<p>I think there ARE more issues on conservative campuses. I also think alcohol, undisputedly more of an issue at Lehigh than at other schools, exacerbates all problems. </p>
<p>From the Lehigh board:
"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 [in 2006] 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>Here's the report from a newspaper:
"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."</p>
<p>Hmmmmm
I read that thread and wasn't overly impressed. Alcohol more of an issue at Lehigh than other schools? You haven't been to many other schools.</p>
<p>Plainsman - I think, you should take what you read here with a grain of salt. It is all heresay and storytelling. </p>
<p>Find out for yourself. If your daughter wants to attend Lehigh then go with her to the Dean or the President of the university. Have a sit down and ask the hard questions. Put them on the spot - then decide. Anyway, when the answers are put out in front of your daughter she will be able to make a more informed decision.<br>
I don't think you can decide this for her.</p>
<p>The factthat such incient occured is not indispute, nor are the newpaper report and the student account dissimilar. </p>
<p>My point was that:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>the post indicates that the 2006 incident was not an isolate incident, </p></li>
<li><p>the student characterized the schools racial problems as "severe" and</p></li>
<li><p>the problems continue to date 9since the post is dated 9/08) and show no sign of abating since the admin "recently" conducted a climate survey b/c race issues, which had "gotten out of hand."</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I'm not saying that Lehigh is the worst school in this regard and I'm sure that some students of color will still have a positive experience. OTOH, this is more that what routinely occurs on campuse and it should give one pause.</p>
<p>I do agree w/ JustMom - - meet with senior admin and put their feet to the fire (you should also speak to current students of color). You and D will then be in a position to make an informed decision.</p>
<p>"Find out for yourself. If your daughter wants to attend Lehigh then go with her to the Dean or the President of the university. Have a sit down and ask the hard questions. Put them on the spot - then decide. "</p>
<p>Is asking the President of a university for a sit-down with an applicant and her father a normal thing? Would that reflect well when it came admissions time? I can't imagine why any president of a university would take the time out of their day for this, when applicants are a dime a dozen. Hell, as an actual admitted student, I certainly didn't think my uni's president was at my disposal for sit-downs whenever my parents or I wanted to shoot the breeze.</p>
<p>Maybe not face-time with the Prez, but certainly one of the deans or the diversity officer (a member of senior exec staff at most schools). That said, the prez of a LAC is more accessible than one might imagine. Following a racial incident of D's campus (D was not a target or otherwise involved) the prez and I traded a number of e-mail messages. Also, during the admissions process D requested and was granted a meeting with the director of institutional diversity at one uni that had recently been in the news re: an incient.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Is asking the President of a university for a sit-down with an applicant and her father a normal thing? Would that reflect well when it came admissions time?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Nope. Why not? I have a feeling that Lehigh probably would want Plainsman's daughter as a student. Top tier colleges have a hard time attracting minorities - note they only have 3% African Americans in the student body. Lehigh has addressed at least one racial incident in the past couple of years - I am sure they will jump through hoops to provide reassurance.
While applicants are a dime a dozen - high quality minority students are not.
Colleges want to show their good side too - they also want to please parents.
I would be willing to bet that if asked they could get a meeting.</p>
<p>Plus-- their male-female ration is still pretty uneven. While the admissions advantage at many schools might go to male students, at Lehigh it might be the other way around.</p>
<p>Plainsman-- If it's any comfort, my daughter, who in many ways appears to be quite similar to yours, is applying ED to Lehigh. She loves it for all the reasons you list in post #8 and then some. She is very social, has a very diverse group of friends in HS, and has absolutely no interest in Greek life in college. </p>
<p>BTW most of Lehigh's 4800 students are not in fraternities/sororities.<br>
Also, its administration and new president (as of Aug.2006), Alice Gast, seem committed to diversity and community, something I checked out before my daughter applied. </p>
<p>Take a close look at both the diversity and Greek statistics. </p>
<p>Take a close look at any student organizations or living arrangements (special interest houses or diversity-oriented dorms). Get a sense of whether these groups are vibrant and active and the types of activities they sponsor. </p>
<p>Take a close look at groups of students when you visit. What do you see in the dining halls? Who is holding hands? Do you see racially mixed social groupings and couples on campus? </p>
<p>Get a better sense of what that 3% statistic represents. International students may be well represented in the 3%... how about suburban biracial young women? Can you get a sense of why the 3% is not higher? Can you talk to students or parents about their perspectives?</p>
<p>Do the "fit" factors and strengths of the institution closely match what your daughter is looking for? Is she very independent and inner directed? An outgoing student with a lot of self confidence and drive would have a very different experience on a small, conservative campus than a more introverted, sensitive young person. </p>
