DA: Former LU Senior Yukai Yang Wants Slow Boat to China

Yukai Yang

Late last week, a former Lehigh University Senior Chemistry major was charged with attempting to murder his roommate with Thallium. A former Lehigh University Senior Chemistry major has been charged with attempting to murder his roommate with Thallium. According to Norco DA John Morganelli, who announced the charges Dec 20, Yukai Yang, 22, admitted to Lehigh University police that he had purchased Thallium online, and intended to use it on himself if he did poorly on exams. He admitted to mixing it with food and beverages in a community refrigerator he shared with his roommate. Now Yang, whose student visa has been revoked, literally wants to be deported to China. According to Morganelli, it's to avoid prosecution.

Thallium is considered extremely toxic. Its use has been banned in the United States since 1972 after several accidental deaths when being administered as a pesticide.

Testing of the roommate's blood revealed unsafe Thallium levels, according to Morganelli.

This poisoning goes back to March and April, when Lehigh University police responded to several complaints from Yang's roommate, Juwan Royal. He told police of changing colors in his milk and mouthwash. In addition to getting ill, his personal property was vandalized on several occasions. On his desk, someone had scrawled "NIGGER, GET OUT OF HERE" with a black marker.

Lehigh University police noticed similarities between the message in marker and a written statement from Yang, and charged him in May with malicious mischief, institutional vandalism and ethnic intimidation. Yang was free on $10,000 bail (10%). He is a native Chinese and resides in Easton with his mother. A trial date is scheduled for late January on the ethnic intimidation charges.

Yang never took those exams. He was suspended by Lehigh. Royal graduated from the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences in May.

I'll let John Morganelli fill you in on what must have been a busy Christmas weekend for him:

"Over the Christmas holiday weekend, I learned that Yukai Yang had posted $200,000 cash bail in Northampton County. With that, ICE exercised physical custody of Mr. Yang and removed him from Northampton County Prison to a holding location in Lehigh County pending a deportation hearing in York, Pa. I then learned that Yang intended to waive his right to deportation and apparently thought that he could evade prosecution by going home to China.

"As a result of all of this, I directed ADA Abraham Kassis to file a Motion to Modify Bail and a Writ with ICE to have Mr. Yang returned to us for prosecution . This was filed on December 24, 2018. ICE cooperated with my office in this, and Mr. Yang is now back in Northampton County Prison. I am asking that Mr. Yang be held without bail in that he poses a serious flight risk. A hearing will be held on the Commonwealth's Motion at the discretion of the Court as soon as possible. A copy of that Motion and proposed Order of Court is attached.

"If this was an American citizen, that person would be required to face these charges. Mr. Yang thought that because he is a foreign national, now here illegally in that his student visa has been revoked, that he could post bail, waive his right to a deportation hearing and abscond. That will not happen. I want to commend ADA Kassis and officials at ICE who worked over the holiday to assure that the victim in this case will have these charges heard by a judge and or jury."

Thode: Is "Interpersonal Violence" Really a Problem at LU?

Blogger's Note: Dr. Stephen F. Thode has been director of the Murray H. Goodman Center for Real Estate Studies since the center's creation in 1988. From time to time, he makes the mistake of sharing his thoughts with me.

Yesterday, the entire Lehigh community (students, faculty and staff) was informed that all must complete mandatory training on interpersonal violence. The training is entitled, "Not Anymore." Let us all agree that any violence against persons is a terrible thing.

But, how big a problem is interpersonal violence at Lehigh?

Today, the Lehigh Police Department released its annual report on crime at Lehigh. I have reproduced the Federal Campus Crime statistics from that report below:

As you can see, for all of calendar year 2017, the Lehigh community experienced a grand total of five (5) reported violent crimes against persons (2 rapes, 1 fondlings, 1 robbery, and 1 dating violence). Additionally, the "Hate Crimes" data is on the same page. Not a single "hate crime" has been reported in the last 3 years. Given the report also says that there are more than 8,400 persons in the Lehigh community (students, faculty and staff), that means that less than one-tenth of one percent of persons in the Lehigh community were the victims of violent crime, and, even if every perpetrator was a member of the Lehigh community, less than one-tenth of one percent of persons in the Lehigh community were perpetrators of violent crime.

