Marinoff strove for Panhel presence

BY PAUL LaMONICABY PAUL LaMONICADaily Pennsylvanian Staff Writer And in the past year, outgoing Panhel President Allison Marinoff attempted to make sure this group of nine sororities was a more active political force. Panhel seemed to have a say in nearly every campus issue concerning women, from lobbying for a sorority on Locust Walk to holding forums about women's security issues. But last semester it appeared that women's groups on campus were divided over the issue of how best to diversify Locust Walk. After some discussion about placing a women's center in the vacant Theta Xi fraternity house on Locust Walk, Panhel issued a statement to the University community calling for "a real presence on the Walk". Marinoff, a College senior, said the University community then assumed that Panhel would settle for nothing less than a sorority on Locust Walk. She called this a "misconception" and said Panhel was not trying to say a sorority was the "be all, end all" solution to place women on Locust Walk. "Panhel's main goal is to see women on the Walk," Marinoff said. "A sorority should have equal consideration with any other group." But, she added, any type of women's residence would be better than just having a center because a residence would be an "around the clock presence." As of yet, no plans have been made for the Theta Xi house and Marinoff would only say that as far as placing a sorority on Locust Walk, Panhel does not have a "specific property" in mind. Marinoff said this fall's 21st Century Woman Festival helped to "bridge gaps between women's groups." The two-day festival was co-sponsored by Panhel, the Women's Center and the Greek Social Action Committee. Campus and national women's groups set up tables on Locust Walk during the festival. "Panhel continued to work with the women's community?all of our concerns are similar," the Tri-Delt sister said. Panhel also actively voiced concerns about women's safety on and around campus. As part of the festival, a forum was held to discuss women's safety issues. University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich attended the forum to hear their concerns. Marinoff said Panhel suggested that more blue light phones be installed in the campus area and the administration has since responded. This past board was probably the first to emphasize security and safety concerns as a major women's issue, Marinoff said. Throughout the year, one of Marinoff's main goals was to show the University community that Panhel was not just a Greek social organization. "Many of the women on campus that are leaders generally are Greek," Marinoff said. She cited the fact that the chairperson of the Social Planning and Events Committee, members of the Undergraduate Assembly and the director of the all-female comedy troupe Bloomers are all part of the Panhel system. Still, Marinoff said, she had hoped to see more Panhel members "enthusiastic" about Panhel. Student apathy was an obstacle she could not overcome, however. "Panhel is a real opportunity for sorority women to get involved on campus and take on leadership roles," Marinoff said. "I wish more women would take advantage of it."