SPEC elects new chair; for first time in history fills exec board

Thirty members of the Social Planning and Events Committee elected College junior Jennifer Raymond the next SPEC president last night and, for the first time in SPEC history, were also able to fill all other executive board positions. Engineering freshman Piyush Tantia, College junior Debbie Lowenkron, College freshman Gabriella Davi, Wharton sophomore Jenny Ho and College sophomore Craig Abbs will join Raymond on the board as vice presidents for executive, publicity and membership, secretary and treasurer respectively. The new board members said they are confident they will do their jobs well. Raymond said she is "optimistic [and] very excited" about becoming SPEC president and said she hopes she is able to give something back to the University through the organization. In her speech before the election, she said she hopes to bring "leadership and new ideas" to SPEC. Abbs, currently treasurer of the Technical Committee, was nominated on the floor last night after College junior Mo Massel withdrew from the race after recently being elected InterFraternity Council president. Current SPEC President Anne Todd said she also has confidence in the incoming board, which begins its term in January. "[I am] impressed with the dedication [of the new board members," said Todd, a College senior. She said that many of the members have chaired committees within SPEC or taken other "significant roles." Raymond, who will become the fourth female president of SPEC, has been past chairperson of New Student Orientation, SPEC Homecoming Committee and PanHellenic Sorority Rush. Ho is currently the United Minorities Council Liaison to SPEC, and Tantia is chairperson of the SPEC Technical Committee.

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