Women rally to support Panhel

Nearly 200 women marched down Locust Walk and gathered on College Green on Friday in a brief show of support for the Panhellenic system. At the rally -- which lasted about 15 minutes -- Panhel President Alison Marinoff read a petition signed by over 700 sorority women. Reading a prepared statement, Marinoff called for new safety services and asked the administration to consider putting a sorority into the vacant Theta Xi house at 37th Street and Locust Walk. Marinoff, a College junior and Delta Delta Delta sister, explained that Pahnel is the largest women's organization on campus, comprised of over one-third of the female population, and should be recognized as such. "As an essential part of this community, we believe that many of our concerns have been neglected," Marinoff read from the petition. The petition asked for increased lighting in dangerous areas, more blue light phones between campus and sorority houses, the pruning of overgrown foliage and a reorganization of Escort Service. In a short speech after reading the statement, Marinoff reiterated the demands. "We are asking the administration to take a proactive role [and] address these fundamental security issues before a crime occurs against a sorority woman traveling to her chapter house," Marinoff said. "We're only asking that sororities be given the same consideration as any other group." The rally was attended by new Executive Vice President Janet Hale, who represented the administration by accepting the Panhel's petition. In a brief speech, Hale pledged to work with Panhel on improving safety measures past 38th Street. In what she called her "first outside appearance," Hale said, "All of us in the administration care a lot about you all." Many of the women who came out for the rally said they were pleased with the message they were sending. "I think the most important part is the sororities getting together as a unifying group," said Engineering senior and tri-Delt sister Heather Wilding-White. Nursing junior and Chi Omega President Kerry Walsh said it is important that "the issues we address [also] cover other women on campus." Walsh added that Panhel wants to be viewed on a par with other groups on campus. "It's a great start," Walsh said.