Put another way, 99.9%+ of the Lehigh community was not a victim of a (reported) violent crime. And, 99.9%+ of the Lehigh community was not a perpetrator of a violent crime against a member of the Lehigh community.

Even if violent crime is underreported by a magnitude of 10 (doubtful it's that great), 99%+ of the Lehigh community was not a victim of a violent crime (reported and unreported). And, 99%+ of the Lehigh community was a perpetrator of violent crime against a member of the Lehigh community (reported and unreported).

Those of you old enough may remember The Great Swine Flu Scare of the mid '70s. The Federal Government urged everyone to get vaccinated. Some got vaccinated. Most did not. Turns out, far more people got sick from the vaccination than from the swine flu itself.

Johnny Carson aptly observed that the vaccine was, "a cure for which there is no known disease."

Looks like we haven't learned much in the past 40 years.

LU Accounting Adjunct Under Fire Post-Trump Remarks

LU's Brown and White is reporting that some poor accounting adjunct is under investigation for remarks to a class after the election, including asking a Mexican American student whether he was moving back to his country. Assuming that everything in the story is accurate, this really seems to be an over-reaction to what looks like a failed attempt at humor with Lehigh students. That has never been their strong suit.

Birkenstocks Violate IRS Ban on Political Activity at Lehigh

I've told you before about Lehigh's very own Communist fiefdom - the ill-named "South Side Initiative." I call them the Birkenstocks  They're the group that got all lathered up when Bethlehem decided two years ago to sell a not so aMazing  "Maze Garden" to developer Dennis Benner. After numerous consultations over herbal tea, they broke out the Birkenstocks to invade City Hall. and stop that damn capitalist.

They failed, but undaunted, they were back before Council a few months later to decry - gasp! - proposed development on the South Side.

Traffic!

Noise!

Time to oppose the "power structure."

University Professors Matter!

The nutty professors - Al Wurth and Breena Holland - have skipped a few nights of Thai at the Promenade to condemn anything that might actually revitalize South Bethlehem.

Even a much-needed parking garage that most South Side merchants want But they're not university professors. .

So far, academia has managed to fail at every step along the way. But now, South Side Initiative is going to use the electoral process to get someone in the Senate who will listen to them and do as he's told. This coming Friday, the Birkenstocks want you to meet Comrade John Fetterman, a U.S.. Senate candidate, and have sent out the following invitation under the imprimatur of Lehigh University.

Friends of the SSI: For those of you who have not heard of John Fetterman, he is the Mayor of Braddock, PA, who is currently running for a seat in the U.S. Senate. John has made a name for himself as someone who embraces creative ideas and innovative solutions to address problems of poverty and violence in one of Pennsylvania's most struggling run-down steel towns. He has charted a new path for Braddock, opening a community center, creating urban gardens, and bringing in new businesses to revive this community. John's story is compelling and Braddock's story should resonate with the people of the Lehigh Valley. You can learn more about John and his accomplishments at:  https://johnfetterman.com/  There will be two opportunities for residents to meet with John Fetterman on April 15th: * 12:00-2:00: Deja Brew, 101 W. 4th St, South Bethlehem *  5:00-7:00: Brew Works, 569 Main St, Bethlehem We hope to see you there, The SSI Team

This, of course, is a tacit endorsement of Fetterman's candidacy under a Lehigh University letterhead. Lehigh University is a non-profit. Inviting Fetterman, with no similar invitation to other candidates, is a violation of Lehigh's tax exempt status. I have advised Lehigh's General Counsel.

It's "Mad Science" at Lehigh Valley Science Fair

For more than twenty years, Lehigh University has made it possible for high school and middle school students from all over the Lehigh Valley to showcase their love of science at an annual science fair. This year, 281 students participated with some pretty amazing experiments in the annual Lehigh Valley Science and Engineering Research Fair at the Rauch Field House, conducted March 14-15.

Like what?

How about a vehicle that runs on nothing more than recirculating water? Parkland's Atharv Gupte has done it through the use of magnetic energy. Problem. His vehicle only travels 3.71 cm/sec. He's still working on the need for speed.