<p>What % of the student body are involved in the engineering program? A higher % may well tip the balance further towards conservative views.</p>
<p>You might also want to find out if there are any multi-racial students organizations, which exist on many campuses. My daughter is bi-racial (African-American/Anglo-Australian). It's important to recognize that we parents of bi-racial children do not have the fullest picture of our children's personal experience navigating the world as mixed-race individuals, whatever their personal racial identification and however much we as parents have strived to prepare them for the world at large. </p>
<p>I think your D may have some opinions and insights into how she plans/wants to approach this topic -- at Lehigh oor elsewhere -- and I think her attitudes are extremely important. It may be that she has already considered many of the factors that you are worried about, filtered them through her unique prism, and worked out her own plan to move forward. If so, that is an admirable thing, and speaks well for her preparation to deal with the larger world in general.</p>
<p>Speckledegg: From what I saw, the "coupling" was very segregated. You can't tell much from only two visits, but given the high numbers of white Lehigh students from New Jersey and Long Island, I'd put money on there not being very much interracial romantic coupling, if any. At least not of the black-white kind. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania...they are not like Minnesota.</p>
<p>Orchestramom: I think I do suffer a bit from "overprotectivedaddyism." I'd admit it. My kids mean to much to me and the last thing I want to see is my kids experiencing hurt. I'd blame myself. Maybe I shouldn't have raised them in Minnesota. Maybe I should've raised them in the hardened, racially Balkanized East Coast. Then they'd be better prepared for what I think is coming.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Maybe I should've raised them in the hardened, racially Balkanized East Coast.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I am confused by this comment..... are you serious? sarcastic?<br>
basing this on personal experience? are you bitter?</p>
<p>Somehow I think there is more to this than what you are posting.</p>
<p>I live in a PA city about an hour from you - I know and have seen many many biracial couples. Black/White, Hispanic/White. Black/Hispanic. Just about any combination you can think of. No one bats an eye.</p>
<p>If the current Lehigh president has been there since 2006 (same year as the umoja incident) and voices an committment to diversity, I certainly think it's fair to ask some pointed questions about exactly what form that committment has taken. What's different or better now than in 2006? Is the school focusing on a particular type of diversity? Where does racial diversity fit in that committment? And if the school is committed to increasing its racial diversity, why, despite that committment, has the black enrollment remained at just 3%? (I could be wrong, but that's about the same % as at Bates, Colby and UVM, and less than at Bowdoin - - all of which are much farther from NYC, Philly and NJ from which many NE schools draw their black students.)</p>
<p>As for the racially Balkanized east coast, there is certainly racial segregation in most east coast communities, but there are also many very diverse, progressive and accepting communities as well (my girls's respective circles of friends are quite diverse and both have dated cross-racially). Also, I believe that for several years Chicago had the most racially segregated neighborhoods - - so the balkanization isn't limited to the east coast.</p>
<p>Plainsman-- it sounds like there's almost a tone of dread in your posts when it comes to college! I think you need to trust your daughter's judgement a bit more, at least to a point of compromise. Just curious-- is she your oldest child?</p>
<p>Also, FWIW, there is plenty of mixed race dating at S1's "hardened, racially Balkanized" east coast school. He and his roomates are different religions, white, black, etc. As a protective parent it's natural to be concerned, but I would also be very careful not to let your own worries turn into a bigger issue for your daughter than they might actually be. When you say "they'd better be prepared" for what you think is coming, what is it that you mean? </p>
<p>If what's in store really seems that foreboding to you, then choosing a school back in MN might be in order-- IF that's what she wanted too. How about Macalester and Carleton?</p>
<p>She's looking forward to one of the most exciting times of her life. Of course you should research thoroughly, but in a way that the optimism and excitement isn't replaced by negativity and apprehension. </p>
<p>I hope that when the search process is behind you, that you'll be posting here again next fall with happiness and relief.</p>
<p>These are Daddy's issues and, hopefully, not the daughter's. I find the OP frightening both from this thread and his thread on the Greek system. Wondering if he got run out of the Minnesota Mecca due to his own intolerance......
Warning to the OP- this is the kind of thing that causes serious fractures in one's relationship with a child.</p>
<p>The east coast is a mighty large place to consider it all "Balkanized" Even in my beloved southeastern state there are many, many mixed race couples, and biracial children. If it's racism you fear, it's everywhere. I may have missed your post on this (to the OP), but have you spoken with anyone at the college regarding your fears?</p>
<p>It would be great if the high school senior could try an evening, an overnight in a dorm on campus, a morning to mid day on campus. That's a good way to get a real feel for a school.</p>