12 suspect e-mails a day, even after nent nautical thread woven through programming, both on campus served in a series of leadership po- going to super spam mode. Did we Bill’s experience. Since childhood he and around the globe. sitions at Drexel University College ever really believe that the Internet has been an avid sailor. At Lehigh, he When the sun goes down and the of Medicine, was president and was going to be private? I still use struggled to achieve University sup- moon comes up, Lehigh will shine! CEO of the Lehigh Valley Physician AOL, but please note my new e-mail port for a Lehigh University Sailing David J. Morrison, 936 N. Sec- Group and practiced ob-gyn in the for your correspondence. Team. I don’t recall whether or not ond St., Harrisburg, PA 17102. (717) Allentown-Bethlehem area. As I write this column on the last that actually happened, but can’t 574-5370 (H), (717)780-2657 (B); James Ronca, a shareholder of day of summer, I start to think: How forget the t-shirts, simply printed [email protected] Anapol Schwartz, has been named many good, healthy, active sum- with the acronym: L.U.S.T. Just ask to the “Super Lawyers 2013 Top mers do I (we) have left? We baby him today if he is in San Francisco or 40TH REUNION 100 Philadelphia and Pennsylva- boomers are an impressive, active, Dallas. I figure that his answer will MAY 15-18, 2014 nia” attorney lists. Super Lawyers never say die group, fighting aging at probably be quite simple, too: Yes. ’74 is a rating service of outstanding every turn. Keep that bucket list on Now, if I could only determine If you have any lingering doubt lawyers. The annual selections are your refrigerator door, and add to it the whereabouts of John Ayls- about the stark reality that we’re made using a process that includes “reconnect with my Lehigh friends worth. Is he in Malibu or Vegas or terrible geezers, you might consider a statewide survey of lawyers, an and classmates ASAP.” St. Louis...? that we’ll be celebrating our 40th independent research evaluation Here’s the news: Jeanne Charles S. “Chuck” Steele, Reunion May 15-18. You should and peer reviews by practice area. (O’Brien) Marino, attended law 2080 Flint Hill Road, Coopersburg, mark this on your schedule and James is a civil trial attorney school after graduating, and has PA 18036. (610) 737-2156 (M); make every effort to attend, partic- with more than 30 years of expe- been engaged full time in law in New [email protected] ularly since the odds are pretty high rience. He received his law degree Jersey and New York. She has al- that this will be your last consider- in 1977 from the Dickinson School ways practiced in insurance defense, More than 30 years after his retirement from said David Kent ‘73. “You had a collection of engi- Ed Caine, a C.P.A. in ing the way you’ve let yourself go. of Law. His practice focuses on and is now a litigator as a partner Lehigh and nearly a decade after his passing at the neers and business majors and people from the vari- Bryn Mawr, Pa., has I’ll offer updates on some of our pharmaceutical and medical device with Harwood Lloyd. Jeanne mar- age of 90, Robert Cutler’s remarkable legacy at Le- ous arts, most of whom didn’t have a lot in common, been named to the classmates who really did make cases, major car and truck collision ried a Columbia grad she met in law CUTLER’S high only continues to grow stronger. The fact that and maybe wouldn’t have chosen to live together, or ’73 LEGACY Jeb recently published “Top 100 Most something of themselves, but first, cases, and construction site injury school, and both her daughters are 75 choral arts alumni returned to campus this past do anything together, yet we were all brought togeth- Baxter ’80, Barry Influential People in Accounting” a nod to some people I see routinely litigation. He is a former president recent Columbia grads. She would fall from all corners of the country to honor the late Hamlette ’79, Peter er by this shared love of music and making music list by Accounting Today magazine. and rarely mention here. of the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers love to connect with her past M&M Finkel ’81 and Bob “Boss” is certainly a testament to that. together. What Prof. Cutler did was take all of those In addition to running his own prac- For example, Mike Stershic Association and former chair of and RH-11 classmates, and she loved Nesbitt ’79 (top In November, generations of choral arts alum- guys and turn them into a wonderful chorus capable tice in Bryn Mawr, Ed is the current and his wife, Sybil ’75, have the the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Ira’s guest