Think that's cool?

Well, Becahi's Austin Sanders has concentrated his prodigious intellect on the pop-ability of popcorn, noting all those unused kernels that break teeth. His conclusion?  "Movie theaters will make more money if they hydrate their popcorn."

Just how much do caffeine and alcohol affect our heart rates? Pretty much, according to Emmaus High School's Jacob Licker. Caffiene sends it up there to 112.13 beats per minute, while moonshine (ethanol) sends it down to 53.3.

Which bridge would be safest for Gupte's 3.71 cm/sec magnetomobile? According to Orefield Middle School's Alexandra Fry, it would be a truss bridge. Using popsicle sticks, she built a variety of different kinds of bridges, including suspension and beam bridges. Then she subjected them all to heavy loads of sand. The truss bridge held up best.

One student, St. Theresa's Kevin Yusella, had a science fair exhibit, but baseball is on his mind. His experiment, "Dominant Distance," determines the optimal leg position for throwing a baseball the longest distance. After countless experiments measuring distances with different stances, Yusella's scientific opinion is that the crow's hop is the best way to get a baseball from deep center into a catcher's mitt. Numerous coaches have always preached that, but now science is on their side.

With this Winter's bitter cold weather, ice storms and salt shortages, Becahi's Maria Macaluso experimented on different substances that might prevent ice from forming on your sidewalk. Her conclusion? Stick to salt. Sugar does not work.

One young man, Valmiki Kothare from Orefield Middle School, is very interested in how the brain works behaviorally and studied differences between man and women as well as three different age groups. Using 63 subjects and 315 data points, his conclusion is that children (under 21) have a better sense of hearing and touch, while young adults (ages 21-59) have the best sense perception overall.

Believe it or not, there was even a science project dedicated to blogs. Parkland's Mugdha Gupta studied whether negative comments posted by trolls tend to make people disbelieve the article in question. Her conclusion is that they do, although she cautioned that she only used 15 test subjects.

Is this mad science?

"No science is good science unless it's mad science, answered Lehigh's Jennifer Shah. She, along with Mike Keener and Arianna Caruso, wowed the students with some crazy chemistry experiments, including foam eruptions and the production of slime.

Robert Haines, the LU alumnus who both founded and helps fund this event, calls it a "labor of love". Angela Nicole Scott, Lehigh's Director of Academic Diversity and Outreach, was able to juggle students, anxious parents and over 100 judges from local colleges and the corporate sector.

LU's First Ever Outdoor Menorah Lighting Ceremony

LU celebrates its first outdoor menorah lighting ceremony, thanks to Chabad

On December 10, for the first time in Lehigh University's history, an outdoor menorah lighting ceremony was conducted at Asa Packer Campus in recognition of Hanukkah. Over one hundred people, most of them students with Chabad at Lehigh, celebrated what is also called the "Festival of Lights."

Before three candles were lit atop a 12' high menorah strategically located next to the flagpole at the center of the campus, Rabbi Zalman Greenberg explained why he loves Hanukkah. "No speeches, no synagogue, no sermons, no fasting. All in all, its just a beautiful holiday," he explained.

As his son Menny, age 5, danced by the flagpole, Rabbi Greenberg also related the miracle of this holiday. Some say it is a temple lamp that shined brightly for eight nights though it only had enough oil for one. But to the Rabbi, the real miracle is that a "band of a few Jews" was somehow able to defeat the world power of that time.

Instead of celebrating that victory with a symbol of war or military glory, Greenberg notes that Jews celebrate with a menorah, a "sign of light, a sign of goodness. That is the greatness of the holiday."

Rabbi Yaakov Halperin, who established Lehigh Valley Chabad, was also on hand for the brief lighting ceremony. It was followed by music, doughnuts, latkes and kosher Dunkin' Donuts coffee!

Mandy Freedman (L) who came from Brooklyn, poses with Chabad LV Rabbi Yaakov Halperin

Alex Lass, President of Lehigh Chabad, with Rabbi Zalman Greenberg

Mussie, age 4 1/2, dances with Emily Gallin

Menny, age 5, dances during ceremony

You can see more pictures here.

