Lehigh = Racism?

<p>So I am aware that Lehigh has a very high percentage of white kids for its student body and I am aware that there is some racism and such. But I was wondering how it is for asians (including indians)? Does anybody here know of any asians or is an asian at Lehigh?</p>

<p>thanks,</p>

<p>Aaargh</p>

<p>btw, I am applying for the engineering program which I have heard is very good and since most complaints came from business majors? and one other q, is there a difference in housing between the different colleges? (eng, arts, sciences etc.)?</p>

<p>Dorms are not specific to colleges.</p>

<p>What exactly is racism towards Asians? Making fun of them for studying a lot and doing well in school? I have a feeling that the more likely issue here is that you're insecure and would prefer to be at a school with more people just like yourself but it takes a lot of balls to come here in such an accusatory manner. I can't speak for anyone else who comes to this board but I'd be lying if I said you inspire any interest in me with regard to allaying your fears or enlightening you.</p>

<p>i am almost 100% that you are a lehigh admin official or recruiter, all your posts that i have seen indicate that you are very biased. I am asking a simple question, and was not asking for an analysis of my personality.</p>

<p>"What exactly is racism towards Asians?"</p>

<p>i think that was a less than welcoming response to someone who has concerns about not feeling at ease on campus, and maybe in this country.</p>

<p>You honestly think a Lehigh official would do anything but bend over backwards to humor your question? I sincerely couldn't care less if you go to Lehigh or not. </p>

<p>You come here with an extremely loaded/insulting question which only a student or alum of the school could conceivably answer and then comment on my pro-Lehigh bias? Does that not seem a little dim to you in retrospect?</p>

<p>If there was any kind of "official" Lehigh presence here I wouldn't even bother stopping by on occasion to see if there is anything I can be helpful about. I don't answer a lot of questions I see posted here because while I find people's willingness on CC to give horrible advice to be both depressing and entertaining, I don't see it as helpful to prospective students to offer an answer if it is not something I have any kind of expertise about. </p>

<p>On the other hand I'm not going to sit idly by when someone not only asks a loaded question with an insulting premise but also apparently doesn't understand that it isn't a simple, innocent question. I stand by the comment about your insecurity, whether you like it or not. I'm quite sure that most of the minorities who go to Lehigh fit right in, and if they don't it is because of their own personality or social deficiencies just as it is for white kids who don't fit. Life isn't fair like that. And I wouldn't even have bothered responding except that I hate the idea that some kid who would fit in perfectly at Lehigh might read your post and have unfounded concerns because of it. That would be a true shame.</p>

<p>I can't say racism doesn't exist at Lehigh, I am sure it does. But as a minority you have to be open minded when making friends. If you came from a background where you mainly socialized with people of your race, you will encounter a rude awakening at Lehigh. There are many diversity groups on campus, including the Asian clubs, Indian clubs, a French club, you name it.</p>

<p>I do find the OP's post rather ridiculous. Of course there are Asians at Lehigh.</p>

<p>You're insulted because somebody's worried about whether Lehigh's racist against Asians? That's actually kind of insulting... Would you say the same thing if it was a black kid asking that question?</p>

<p>I don't think the OP was literally asking if there are any asian kids at lehigh, because obviously there are. I think he meant.. is there a significant presence of that minority group.</p>

<p>guys, its not Aaargh's fault, lehigh is actually known from many college evaluations from students to be a predominantly white party school. Many asian students there feel they are isolated and grouped against.
Stop accusing people of feeling insecure, they actually want to know the circumstances before making a decision on where they want to go for the next 4 years.</p>

<p>Just be open minded, Aaargh. If you have never partied with predominantly white kids, why not come to Lehigh and start? It's all about the experience and balance. If you think you want a more multicultural experience, perhaps a different school is right for you. But I don't think you should fear outright racism here.</p>

<p>I'd like to hear her evidence that racism is prevelent at Lehigh, maybe some of these so called complaints from the business school students. And to form the question as Lehigh=racism was in very poor taste. As if to say the entire institution is racist.</p>

<p>I hope I'm not being prejudicial myself, but rereading the OPs post, it sounds like perhaps English isn't his/her first language. Just trying to get info, given what he's heard from Lehigh business students about Asians at Lehigh, and used poor wording. Perhaps just a language thing, not knowing the implication of Lehigh=racism (which is pretty bad, can't imagine someone raised in US would write something like that)</p>