column last year. Yes, one left) and Robert ni gathered at Lehigh to celebrate what would have of producing truly beautiful music.” president of the National Confer- same season-ticket plan I do for the Civil Litigation Section. of her daughters was recruited by Sellman ’66 and been the 100th birthday of the man credited with The choral tradition of Lehigh University dates Daniel Franceski ence of C.P.A. Practitioners. Ed in- Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, the Phil- Last and also least, Donald Was- Lehigh, but opted for Columbia, two building the Lehigh chorus into one of the finest in back to 1875. Steven Sametz, the Ronald J. Ulrich ’64 (bottom right, terfaces regularly with Congress and lies’ Triple A baseball team, so I see son recently was introduced as one great choices. with grad student the nation. The weekend celebration included a cel- ’66 Chair in Vocal Music, is the fifth director of the IRS on tax policy issues and he them regularly. Likewise I check of the contestants for Season 17 of Preston Crabill is still with Michelle Spicer) ebratory dinner, a Saturday evening concert at Lam- choral activities in Lehigh’s 130 years of choral is active on local municipal taxation in with Jeff Nelson every year at “Dancing with the Stars.” I read a fan General Motors. For his 60th he were among 75 berton Hall, a Packer Chapel sing-along and more, as arts. He joined the faculty in 1979 and has won nu- committees in Radnor Township. Musikfest, Bethlehem’s big annual page that suggested he is considered bought himself a new 60th anni- alumni who sang a choral alumni old and young came together to share merous honors in his years at Lehigh, but has said Perhaps nobody in the Class music festival where I perform one of the favorites to win the cov- versary Corvette. Ironically, I just concert to not only stories about Cutler, but also the joy they Cutler must be credited for making his success, honor the late of ’73 has done more for Lehigh amazing eating feats and Jeff taps eted Mirror Ball trophy. This came saw one today during the boardwalk Lehigh choirmas- found in singing at Lehigh. and that of his choirs, possible. over the years than Jim Duane. beer as a volunteer. as no great surprise to me. Even as a Corvette show in Ocean City, N.J… ter Bob Cutler. “I’m really, really happy with the turnout,” says Cutler’s many students agree, which is why so Jim has been a Lehigh trustee for I heard the other day from Jose freshman, Don was well-respected SWEET! Preston and his wife, Barb, Sara Newman ’13 ’14G, who helped organize the many of them, Kent included, said they never even many years, he has served in various Arencibia, who was berating me for for his expertise in the Funky Chick- took a 12-day trip to Ireland, and event. “People had a great time, and I think it was a considered missing the reunion event. posts in the Alumni Association, he my political views – but in the midst en, the Mashed Potato and other said it was an awesome time. really nice way to join together the old alumni with Singing—and Cutler—meant that much to them. frequently heads up our class giving of his tirade let slide that he has his dance steps of the day. Captain John Ondrejack is still the younger alumni.” “He was just so ebullient,” Kent says of Cut- campaigns, and he never misses first grandchild. Granddaughter William R. White Jr., 5418 living in Boca Raton and waiting Cutler served as director of choral activities ler. “He was a true educator in that he gave us an a reunion. He is also co-chairing Mira Graciela Arencibia was born Holiday Drive, Allentown, PA 18104. for some Theta Xi brothers or L.U. and chairman of Lehigh’s music department from enthusiasm for something that may have other- the Alumni Awards committee August 15 to son Joe III and his [email protected] classmates to come visit his charter 1954 until 1979. His passion and love for the cho- wise been a hobby for us. But it became a passion. honoring “the fours and nines” and wife, Toko, in New York City. business, Seaboss Charters. He ral arts inspired generations of students, some of I don’t think people who haven’t performed mu- the 2014 Lehigh Reunion next May. guarantees to catch fish. John is whom had no singing experience before they ar- sic can ever fully appreciate what pure joy that Bravo, Jim! southeast/Caribbean regional man- rived at South Mountain. is—to create something beautiful. It was not only ager for Flowserve Pumps. It was Cutler who got them to believe in themselves. a pleasure for us, it was a great educational and “It was one of the highlights of my time at Lehigh,” cultural experience.”

