Local Government TV

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Will the Lehigh Valley See a New University?

Parlamis explaining Euclidian University
The New York Times has called New Jersey property and restaurant developer Michael Parlamis a "pillar of the community." He's the son of a Greek immigrant, who entered the United States one weak after the stock market crash of 1929. His father started a construction company, and Parlamis now has three of them, along with three restaurants. A Professional Engineer, he's a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, is a major contributor to the Greek Orthodox Church and has even endowed a fellowship at his old alma mater, M.I.T. When his son attended Lehigh University, Parlamis became acquainted with the Lehigh Valley, and now he'd like to build a university here.

It's called Euclidean University, in honor of the father of geometry. It will be located on 391 acres along the west side of Rte. 512 in East Allen Township. Because the campus will be right at the Hanover and East Allen borders, there will be a need to work with Hanover for infrastructure. So at their August 23 meeting, Parlamis provided Hanover Supervisors with an overview.

Potential enrollment is estimated at 3,000 to 4,000 students, with principal access via Rte. 512. The Hellenic  architecture of Ancient Greece will govern campus construction, with the central building based on the Library of Hadrian in Athens.

Parlamis stated that a large statue of Thomas Jefferson will be the cornerpiece, with smaller statues of individual signers of the Declaration of Independence. He noted that Jefferson founded the University of Virginia, which was built with Classic Roman architecture.

"America's long term security is in education," Parlamis argued, explaining that here is a real shortage of engineers who actually know how things work. "This is one step in the right direction."

Noting that Benjamin Franklin started the University of Pennsylvania with nothing, Parlamis believes this concept will succeed, but over a period of thirty to forty years. At age 71, Parlamis will be long gone before that happens. But he quickly added that his favorite person, Thomas Jefferson, started the University of Virginia in the last seven years of his life.

Parlamis noted that Thomas Jefferson's epitaph notes that he is the author of the Declaration of Independence and Father of the University of Virginia, but makes no mention that he was President of the United States. Jefferson explained that he would rather be remembered by what he had given the people instead of by what the people had given him.

This son of a Greek immigrant would like to give the Lehigh Valley a university.
Sketch of Euclidian University

27 comments:

  1. Bernie, Do you know what the main subject this university may be offering? Could the Lehigh Valley see a law school coming anytime soon instead of driving to Phili or Harrisburg???

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  2. It will be a university, but a law school was not mentioned.

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  3. A shakedown if ever there was one. 20 yrs from now people will shake their heads at young people who were hoodwinked into spending 30x their future salary on obtaining a 4 yr. bachelors degree.

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  4. Bernie, I think you should talk with the gentleman about getting a law school in the valley. Look how many smart people apply, don't get accepted. There is a lot of money left on the table.

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  5. We need more lawyers like we need a hole in our heads. Closing half this nation's law schools would improve society exponentially. They all end up in Congress, blogging, or trawling river banks for crooked union petition forgers. God help us.

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  6. i understand they're already under investigation by the ncaa

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  7. What a waste of good farmland.

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  8. Anonymous Anonymous said...Is this a joke? 12:46 AM

    Bernie
    We wonder too. The way you often write, this could be a joke? Now for something that's not, your yesterday post was wonderful. Absolutely among your best. Everywhere we went, even as an earthquake (not caused by a dropped wallet) shook our offices and waved the second story floor like putty; this story was the topic of the day!

     

    Also heard local tidbits about the first responders and the
    Doc. Some say the doc is a dog whisperer. Many say he is wonderful and a very
    good caring person.

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  9. Something this school founder could do that will present an extraordinary impact, is allow X number of scholarships for individuals over 50 through no fault of their own have lost their jobs and now believe the American Dream is forever gone.

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  10. Bernie-
    Please ask New Jersey property and restaurant developer Michael Parlamis a "pillar of the community"
    to consider the law school.

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  11. He should be given incentives to NOT include a law program. Let would be ambulance chasers continue to run to Farleigh Ridiculous. It's a nice disincentive.

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  12. "A shakedown if ever there was one. 20 yrs from now people will shake their heads at young people who were hoodwinked into spending 30x their future salary on obtaining a 4 yr. bachelors degree."

    Certainly true if the degree does not lead to a career where the individual creates value, however, careers in medicine or engineering certainly payoff for the individual and for society.

    please - no French Literature majors

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  13. Certainly true if the degree does not lead to a career where the individual creates value, however, careers in medicine or engineering certainly payoff for the individual and for society.

    Education's value = A person who can think.

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  14. Parlamis mentions a shortage of engineers not lawyers. Perhaps reading the article would be helpful.

    Cletus

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  15. Waste of farmland?

    Sure. David Jaindl is involved. You know only good things come out of that.

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  16. It won't be starting out as a law school or even an engineering school. It will start out as liberal arts.

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  17. "We need more lawyers like we need a hole in our heads."

    I think we need more people with holes in their head like we need a hole in our heads. There are too many ignorant and unimaginative people in the Valley.

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  18. Yes. This area's lawyers have contributed lots to the current state of things.

    And where there is a hole in the head, there is always a lawyer in track shoes willing to drop his briefs.

    If we make more engineers, we might hear English again on tech support phone calls.

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  19. No, engineers cost real money. Third worlders, nursing babies while they read a script that doesn't answer your questions, will always be cheaper.

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  20. The fact that this man is referring to the likes of Jefferson, Franklin and our Founding Fathers, something that gets a "DUH" from adults and kids, is enough to get my support for this new university.

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  21. Another university in the area would be great. It would be great to see a university open up at the Allentown State Hospital site.

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  22. He should build in the Mt. Bethel area. A place that is in desperate need of revitalizing. Maybe Angle has some land he would sell them cheap. Land, yes. Cheap, no.

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  23. Interesting that he doesn't mention that Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia as a PUBLIC university.

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  24. Helene, That is certainly true. It was also the first nonsectarian university in the united States as well, and most of the students came from outside of Virginia. Thank you for your comment.

    http://www.virginia.edu/uvatours/shorthistory/

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