Campus Square renamed Farrington Square in honor of former Lehigh president

[gss type=”slideshow” ids=”18136,18135,18134,18133,18132,18131,18130,18129,18128,18127,18126″] The former Campus Square was officially renamed Farrington Square on Thursday as a tribute to Lehigh’s 12th president, Greg Farrington, and his wife, Jean Farrington.

In his introduction, Brad Eric Scheler, chairman of the Board of Trustees, looked back on Greg Farrington’s accomplishments as “the greatness that was Greg’s.”

“The spirit they brought and instilled in all of us, you see it every day when you sit in Linderman, when you reflect on some of the remarkable academics that instill greatness in our students,” Scheler said. “But most of all, when you reflect on the fact that the barrier that once was the divide of Packer Avenue between Lehigh and the greater Bethlehem community was eliminated by Greg.”

When Greg and Jean Farrington first visited Lehigh’s campus 16 years ago they immediately came upon the square. At the time there were two parking lots, a payphone and a bulletin board, “with all the latest news from last year,” Greg Farrington said.

A disconnect existed between the campus and the local community that the Farrington’s decided to change.

Greg Farrington remembers turning to his wife and saying, “I have a feeling this is an opportunity.”

A partnership with the South Side community and Bethlehem mayor was made by Greg Farrington to fix the divide between the institution and its community.

“Campus Square did what it was supposed to,” Jean said. “It linked Lehigh to South Bethlehem and its link allowed the community to link to the university and it made a wonderful passageway to South Side Bethlehem.”

“(Greg and Jean are) fond of saying the only thing good enough for Lehigh was the best, that’s precisely what Lehigh enjoyed when you both graced our campus and that’s precisely what I have behind here in Farrington Square,” President Simon said about the pair in his final remarks.