58 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 59 NOTES NOTES

NOMINATIONS Board of Directors

honor. Tara Santoroski and Frank attorney position at Gordon & Rees with two dogs. She won the Creog them fall in love with Lehigh the Matarazzo, a current Lehigh gradu- LLP in San Diego. His practice Teaching Award for Excellence in way I did. If I can get at least one of ate student, were in attendance. The area includes litigating claims of resident education recently. them to attend it would be amazing! happy couple enjoyed a honeymoon exposure to toxic and hazardous Michelle Callari and husband, Professionally, I made a career in French Polynesia and currently materials, including asbestos and Nick St. Pierre, welcomed son, Reid change in August. I left the office of reside in the Lehigh Valley. mold. He is also a member of the Alberic St. Pierre, four weeks early Congressman Elijah E. Cummings Congrats to all of our fellow Environmental/Toxic Group in San on August 5. She graduated from (MD-07) in August to join Values alumni on their exciting news! Diego. Good to know someone is out law school in 2005 and is currently Partnerships, a consultancy founded Please take a few moments to there protecting our environment working as an assistant deputy public by former President Obama spiritu- contact me with an update about for our future! defender for Essex County, N.J. She al advisor and White House director, yourself or about a friend in our Thanks folks... keep that news sees Stacie Keramas Mastriani all Joshua DuBois. As a partner at the class. If you haven’t already done rolling, we love to hear it!!!! the time, who married Louis Mas- firm, I am responsible primarily for so, I invite and encourage everyone Sabrina McGuigan, mcguigan_ triani and has a one-and-a- half year media relations and strategy, sup- to join our class Facebook page by [email protected] old daughter named Abigail. porting clients in the faith, African searching “Lehigh University Class Tina (Randazzo) Sekula and American, black male achievement, of 2000.” I look forward to hearing Luckily news has husband, Pete, welcomed Eva Elisa education and health spheres. It from you soon! been booming for into the world on February 5. Older was a great leap of faith to make the Corina Fisher, (732) 688-3671 ’02our class!! Natalie daughter Mia is 4. They are still move, but it was the right move and (C); [email protected] (Denisenko) Grainger and hus- living in Raleigh, N.C. I’m so grateful for the opportunity. band, Matt ’00, had their first baby, Congrats to all my classmates on Well, I’m afraid that’s all I’ve got With the crunch of Alexander Clark, in April 2013. Per the wonderful news you have shared this time around. I do hope that the leaves and the Natalie, she and her friends have with us!!!! Mazel tov to all! by my next penning, my inbox will ’01crisp fall air across been a busy crew. Lindsay (Ben- Noelia Cabrera, 1751 Babcock be overflowing with updates from the mountain, Lehigh welcomed nett) and Andrew Atha had their Rd. #425, San Antonio, TX 78229; our classmates from around the the Class of 2017 with open arms. I second child, Andrew Atha, Jr., in [email protected] country and world. was honored to carry the class flag April 2012. Ed and Emily (Herron) I know you’re all doing amazing this year and proud to see the next Federico had their first child, Ed Howdy 0-3ers! I hope things. Why don’t you drop me a line generation of Lehigh excited to be “EJ” Federico, Jr., in June 2012. this column finds you and let us all celebrate your accom- there and ready to learn! Elisabeth (Armington) Alderman ’03all well! plishments with you? Lots of exciting news from our married Benjamin Alderman in April I have to say, in the 10 years since Until next time, folks… CHRISTA NEU fellow classmates... Melissa Copp 2013. Bridesmaids included Natalie I’ve done this, this may be the first Safiya (Jafari) Simmons, 1841 married Ethan Sylvester in a very (Denisenko) Grainger and Christine time that I have to write having not Bruce Pl. SE, Washington, D.C. private ceremony on Grand Cayman Liashek. Dave and Meghan (Bo- received a single update to share. 20020. [email protected] on July 20, 2013.... a magical cere- land) Russell’s daughter, Genevieve, I’m unsure how I feel about reach- mony on the beach at sunset I am was born in September 2013 and ing this class columnist milestone, if 10TH REUNION told! Their only guests were Rita joins brother Ryan. you will, but I hope it’s the first and MAY 15-18, 2014 2014 NOMINEES In accordance with the by-laws of the Lehigh on at the annual meeting on Thursday, May 15, Mesko and her boyfriend, Luis. Courtney Wen married Dan last time. Please send me news of University Alumni Association, the individuals to 2014. All are three-year terms except as noted. ’04 PRESIDENT (ONE-YEAR TERM) The happy couple still resides in McWeeney in October 2011. “We’re your jobs changes, business open- One decade. 10 years. 120 months. the left are recommended for nomination as offi- Once elected, the nominees will join those cur- Washington D.C. living in Manhattan, and I’m now ings, books published, marriages, 520 weeks. 