A Touch of China in South Bethlehem

Along South Bethlehem's Greenway, between Webster and Taylor Street, a Chinese Pavilion is under construction.

Sponsored primarily by Lehigh University, this project is an effort to build closer ties with the Bethlehem community. Pavilions are found in all cultures and are considered places of rest and reflection along the path, or South Bethlehem Greenway, of life.

Tingyun Cao, age 21, (right) and Jennifer Zhu, age 24, (left) are two of the Lehigh students working on this welcome respite for walkers and bicyclists.

LU Wins "Real Estate Challenge" at Villanova

What would you do with 94-acres for redevelopment in Whippany, Morris County, N.J.?

A team from Lehigh University had the best ideas for developers, earning them a victory at this year's Real Estate Challenge at Villanova, a national real estate development case competition for students from the top undergraduate real estate programs in the United States. They knocked off teams from Wharton, Cornell, NYU, Southern Cal and North Carolina, just to name a few. They won, according to the Inky's Al Heavens, because "they did provide comprehensive lists of every potential problem matching every piece of their proposal."

Dr. Stephen Thode, director of the Murray H. Goodman Center for Real Estate Studies at Lehigh, is "busting with pride over these great students."

Stabler Land Conveying 755 Acres in Upper Saucon to LU

In an email to faculty and staff that went out late this afternoon, Lehigh University President Alice Gast a major land acquisition:

"As you may be aware, the Donald B. and Dorothy Stabler Foundation has been a generous benefactor to the university, and we are pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement for Lehigh to take possession of 755 acres of property in Upper Saucon Township in a distribution of assets of property currently owned by the Stabler Land Company.

"The property comprises a number of parcels roughly bordered by routes 378, 309 and 78, and is located approximately three miles from our Asa Packer campus and one mile from our Goodman campus. The transfer is expected to become final later this month.

"This property has the potential to be an important part of Lehigh’s long-term future, and we are excited about the possibilities. We will take time to determine the best path forward, but would anticipate some combination of commercial development, open space and university use.

"We have a long-term time horizon for the use of this property, and are proud that Lehigh has demonstrated excellent stewardship of land. Our Goodman campus, for example, is used by thousands of area residents for athletics and recreation.

"We will provide you with more details once the transaction is completed."

You'll notice that at least some of this property is intended for "commercial development." Whether it knows it or not, LU just became a player in the NIZ dispute.

Marc Holliday: How to Develop Urban Offices Without a NIZ

Marc Holliday, CEO of SL Green Realty Corp., is not just any landlord. With over 28 million square feet in Midtown, he is the largest office landlord in New York City. He's paid almost as much as a professional athlete, with a $10.32 million, 6-year package.

For good reason, too. In a challenging real estate market, its FFO (funds from operations) rose 17% over the last quarter of 2011, to $90.3 million.

A Lehigh grad, Holliday will return to his alma mater on Wednesday, February 29, to explain how office development is done in a real city. Without an NIZ.

If you'd like to go, call 610-758-4768 or email sds210@lehigh.edu, and see if you can wrangle an invitation.

Obamanomics v. Reaganomics This Thursday at Lehigh

Lehigh University's College Democrats and Republicans will debate the virtues and vices of Obamanomics and Reaganomcs this Thursday at Packard 101, 7 PM sharp.

I met the Republicans' champion, William Thode, at Pizza Joe's in Nazareth. He's in training.

I gave him a few clever retorts he can try on the Dems, like "Oh yeah?" Also, there should always room for at least one Yomama joke.

The loser will be fed to the University Mascot.

Bethlehem Zoners Nix Parking Lot For LU Students

After a two-hour hearing, Bethlehem's Zoning Hearing Board last night unanimously rejected a Southside landlord's request for an 8-car macadam parking lot at the rear of four Webster Street properties he rents to Lehigh students. Donald Miller, who owns 419-421-423-425 Webster Street, replaced their grass back yards over the years with a gravel lot for the convenience of the twenty students who rent from him on Webster Street. He never obtained a permit, and told zoners that there are "numerous parking places like that." He did acknowledge that Zoning Officer John Lezoche had been talking to him for the past two or three years before finally issuing a cease and desist order. "I think someone complained," Miller guessed.

