Epitome: Yearbook 2002

EHIGHUNIVERSITYv_rV here the Lehigh's rocky rapids ' Rush from out theWest, Mid a grove of spreading chestnuts Walls in ivy dressed. On the breast ofold South Mountain Reared against the sky, Stands our nobleAlma Mater, our dear Lehigh. V. will everVVe hve to love her, Live to praise her name, Live to make our lives add luster ^ To her glorious fame. Let the glad notes wake the echo, oyfully we cry: Hail to thee, ourAlma Mater; Hail, all hail, Lehigh. ike awatchman on the mountain(5**^ Stands she grandly bold, Earth's and Heaven's-secret seeking. Hoarding them like gold. All she wrests from Nature's storehouse Naught escapes her eye, Gives she gladly to her dear ones. While we bless Lehigh. hhuQ^. i^ibs^ri 24 Features 64 tAcademics Athletics 160 Greekt Orgs.jResidence Life 456 Closingrganizations 262 Undergraduates 286 Seniors 356 tt ff'''"!'," .'. "'l;--^^A';'";;^T,/i-•'r.'''i:v-'''i^'-- ,^ pm126Volume 29 Trembley Drive UniversityLehigh 18015PennsylvaniaBethlehem, / ri 1Christmas Hall was the first building used by the universit)'. It was acquired from the Moravians even before they had the chance to use it as a church. Lu ehigh w:ls founded in I86S b\' .\sa Packer. Packer was bom in December of 1805 in Mystic, Connecticut, but eventually travelled down to a small town on the upper reaches of the Sus(|uehanna River. Packer began working as a carpenter and married awoman Irom Vermont, Sarah blakslee. He spottedmany oi)portunities lor himselfearly on ;uid entered intoman\ partnershipswith family and friends throughout many disciplines in the mining industn*. He became a civic figure, founding St. Mark's Episcopal Church and chartering the .Maucli ChunkWaterCompany. Hewassent to the state legislature in 1841 and 1842,whereheestablished Carbon Cotinty, in which .\lauch Chunk, nowcalled Thorpe,Jim is located. Packerbegan aterm as associate judgeofCarbon County, ,i;i\ing him tlie reverent title as "the Honorable .Asa Packer." W hile in .Mauch Cliunk, Sarah Packer gave birth to three children: Mary Hannah, Robert Asa, and Harr)' Eldred. The couple also iidopted a little girl, Marian. De.spite the prosperity ofthe family, they still lived a simple and humble life. Packercontinuedworking in the anthracite coal business, and bestowed it upon himself to begin plans on the I.ehigh \alley Railro:id. Constmction began in ISSJ and three yean; later trains were running regulark between Nhaich Chunk and Easton. This small town businessman became a man of national reputation and a railroad monarch. During thissame time period, 1853-1857, he served two terms in the House of Representatives. The Lehigh \'alley Railroadbecame Packer'sprimar\' interest, andhebegan purchasingvastamounlsofland in .'Mientown, Easton. and Bethlehem. Thesmart entrepreneurbegan surrounding himselfwith capable assistantsand friends. .M the age of29. Packerhired Robert Sayre, and made him chiefengineer ofLVRR,Jr. and maintained ElishaWilbur as theman in charge offinancial operations for the Railroad and his private secretar)-. By this time, Asa Packerwasone ofthe wealthiestmen in the State ofPennsylvania and he began looking for a way to spend his surplus. In lS(i9, Packer approached Bishop Stevens of Philadelphia with iiis idea for a univereit)'. Packer told the Bishop he planned to donate $500,000 toendow the university, andentrusted the Bishopwith theknowhowofestablishing premiera institution. A location was picked on thewooded slope ofSouth Mountain. Fifty-seven acreswere set aside for the universin's purposes. The building of a bridge was also proposed to connect Bethlehem with South Bethlehem. The original Board ofTrusteeswas then selected and wascomprisedofPacker, hisson Robert, Bishop Stevens, Sayre, and the HonorableJohn W. Maynard. The firstorganizational meetingwas held attheSun Hotel on 1865.July 27, The board elected Elisha Wilbur treasurer, and Rev. Potter as secretan' and concluded that the institution shall consist ofa college proper ;is usually organized, togetherwith a scientific school embracing the whole class of physical sciences taught in the best institutions of itskind." An architectwashiredandplans forthe university^ensued,which was modeled :ifter institutions such as Yale. Hanard. Rens.selear Pohlechnic Institute, and Union College. Plans for the president's house and Packer Hall were approved for theboardandCharlesBrodheaddonatedseven acres tothe university'splot, bringingthe edge ofcampus up to the roadwa\-nowknown as Brodhead Avenue. By theend of 1865. Henr\-Coppeewaschosen asthe firstpresident and fi\emorepersonswerechosen toserve on the Board of Trustees: Packers son Harr\. G. B. I.indemian. Packer's son-in-law. Sayre's brother William. I'ritz.Jolin andJoseph Harrison Jr. On September 1 . 1866, openingceremonieswere held and theformal openingof Lehigh I'niversiti.