3,650 days, 87,600 hours. John J. Franchini ’97 cers, directors, and alumni trustees, to be voted rently serving listed below There was also some baby news! an attorney. Dan’s a senior software children and every other wonderful 5,256,000 minutes. Is anyone else Thomas Marullo and his wife, engineer with Adobe Systems.” Pa- development in your life since we all singing Rent? This is how much time SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Kristen, welcomed their first baby tricia (Kurz) Schoelle and husband, departed on life post-Lehigh. has passed since our time at dear (ONE-YEAR TERM) Alumni Trustee Director-at-Large Director-at-Large boy, Rocco Anthony, on July 27. Brad ’00, had a second child, Tanner I’d also encourage you all to Lehigh. Please be sure to sign up Kira C. Mendez ’83 Andrew C. Fiala ’92 L. Craig Lemle ’74 Frederick C. Zamparelle ’08 Now that... is a good Italian name! Throckmorton, on May 21. “Big sis- consider coming back for Alumni for our Reunion. The Class of 2017 2012-2015 2012-2015 2012-2015 Congrats, I am sure he will be ter, Brooke (turned 3 in November), Weekend! The Alumni Association deserves to see the legend that is the ALUMNI TRUSTEE breaking hearts. is loving her baby brother!” has gone to great lengths to identify Class of 2004. Bring your master’s Michael J. Connor ’80 Alumni Trustee Director-at-Large Director-at-Large Lena (Randhawa) Seprandio Elizabeth (Tyler) Clapp also opportunities for all classes – not degree, engagement ring, wife, baby Deborah E. Zajac ’97 John M. Meehan ’10 Gary K. Chan ’80 and her husband, Dave, welcomed has some news. She and husband, just the milestone years – to have and passport and reconnect with YOUNG ALUMNI TRUSTEE 2013-2016 2012-2015 2013-2016 their first daughter, Jasleen Marie, Matthew, welcomed their second fun events on-campus to reconnect your favorite Mountain Hawks to Gina Leffler Whitfield ’05 to the world on August 3. She is child, Benjamin Wayne Robert, us to one another and to our beloved celebrate all we’ve accomplished Young Alumni Trustee Director-at-Large Director-at-Large gorgeous and already full of her on August 28. “Our first, Alice alma mater. It sure would be great to over the last tenth of a century, INTERNATIONAL DIREC- Marinee G. Cabrera ’05 Braden H. Ryan ’00 Jennifer S. Gonzalez ’08 ’09G mother’s personality (which I re- (2-years-old), is excited to be a big have more of us back this year! including but not limited to: TOR-AT-LARGE 2012-2015 2012-2015 2013-2016 member fondly from freshman hall). sister.” Elizabeth is working as an I’m afraid though, that a nec- Ted Zagraniski is attending Daniel R. Pietrzak ’97 Lena also let me know that she is now environmental engineer at Monroe essary consequence of having no the John F. Kennedy School of Young Alumni Trustee Director-at-Large Director-at-Large a clinical research scientist at Impact Energy and lives in West Chester, news from you is that this column Government at Harvard University DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE Gregory J. Kuklinski ’98 Safiya Jafari Simmons ’03 Jonathan I. Green ’92 Pharmaceutical Services Inc. Pa., with family. will largely be about my own per- and expects to earn a mid-career Tonya B. Amankwatia ’08G 2013-2016 2012-2015 2013-2016 Mered Parnes reported that Meredith (Carleton) Foglyano sonal developments since the last masters of public administration (renewed) “I’m in my last year of fellowship at just finished her Psy.D. in clinical time we checked-in. in May of 2014. Ted’s opportunity Bora Baloglu ’08G ’11G Director-at-Large Director-at-Large Director-at-Large Texas Children’s Hospital, specializ- child and school psychology at I have to start by thanking all of comes thanks to the United States Ludwig E. Benfante ’69 Joann Giangiulio ’92 Sabrina I. Slater ’05 Andrew T. Hartmann ’99 ing in child neurology and neurode- Yeshiva University in New York, those who nominated and voted for Army’s Strategic Education and Charles F. Bustin, Jr. ’04 ’05G 2012-2015 2012-2015 2013-2016 velopmental disabilities. My fiancée, after completing her dissertation, “A me to win the Lehigh Alumni Award Development Program, a high- Danielle C. Carpino ’96 Aliza Wender, is a pediatric speech Qualitative Study on the Parenting for our class at our 10th Reunion. ly-selective graduate scholarship Joseph S. Ianoale ’05 Director-on-Campus Director-at-Large Director-at-Large and language pathologist; we are Experiences of Gay Fathers.” She It was, and remains, a tremendous, which sends five Army officers to the Nicholas Noel III ’74 Kathleen S. Hutnik ’84 Thomas S. Spencer ’69 Kevin P. O’Sullivan ’91, ’93G very excited to be getting married says “My husband Mike and I also humbling honor and I’m so grateful Kennedy School each year. Stephen C. Rittler ’99 (renewed) 2012-2015 2012-2015 2013-2016 in Houston on November 9!” We are had a beautiful baby boy named to have been chosen. Reunion was Dom Suarez and Lindsay Curtis A. Schmidt ’75 excited as well, congrats!!!! Owen five months ago.” awesome; my entire family came. It SanFilippo got married July 27 at Jill E. Triani ’94 Director-at-Large Director-at-Large More on the career front, Erin (Rebele) Goodwin is still was the first my children had been the Bar Harbor Club in Bar Harbor, Scott W. Wojciechowski ’09 George J. Kuczynski ’74 William H. Trotter ’67 Keith Ciceron has accepted an in Nashville at Vandy and married on campus and it was great seeing Maine. Dom is director of sales at (renewed) 2012-2015 2012-2015

