Relay sees large increase in funds raised, with $61K

It is great to see this charity doing so well, despite the recession. The event raised almost $20,000 more dollars than last year. Even though the event was held from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. on the day of Sundaze and at the end of Greek Week, students made an effort to support the cause, donating money for cancer research and/or walking laps around Rauch Courtyard. Lehigh students spoke about their encounters with cancer, telling stories of personal battles and those of loved ones.

I attended the remembrance ceremony that night and it was extremely touching an inspiring to see classmates, who I have known for the past few years, get on stage and speak of the struggles they have faced. For many in attendance, this was the first time they learned about the challenges these fellow students have faced and are still facing.

http://media.www.thebrownandwhite.com/media/storage/paper1233/news/2009/04/21/News/Relay.Sees.Large.Increase.In.Funds.Raised.With.61k-3717537.shtml

Seniors find trouble with barren options for housing

I remember sitting in class sophomore year, when my professor asked my class to, "raise your hand if you plan to live with you parents after college." I did not raise mine, as I looked around the room and saw that less than half of the 100-person lecture hall had their hand up. This was two years ago.

I always planned to get a job in journalism or advertising after college and move to NYC with friends. Now, one month from graduation, my expectations have changed drastically. While I still hope I will be able to live and work in the city some day, I know that it may not happen as quickly as I had hoped and I bet if that teacher asked a group of students that same question today, two years later, the answer for most would be different.

http://media.www.thebrownandwhite.com/media/storage/paper1233/news/2009/04/07/Lifestyle/Seniors.Find.Trouble.With.Barren.Options.For.Housing-3698549.shtml

Column: Livin' the dream

This column is all about making the most of what you have in life, in this case, the last few weeks at Lehigh. While most of us came here to get a solid education, which would prepare us for a life of success, we also came here for the many out-of-the-classroom experiences our school has to offer.
The author talks about the stories he has from days and nights with friends. That is what he will remember and love to look back on; not the times he spend hours studying for his four o'clocks in Fairmart.

His article reminds me how important it is to slow down and appreciate everyday I have left here.

Column: Tightening belts

"The cheerful days of spring have finally arrived. Birds are chirping, the sun is shining and the weather is even warming up. But, all that tends to be forgotten during the post-Spring Break weeks, which are characterized by high stress - the thought of exams, papers and job searches constantly looming."

I definitely share these feelings. With about a month left before graduation, it is hard not to worry about leaving Lehigh and getting a job. Now I am caught between trying to enjoy each and every day of the rest of the semester and rushing through school work, job searches, etc.

These days everyone is so busy, but it is important to step back every now and then and think about what's important.

ATM scam extracted card and pin information

More than $43,000 was stolen from two Bethlehem banks because of a skimmer (a removable device that scans and stores credit card information) was attached to the banks' ATM's. Criminals who are yet to be fully identified, attached the skimmers to the card slot, where it read the card's magnetic strip. They also installed surveillance cameras to record pin numbers. Although the banks refunded their customer's money, ATM users are still at risk.

With the recession, it is likely we will see incidents like this continue in the future. Local investigator Rob Toronzi said ATM users should be very careful. "If there is something that protrudes out of the card holder, pull on it hard," Toronzi said. "If it comes off, then it is a skimming device. If all else fails, when you are putting in your pin number, just hide the pin number."

Toronzi advised people to look at images of skimming devices on the internet to educate themselves and to keep a close eye on their account balance.

Lehigh to take on No. 2 Auburn in N.J.

Congratulations to the girl's basketball team for making it to the NCAA Tournament! Although Lehigh ultimately lost to the No. 2 seeded Auburn Tigers, it was really exciting to see one of our teams finish such a successful season. It was also fun to see Lehigh being covered by the media and discussed on ESPN.

http://media.www.thebrownandwhite.com/media/paper1233/sections/20090320Sports.html

Hit-and-run leads to brief chase, ruined student car

I couldn't believe that someone would wreck a parked car and just drive away, especially on a busy street like Webster. The article quoted two students saying they and their friends ran outside when they heard the crash. The witnesses called 911 took down car's license plate information. It is still unclear who committed the hit-and-run, but is good to hear Lehigh students are looking out for one another.
It will be interesting to see if the next issue of the Brown and White reveals if the police found the suspect. This case is just one of the many crime stories that have appeared in the B&W lately. Do you think we need more police supervision off campus?

