Alpha Phi elected Panhel president

Outgoing secretary takes helm College junior Suzanne Rosenberg was elected Panhellenic Council president last night in one of several closely contested races for the organization's Executive Board. Rosenberg, an Alpha Phi sister, served as secretary of this year's Panhel Executive Board, as well as chairperson of Panhel's judicial committee. Rosenberg defeated College junior Jacqueline Torshen for the position. Torshen, a Chi Omega sister, is currently the chairperson of Panhel's philanthropy committee. Delta Delta Delta sister and College junior Toby Tucker defeated Sharon Jindal, a Pi Beta Phi sister and College junior, for the position of executive vice president. The newly-created position replaces what was formerly the ombudsman. College junior Liz Shain, a Tri-Delt sister, was elected vice president for rush. Shain, the assistant to this year's Vice President for Rush Nancy Hacker, was the only candidate for the position. Three other board members were also elected. Kappa Delta sister and College junior Melissa Barken was elected vice president for publicity. Engineering sophomore Stephanie Sauers, a Pi Beta Phi sister, won the race for treasurer. Sauers was the only sophomore elected to the board. And Phi Sigma Sigma sister and College junior Nancy Epstein defeated two other candidates for the secretary position. The elections took place quickly since the candidates had made their speeches at a previous meeting. Outgoing Panhel President Allison Marinoff said she was pleased to see more members of Panhel running for board positions this year. Last year, only one position was contested. "I think that the fact that almost every position was contested means there will hopefully be stronger enthusiasm for Panhel in the following year," the College senior said. Although the new board members will not officially take office until the beginning of February, Rosenberg already has ideas about what issues her board will tackle. Rosenberg said she wants to streamline the Panhel system. She cited "a lack of communication" between the nine sorority delegates, nine chapter presidents and members of Panhel's nine committees as one of Panhel's largest problems. Instead of just trying to increase the amount of programs done in conjunction with other campus groups, Rosenberg plans to focus more on the internal workings of the Panhel system. "We have to tighten ourselves first so we can produce successful programs in the future," she said.