68 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 69 NOTES NOTES

A TRIBUTE TO John C. Chen, 1934–2013

John C. Chen, 79, former dean of the engineering college, whose pioneering research in heat transfer influenced the design of nuclear reac- tors, refrigeration systems, steam generators, solar power storage facilities and many other applications, died Dec. 30. Chen, the Carl R. Anderson Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering, received 18 major awards, published more than 200 published papers and supervised more than 35 Ph.D. dissertations. “John Chen was an internationally renowned scholar in transport phenomena in multiphase systems and a recognized pioneer in boiling and heat transfer,” said S. David Wu, dean of the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. “His work has broadly impacted engineering practices in power generation, energy systems, environmental technologies and chemi- Alfred L. Trumpler ’40, Stokes- Roydon S. Margolies ’43 ’47, cal processing.” IN REMEMBRANCE dale, N.C., May 18, 2013. Mr. Trum- Mountainside, N.J., Sept. 9, 2013. “John had an inexhaustible energy and en- pler served in the U.S. Navy during Mr. Margolies was a brother of Pi thusiasm for teaching, research and service The alumni and university communities extend their sympathy World War II. He was the founder Lambda Phi. He served in the Navy to the profession,” said Mayuresh V. Kothare, to the families of the alumni listed. Obituary sources include and president of Trumpler-Clancy, during World War II. He worked in chair of the chemical engineering department. Inc. His brother, William E. Trum- managements positions for various “Even after he retired in 2005, John continued relatives, alumni, and friends. Send details to Diana Skowrons- pler ’37, was a Lehigh alumnus. manufacturing firms. He was a to conduct research and teach classes regularly. ki, Alumni Association, Lehigh University, 27 Memorial Drive John B. Atherholt ’41, Warmin- member of the Tower Society. His lifetime contributions to his profession serve West, Bethlehem, PA 18015; (610) 758-3675; dls213@lehigh. ster, Pa., Sept. 3, 2013. Mr. Atherholt Robert C. Moore ’43, Naples, as a shining example for young engineers.” was a brother of Alpha Chi Rho. He Fla., May 10, 2013. Mr. Moore was edu. The obituaries listed include deaths reported to the uni- served in the Army Air Force as a the president of Kappa Alpha, and THE “CHEN METHOD” versity as of September 13, 2013. second lieutenant during World War a member of the Lehigh concert Chen is perhaps best known for a journal ar- II. He founded the sales company and marching bands. He held ticle he wrote in 1966 titled “Correlation for John B. Atherholt Inc., in addition to membership in Tau Beta Pi and Phi Boiling Heat Transfer to Saturated Fluids in Wayne F. Haviland ’38, Venice, working in the manufacturing indus- Beta Kappa honor societies. During Convective Flow.” It won the Classic Paper 1930’s Fla., May 26, 2013. Mr. Haviland try. His granddaughter, Christine L. World War II he served as an U.S. Award from the Heat Transfer Division of the served in the U.S. Navy during Atherholt ’08, is a Lehigh alumna. Army engineer. He worked as an American Society of Mechanical Engineers In- Elmer C. Easton ’31, ’33 M.S., ’65 World War II. He worked for Du- Henry J. Horn ’41, Newberry, executive vice president for Elson T. ternational (ASME) in 2003. H, Piscataway, N.J., June 22, 2013. Pont Chemical. S.C., July 20, 2013. Dr. Horn worked Killam Associates. Chen, the first non-mechanical engineer Mr. Easton was a brother of Theta Richard W. Rusk ’38, M.S. ’49, for the Navy during World War II. A. Newton Bugbee Jr. ’44, to receive the award, proposed a model that Chi. He held membership in Phi Blacksburg, Va., Aug. 23, 2013. Mr. He worked in toxicology research Catasauqua, Pa., May 19, 2013. Mr. predicts the rate at which heat must be trans- Beta Kappa and Eta Kappa Nu honor Rusk worked as a chemist for the at Hazelton Laboratories before Bugbee was a brother of Chi Phi, and ferred to liquid to make it boil. The “Chen societies, and the American Institute Shenandoah Valley Apple Cider and beginning a private practice. played on Lehigh’s basketball, base- Method” has become the standard for design- of Electrical Engineers. He worked as Vinegar Corp. and for the central Henry J. Strenkofsky ’41, Beau- ball and wrestling teams. He had ing vapor-liquid boiling systems used in the chemical, power, refrig- He won two top honors from Germany—the JOHN C. CHEN , the dean of the College of Engineer- laboratories of General Foods fort, S.C., June 16, 2013. Mr. Strenkof- a distinguished military career, serv- eration, petroleum, nuclear and gas industries. According to Google Alexander von Humboldt Senior Research Award a 43-year faculty ing at Rutgers University. As an Corp. He later worked as associate sky was awarded the Distinguished ing in World War II as a second lieu- Scholar, the article has been cited more than 1,000 times. for fluidization research and the Max Planck So- member and the alumnus, he served as planned giving professor and assistant department Flying Cross during World War II for tenant