That would be retired DeSales professor Justice Thomas, who owns a rental property at 212 E Morton, directly south of Miller's Webster Street properties. Taking the oath, he was asked, "Do you swear by Almighty God, the searcher of all hearts, that the testimony you're about to give shall be the truth and nothing but the truth?"

"Thank you," he answered.

It's the thought that counts.

Thomas has been renting to Lehigh's international community since the '70s, and began experiencing problems when Miller installed his gravel parking lot. He now experiences flooding in his basement "every time there is a heavy rain," something that never occurred before. The sidewalk in front of his home has deteriorated. He testified that are usually 13-14 cars crammed into the lot, and these cars back out onto narrow East Morton Street. "There are children in the area," he complained. He also noted the glare of headlights flooding into one of his apartments. He stated, "I cannot go near my wall to fix something."

Miller assured zoners that a macadam parking lot would direct water flow into the street instead of Thomas' home, and lining would provide a turn around so that cars would not back out onto Morton Street. Attorney Joe Piperato, who represented Miller, sought numerous variances. He wanted their blessing on 8' wide parking stalls, a 13' wide driving aisle, no setbacks and no screening to shield glare. Conceding that Miller failed to meet the technical requirements for a variance, Piperato argued that "Miller is willing to spend $20 thousand to help the City with a serious problem. This is all about parking, gentleman."

Southside landlord Jerry Fasnacht agreed, noting that the library on Webster Street and a five-story apartment building place a "big demand on parking. Miller is taking cars off the streets."

Attorney Bill Leeson, who was taught by Mr. Miller, is now his lawyer and had the winning argument. He told zoners that Miller is seeking "multiple, substantial variances for a plan that does not work."

In other business, zoners quickly approved Jared Moyer's request for a dimensional variance from the Steep Slope requirements of the Zoning Ordinance, approving a building lot at 735 Hillside Avenue that is only 1/10th the size allowed. They also allowed a variance from the 18 on-lot parking places required for a Resources for Human Development meeting room and office at 425-427 E. Fourth Street, conditioned upon their willingness to obtain permits for those parking spaces on a nearby city-owned parking lot, located at 3rd and Filmore Streets. Zoner Ken Kraft recused himself in that matter.

Lehigh University: We Love it Here! Honest!

Last week, I wrote about Lehigh's Nutty Professor. A supposed intellectual, she may very well have "too much integrity for the Lehigh Valley," a cultural wasteland. Several of you volunteered to help her move. I asked LU's President, Dr. Alice Gast, why any LV parent should spend $51,000 per annum to send a son or daughter to a teacher with that kind of bias.

I now have a reply from Joanne Anderson, the Director of the Office of the President. She's writing on behalf of Dr. Gast.

"The views expressed on Dr. Thiele's blog represent her own personal opinions and views and not those of Lehigh University. As stated on Dr. Thiele's blog: 'The views expressed...are those of the author only and do not necessarily represent the opinions of her employer...'. Lehigh University is proud to be a part of the Lehigh Valley community and believes that the area is a wonderful environment and offers great opportunities to students, faculty, staff, and residents to study, work, and live."

Thanks, Doc!

McCain-Palin to Get Warm Welcome From LV Progressives on Wednesday

When John McCain and Sarah Palin visit Lehigh University's Stabler Arena on Wednesday, they'll certainly be getting a warm welcome from the right. They'll be getting it from the left, too.

Mike Morrill, Dear Leader at Keystone Progress, has been asking "progressives" everywhere to be there. He even has a theme for everyone.

BUSH = McCain, WE CAN'T AFFORD MORE OF THE SAME.

He wants people to make signs and banners using that theme. I sure hope the LV's one man protest machine, Bernie Berg, is there. Usually festooned in Pirates or Steelers gear, this ex-priest has made a career of demonstrating against Dent and Toomey. In fact, about 100 years ago, he ran for Congress himself, pulling down about 23 votes.

His theme? "Berg - the Lesser Evil."

I disagree with Bernie, but people like him make democracy fun.