<p>my brother graduated in '04 and I can say 4 out of the 5 kids he's best friends with are of a minority group. One was an Indian in the 3 year med. program, another was from Chile, another was Chinese and now works in China, and the last was of Spanish decent. So i'm not sure if this helps...it was also 4 years ago, so...</p>

<p>As a current sophomore at lehigh and an asian myself, I can tell you that you are going to feel out of place the moment you step into this school. I felt very awkward at this school and it pushed me to hang out with other asians, which caused further racism to occur. It was a vicious cycle, really. But I will admit that once you break that habit you will meet some cool people.</p>

<p>It's quite easy to split the types of people up at lehigh. Half the students do nothing but live in their little frat/sorority world and talk about how high/drunk they got the night before and who they hooked up with and completely disregard what is going on in the real world. The other half either are thinking about transferring or become gryphons (residence hall staff). </p>

<p>That's a bit too general, because there are exceptions to every rule. But I'd say that's a valid description of the population at Lehigh.</p>

<p>Half the school is looking to transfer? How is someone supposed to reconcile your apparent isolation with your characterization of everyone else at the school? These kids must be pretty brilliant if they can get into and handle the work at lehigh while being oblivious to the outside world and being drunk and high all the time! </p>

<p>I've only been there for a weekend. Me and a friend visited his older brother and it was an amazing time. I'm Asian too btw and didn't feel uncomfortable at all. But maybe that's cuz my high school is mostly white and I'm used to it?</p>

<p>yeah that was sarcasm earlier, but that's just one person's opinion on the school.</p>

<p>"I'd like to hear her evidence that racism is prevelent at Lehigh,"</p>

<p>I go to Lehigh and I can personally tell you Lehigh has a severe problem with racism and our reputation is starting to get out due to some high profile incidents such as someone skinning an animal head and leaving it in front of the umoja house and minority students being treated horrificly by the student body. The school recently did a climate survey to try to address these issues since it's gotten so out of hand.</p>

<p>Onefour: Oh my God...culture drives everything. My D is considering applying to Lehigh. What I'm hearing on this board doesn't exactly make Lehigh seem like a great place for people of color.</p>

<p>That happened in 2006</p>

<p>On Saturday, students at Lehigh University, in Pennsylvania, found the head of an animal — believed to be that of a lamb roasted at a tailgate party earlier in the day — on the steps outside the Umoja House, a student multicultural housing option named after the Swahili word for “unity.” John Smeaton, the vice provost for student affairs, said the university police are still investigating whether the action was racially motivated. A forum on diversity planned prior to the event attracted several hundred students Tuesday, and Smeaton reaffirmed Lehigh’s commitment to existing diversity initiatives.
Lehigh</a> University | The Council for Equity and Community</p>

<p>The goal of The Council for Equity and Community at Lehigh is to create an environment where all members of campus work together, transcending racial, cultural, and other boundaries, to build a stronger community and create a richer educational experience for all.</p>

<p>The CEC encourages the Lehigh community to move toward a deeper understanding of the world around them, recognizing and promoting activities such as research and scholarship, community service and co-curricular programming. The aim is to emphasize the value of the kinds of learning experiences that shape and broaden our views of the world, and inspire a commitment to the greater good.</p>

<p>The CEC is an outgrowth of an earlier initiative that began in the spring of 2005, with the formation of the University Diversity Leadership Committee. The creation of the CEC ensures that the university will continue to reflect a truly inclusive and diverse environment. </p>

<p>***CEC INAUGURAL TOWN HALL MEETING: Monday, Sept. 15 @ noon in Neville Hall 1
Thanks to everyone who attended our first-ever town hall meeting. More than 150 people were present. We especially want to thank those who shared their views with us, either in person during the open forum or via e-mail. </p>

<p>Our next town hall meeting is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 8.</p>

<p>You ask a very valid question. Some posters like MrMountainHawk got mad at you for even posing the question but it is a true concern of many minorities. I am a freshman class of 2012 in the Business school. I am a Korean-American and applied to Lehigh Ed because I came here for a summer program and because they gave me loads of money. </p>

<p>However, I was constantly worried because I knew that Lehigh was a historically white school that could be translated to unacceptance or racism for other minorities. But, once I got here.. although at first it seemed like I was just looking at a sea of white kids, as I got to really explore the campus and its people I found that it was actually pretty diverse. A bulk of the white kids here are pretty accepting too of other races. </p>

<p>My advice is to keep your mind open and don't just hang out with asians. Look into the growing divesity that Lehigh is trying to bring to its campus.. really stepped up its efforts with my class (only 65 percent white). You can make it a great experience.. it all just depends on you.</p>