and was awarded the Bronze former dean of In 1994, Chen and chemical engineering professor Kemal Tuzla ciety’s Research Prize for research on particle Lehigh’s engi- class chairman. His name is engraved head for Virginia Tech in the Physics his service as a P-38 captain. Star, among many other medals. He concluded in a study for the Electric Power Research Institute that and gas fluidization. neering college, in Leadership Plaza, and he was a Department. He was a member of Theodore G. Scott Jr. ’42, worked as project manager and chief new refrigerants with little or no ozone-depleting chlorine could He also received the inaugural World Scientific was the world’s member of the Tower Society. the Asa Packer Society. Harrisonburg, Va., May 19, 2013. Mr. engineer for A. Newton Bugbee, Inc., perform as well in some heat-transfer tests as the chlorine-based re- Award in Boiling and Condensing Heat Transfer “unquestioned J. Horl Freiday ’32, Farming- Scott was a member of Kappa Alpha, Newton Constructors, and Rees frigerants whose production has been banned. (2102), from the Eighth International Conference leader” in boiling ton, Conn., June 5, 2013. Mr. Freiday the rifle and soccer teams, the Epito- Weaver Construction. He served as heat transfer, in In 2001, Chen received the world’s top prize for achievements on Boiling and Condensation Heat Transfer. served as a lieutenant in the U.S. me staff and the Army R.O.T.C. He the LUAA class reunion chair and the words of one 1940’s in heat transfer—the Max Jakob Memorial Award—from ASME At Lehigh, Chen directed the Institute of Ther- of his peers. He Navy during World War II. He served as a captain of the U.S. Army. class president. He was a LUAA and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). mo-Fluid Engineering and Science. He received won most of the worked for Combustion Engineer- Robert C. Muir Jr. ’40, Allentown, He worked as a research metallur- Alumni Award recipient, as well as One of his nominators, Raymond Viskanta of Purdue University, the Hillman Award for excellence in teaching, top international ing/Alstom. He was a member of Pa., Aug. 29, 2013. Mr. Muir was a gist with the Cleveland Twist Drill a member of the Tower Society. His wrote then that Chen “has been the pioneer and the unquestioned scholarship and service and the Libsch Award for awards in his field. the Tower Society. His brother, brother of Alpha Chi Rho. As an alum- Co., before becoming general man- sons, James P. Bugbee ’79 and Peter leader in the world on boiling heat transfer and other areas involving distinction in research. Donald H. Freiday ’33, was a mem- nus he won the LUAA Award recipient ager of Bay State Tap and Die Co. He H. Bugbee ’80, are Lehigh alumni. two-phase flow and heat transfer.” As president of AIChE, the leading internation- ber of the Lehigh family. for his service as class vice president, later worked as director of program Ralph A. Evans ’44, Davis, Another, Geoff Hewitt of London’s Imperial College of Science, al professional organization for chemical engi- Carl D. Becker ’37, Centennial, treasurer, and a Lehigh Fund class operations for the Massachusetts Calif., June 22, 2013. Mr. Evans was Technology and Medicine, said the Chen Method “is still used uni- neers in 2006-07, Chen urged engineers to address Colo., Feb. 14, 2013. Mr. Becker was agent, in addition to serving on the Audubon Society. a member of Phi Beta Kappa and versally and must be implemented thousands of times every day in the challenges of energy demand and supply and a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army LUAA Class Reunion Committee. He C. Armond Johnson ’43, Madi- Sigma Xi honor societies. He served industrial design.” to develop renewable energy sources. In 2007, he during World War II. He worked at was a member of the Tower Society. son, N.J., June 21, 2013. Mr. Johnson in the U.S. Navy as an ensign. He toured Australia for two weeks to give talks on en- Standard Oil, and later at Union Car- Howard E. Schaffer ’40, was a member of Chi Psi. He served worked for Link-Belt Company as A RECORD OF SERVICE AND HONOR ergy and the environment. bide and Linde Aire, before becoming Whitehall, Pa., June 27, 2013. Mr. as a second lieutenant in the Marine the director of the Research Labora- Chen joined the Lehigh faculty in 1970 after a decade at Brookhaven Chen is survived by his wife, Kathy, two sons, a self-employed general contractor. Schaffer served in the U.S. Army Corps. He worked as an executive tory and as senior physicist for the National Laboratory. From 1983 to 1989, he chaired the department a daughter and eight grandchildren. A memorial He went on to become the president Ordnance during World War II. He with Champion International Paper Research Triangle Institute. He was of chemical engineering, and from 1999 to 2001, he was dean of the service will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 8 at the First and CEO of his own company, Moun- worked as a project engineer for and Paper Sales Corporation. a member of the Tower Society. engineering college. Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem. tain Energy Resources, Inc. Bethlehem Steel Co.