- began at ("hristmas Hall, a fomier Moravain Church. youngmen39 were eager to begin theireducation at ;ui institution wJiere technical elementswouldbe learned along with the arts, graduatesso would have a complete understanding and working knowledge of all the skills required in world of business. .\sa Packerdonated S500.000 to establish Lehigh University. Asa Packer was a liberal man who wanted to develop universitya where students were versed in technical and language sicills. TokeningWilliamHenryChandlerwas electedpro- Universityfessor of chemistry at Lehigh^u 1 He planned the chemical labo-in 871 . ratories, which were completed in 1885, and the buildings of Lukes Hospital.St. Photo 1892 Epitome. 186S-1900 hen the University first opened, tuition prices were high in comparison to similar universities hke Cornell and(W. wereLafayette. Enrollmentwas lowbecause ofthe high costs ofeducation andveryhigh entrance requirements. Rates ofattrition More than half of the entering freshmen dropped out within three years. The trustees believed that creating aalso alarming. financial issues. In the fall of the preparatory schoolpreparatory school would help alleviatesome of the enrollment and 1871, young years old. The preppers, as they were called, would take classes and participate inadmitted 49 males, some as as 15 candidates. facult}' andlaboratories until theywere able to pass the university'sentranceexams and be admitted as degree Many because the faculty did not want to take on disciplining and teaching the preppers and olderstudents were opposed to this idea students did not want to make room for the younger students on campus. Because the preparatoiy school did not significantly itwas closed in the spring of 1874.increase enrollment, On 187 , Asa Packerannounced the abolition of tuition and introduced his original plan forfinancing. PackerwouldJuly 3, 1 He also agreed to donate an additional each year formaintenancedonate $250,000 forevery $125,00 the board raised. $20,000 costs. The board found it nearly impossible to raise the necessary funds, but Packercontinueddonating all of themoney needed to operate the university so Lehigh could remain tuition free. The students at Lehigh were noted as those at a scientific school and of the flannel shirt variety. The students began theirday at the chapel six days aweek, were not allowed to play cards,smoke or drink, andwere to remain in theirrooms between 7:30 and in the evening for study hours. Students were taught by method of recitation, in which each student would be required to9:30 standup in front ofthe class and recite the lessons. Each studentwas then graded on his performance. Since gradingwas done on a daily basis, attendancewas at a premium. Saturdays were used to complete laboratory work. The school year was divided into two terms with each term ending with written orala and examination. The annual review, in which seniors defended their theses, was held at the end of the second term and open to the public. Many interested residents from Bethlehem often attended. Most ofLehigh's studentbody hailedfromNewYork,New Pennsyl-Jerseyand vania, although Lehigh has always had a few students from Brazil and other South American countries. The students formed very close relationships and participated in a variety of traditions and tomfoolery. Each spring, a mock program was produced by the graduating seniors. This program was a spoofon commencement and students and professors conferred for farfetched and repug- nant degrees. The cane wasrush an annual event that occurred each fall. First and second year students would beat and claw one another for possession of a cane. This event left many with battle scars to show their involvement, some recollections even include the presence ofan ambulance in the President's yard. The spring eventwas the calculus cremation ceremony. This event started with first and second year technical students who would get together after exams during the spring term and burn their calculus books on the main lawn in front of Packer Hall. jOpeningI'hroughout the early years of Coppee Hall opened in March I.chigh, each entering class de- of 1883 and was the school's velopedan insignia, choose class first gymnasium. Here, stu- colors that were worn showto dents practicedgymnastics, box- camaraderie, and had theirown ing, wrestling and billiards. In fight song tor football games. 1912, the g}'mnasium was re- The Class of 1895 insignia is named in honor of Coppee. shown below. Photo 1895 Photo 1898 Epitome. liidnu-. The men's lacrosse team photo from 1896. The Lehigh Lacrosse Club was founded in 1 884 and lacrosse sprungup quicklyaround campuses. ThisteamdefeatedJohnsHopkins and Stevens for the Intercollegiate Champi- onship in 1896. Photo 1898 Epitome. The calculuscremationceremonywasone of Lehigh's most unique and peculiar tradi- tions. Students would process across the New Street Bridge to the North Side, return over the Old Bridge and venture Dela-up ware Avenue before returning to campus. The Grand Accussador would then begin the ornate ceremony and book burning. Songs and chantswould be son