16 | LEHIGH ALUMNI BULLETIN | FROM THE NEST Rich with tradition, stunning architecture and scenery, Lehigh’s breathtaking campus beauty is no mystery to its community. Old stone buildings trimmed with eye-catching spires and sculptures. Winding paths shaded by leafy treetops that turn brilliant hues of gold and crimson in the fall. Linderman Library’s grand stained glass ceiling set atop a layer cake-like rotunda of towering bookshelves. These postcard-worthy, picturesque details recently received national attention when Lehigh was named to Condé Nast Traveler’s 54 Most Beautiful College Campuses list. The list, which encompasses campuses across the United States, serves as a source of visual inspiration and places to know for those who are interested in undergraduate options or thinking of grad school, according to the Condé Nast Traveler article. “At these most beautiful college campuses in the United States, the scenery enhances the fruitful pursuit of learning,” according to the article. Many of Lehigh’s historic campus buildings are known for their Collegiate Gothic architecture, a style that defines some of the most prestigious university campuses in the United States. Signature details of the style include stone cladding, pointed arches, tall towers, dormers, recessed entrances and sculptures. The article mentions that Lehigh is “packed to the brim with old stone buildings,” many of which feature sculptures of alumni on their exteriors. One such sculpture is the face that guards the east entrance of Alumni Memorial Building and is believed to depict Henry Drinker, class of 1871 and university president from 1905 to 1920. Drinker led fundraising activities for the building, and he is the namesake of Drinker House, a residence hall on campus. The article also recognizes Lehigh’s appreciation of the arts, noting that the university “is also home to the Lehigh University Art Galleries, which has a collection of over 16,000 works, including some by the likes of Pablo Picasso, Gustave Courbet and Marsden Hartley.”—Lauren Thein Lehigh Named Among Most Beautiful Campuses Lehigh was one of 54 American universities recognized by Condé Nast Traveler. RECOGNITION SCAN TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS OF LEHIGH’S CAMPUS DECODING THE BRAIN’S AUDITORY SECRETS Michael Burger, neuroscientist, professor and associate dean for research and graduate programs in Lehigh’s College of Arts and Sciences, and members of his laboratory have yielded profound insights into the auditory system. Burger’s research examines how the brain organizes and processes auditory information, focusing on understanding how the brain adapts to changes in hearing. Using chicken embryos, his team alters the development of the inner ear to study how the brain responds to modified sound input. The team wants to know whether neurons in the brain are programmed based on their location or if they can change based on the sounds they receive. Their findings show it’s the sounds—or the input—that determine what kind of neuron develops. Burger’s lab is also revolutionizing how data is analyzed by applying virtual reality (VR) in synaptic analysis. The lab continues to chart new territory, driven by curiosity and a commitment to advancing our understanding of the brain. —Rob Nichols RESEARCH CHRISTINE T. KRESCHOLLEK
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