http://media.www.thebrownandwhite.com/media/storage/paper1233/news/2009/03/20/News/HitAndRun.Leads.To.Brief.Chase.Ruined.Student.Car-3676705.shtml

Lost Boys of Sudan tell stories of escape, success

The Lost Boys of Sudan (Northeastern Africa), who came to speak at Lehigh last Thursday said they grew up in refugee camps in Africa when they lost their parents to a (now) 20-year-civil war between the mostly Christian southern part of the country and the Arab northern part. The speakers said there is still no peace or democracy in Sudan.

Although the men that spoke were lucky enough to come to the US and make a living, many still struggle to escape violence and death. This talk reminded me of the film "Invisible Children;" a documentary about Sudan's neighbor Uganda and its people's efforts to escape violence. Children often sleep in the streets to escape The Lord's Resistance Army, an anti-government terrorist group that often forces children to kill innocent people (including family). "Invisible Children" is unbelievable and disturbing; it really puts life in perspective and makes day-to-day stresses and "problems" seem so trivial.

Link to part of video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnqAdV40QTE&feature=related

B&W articel: http://media.www.thebrownandwhite.com/media/storage/paper1233/news/2009/03/13/News/Lost-Boys.Of.Sudan.Tell.Stories.Of.Escape.Success-3670066.shtml

Despite drug violence, many travel to Mexico

With all the the media coverage on Mexico's drug wars, I would think that some students would have decided not to go to Mexico for spring break. But, according to Molly O'Neill's B&W article, students didn't let the U.S. Department of State's travel warnings. Do you think this is because trips had already been planned? Would we have seen a decrease in students traveling to Mexico if the news broke last semester, when most people were still planning trips?

http://media.www.thebrownandwhite.com/media/storage/paper1233/news/2009/03/13/News/Despite.Drug.Violence.Many.Travel.To.Mexico-3670060.shtml

Students pay the price for long-distance love

A few weeks ago, I wrote a story for The Brown & White about long distance relationships and how the economy is affected. My sources (Lehigh students and a phsyciologist from the counseling center) said making a long distance relationship work takes a lot of time, effort and money. They also talked about what types of relationships they see on campus and how common these relationships are. All three sources said committed relationships are not very common, but casual "hook-up-based" ones are. They also said this seems to be a trend at colleges country-wide. This made me think about how relationships have changed over the past 10-20 years. It seems like my parents and my friends parents are always talking about how students used to go on dates when they were in school. Today, while it does happen, it is rare to see two Lehigh students "on a date," eating at an upscale restaurant or going to the movies.

So, why have things changed? Does this have to do with the media, including movies, television, magazines and so on?

Here is the link:

http://media.www.thebrownandwhite.com/media/storage/paper1233/news/2009/02/13/Lifestyle/Students.Pay.The.Price.For.LongDistance.Love-3627120.shtml

Commuter students face challenges

The lifestyle story, "Commuter students face unique challenges," by Danielle Gorman talks about the issues commuters face. Living at school or a block away from campus, it is easy to forget that their are students commuting from home. This article made me think a lot about how the "Lehigh/ college experience" differs for a person who lives at home and commutes versus a student who lives at School.

Driving an hour to school everyday seems like it would seriously change the way a student went about his or her day. For example, the article says, if you forget a book, you can't run back to your room to get it. It also would be harder to fully use the schools academic and social resources. A commuter would have a harder time getting to a professors office hours and would have less time to socialize. Most of the time I spend socializing with my housemates happens at random moments during the day. I might see them when I am running off to class in the morning, when I stop home for an hour lunch break, and most frequently at night, when I take time to unwind. If I had to drive to and from school I may only have the minutes before and after class and possible lunch to visit with friends.

Here is the link to the article:

http://media.www.thebrownandwhite.com/media/storage/paper1233/news/2009/02/24/Lifestyle/Commuter.Students.Face.Unique.Challenges-3643391.shtml