Michael Monahan
ARTS088
Final Project
| Field | History |
|---|---|
| Title | The Relationship Between Lehigh University and the City of Bethlehem |
| Author | Michael Monahan |
| Date | 05/13/2020 |
| Description | This infographic is a timeline of events that describes the evolving relationship between Lehigh University and the city of Bethlehem. This timeline focuses on Bethlehem Steel and what transpired after it dissolved. |
| Format | Timeline |
| Subject | Lehigh University, Bethlehem, relationship, engineer, Bethlehem Steel |
| Rights | All |
| Source | Timeline created by me via Visme.co |
Infographic:
Synopsis:
The relationship between a university and its home is extremely important. When this relationship is strong both parties benefit where students have access to more intellectual and social opportunities and the citizens of the town are better off because of these special opportunities that can only be offered in a college town. As incoming freshmen at Lehigh University, we are taught about this longstanding history between our university and the city of Bethlehem and how they have had a deeply rooted relationship that has evolved over time.
For my final project, I wanted to dive deeper into this topic and learn more about this relationship and how it has changed over time for better or for worse. As a Lehigh student, I was well aware of the world-renowned Bethlehem Steel and how our university both benefited and aided the industrial powerhouse into making it what it was. As an engineer-focused school, Lehigh provided help for Bethlehem Steel and the communities of Bethlehem strengthening their relationship allowing for both parties to prosper for over a century. Yet when the steel industry and industrialization as a whole began to decline, so did Bethlehem Steel and the city of Bethlehem. Lehigh University was able to pivot and discover other opportunities while Bethlehem struggled to find better circumstances in urbanization.
Since Lehigh’s inception, its relationship with Bethlehem had only gotten stronger and was focused on Bethlehem Steel and the industrial-focused communities of Bethlehem however when this ended things began to change. Tensions grew as Lehigh was no longer helping the city of Bethlehem while taking land from its communities and unleashed a growing number of partying students into the city. However, as both the university and city changed directions positive change began to take place between the two again.
As Bethlehem began to successfully urbanize after Bethlehem Steel dissolved Lehigh began offering help to local communities as well as create more jobs and local business in support of Bethlehem. This brings us to the present day where the relationship is at a better place than it once was but there is still much more to do so that both the university and its city can benefit and grow to help each other tackle this new millennium together.
I chose to research this topic because I think there is much to learn from the history of our university and its relationship with the city of Bethlehem and the things that we learn from it can be of great use towards bettering the current relationship. As Lehigh students we are taught of the deep history at our university and of the mighty Bethlehem Steel yet once on campus the sight is very different than what it once was leaving only a skeleton of the past. But, positive changes are being made to mend the relationship where both Lehigh and Bethlehem are both able to grow and develop into bigger and better things never seen in the Lehigh Valley. Bethlehem is a growing city with a lot to offer those who call it home and Lehigh is encouraging entrepreneurship and developing its local economies more and more every year. As Lehigh begins to work more with the communities of Bethlehem and creating a relationship between them and its students, only good can come from this and there is so much to be excited for in the coming future.
Works Cited
Katie Morris and Sam Topp —. “Study Shows Increased Interaction between Lehigh Students, Bethlehem Residents Improves Community Relations.” The Brown and White, The Brown and White, 23 Mar. 2017, thebrownandwhite.com/2017/03/23/lehigh-south- bethlehem-relationship/.
lehighvalleylive.com, Julia Owens | For. “Lehigh University’s Party Culture and Developer Expansion Has Become Too Much for These Bethlehem Residents.” Lehighvalleylive, Lehigh Valley Live, 19 July 2019, www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/2019/07/lehigh- universitys-party-culture-and-developer-expansion-has-become-too-much-for-these- bethlehem-residents.html.
Mgail, Frederick J. Lehigh University and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: Partnering to Transform a Steel Town into a College Town. Pennsylvania: Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, 2014. Print.
“Free High Resolution Images and Stock Photos.” Visme, www.visme.co/high-resolution-images/.
Schiavone, Asher. “Innovation in Bethlehem.” Economic Development Journal, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 25–31.
Stephen H. Cutcliffe. “Lehigh University’s Fritz Laboratory and the Five-Million-Pound Universal Testing Machine.” Technology and Culture, vol. 50, no. 2, 2009, pp. 391–398., doi:10.1353/tech.0.0269.