74 | LEHIGH BULLETIN WINTER 2014 | 75 END PAPER

FROM THE VAULT Lehigh-Lafayette Game Balls

they may be the most treasured artifacts in the Roger S. of Lehigh football. In total, the two schools have played 149 times, Penske Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame: 39 footballs, dating all the and Lehigh has claimed victory in 67 of those matchups. The univer- way back to 1888, that document the scores of Lehigh’s wins over sity does not own balls representing all of those wins, which explains archrival Lafayette. The balls range in condition from “near mint” to, why only 39 are available in the Hall of Fame. A 40th ball, of course, well, “weathered,” but each represents a proud chapter in the history is expected to be added in 2014. —Tim Hyland

80 | LEHIGH BULLETIN cozy up & connect Photos that take you back and stories that keep you connected…

CONgRATUlATiONS! Larry & Jami Miksiewicz ’81

2014social_winter_fullpg_ad-fp.indd 1 1/10/14 2:05 PM Nonprofit Org. Lehigh University Alumni Association US Postage Paid 27 Memorial Drive West Permit 498 Burlington, VT Bethlehem, PA 18015-3734 05401 www.lehigh.edu/alumni

ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES Buildings B and C at Mountaintop, formerly home to Bethlehem Steel’s Homer Research Labo- ratory, are relics of Bethlehem’s industrial past. But Lehigh intends to remake the spaces into vibrant environments for a 21st century learning community. (Photo by Theo Anderson)