Panhellenic Council elects new exec. board

The Panhellenic Council held elections for its 1996-97 Executive Board last night, identifying a new cast of leaders for the upcoming year. Newly elected President Jessica Schreck, a College junior and Sigma Delta Tau sister, will officially take office in February. She said she is "looking forward to working as a strong, unified system." "It's an amazingly powerful force of women," Schreck said. "There's so much we can do when we work together." Alpha Phi sister Alison Tibbets was elected executive vice president, Chi Omega sister Karissa Kruse was chosen to be treasurer and Delta Delta Delta sister Alyse Dann was elected secretary. Tibbets, a Nursing junior, said she hopes Panhel will see increased unity among chapters over the next year. "My goal, and the goal of the council, is to increase communication between houses," Tibbets said. "I want to encourage people to get to know people from the other houses." College junior Florence Legaspi, of Alpha Phi, who was elected vice president of rush, also emphasized the importance of unity between sororities. "Panhel makes sororities remember that we're not competing, even though we are individual groups," she said. And Kruse, a Wharton junior, explained that she wants to "increase the communication and interaction with the [BiCultural InterGreek Council] and the [InterFraternity Council]," as well. "With Panhel, you have to come together and realize that there's a lot of power," she said. Kruse also noted the changes made to the rush process this year. "We're encouraging ethics among sororities instead of imposing rules and regulations," she said. "We're putting a lot more emphasis on working together." Schreck was optimistic about her upcoming term with the new board members. "I have a lot of ideas, and am looking forward to a great term with an experienced and intelligent board," she said. Current Panhel President and Kappa Alpha Theta sister Lissette Calderon said she shared Schreck's confidence about the new board. "They all have the enthusiasm and determination to make it a really successful year," Calderon said. But she added that she was "a little nostalgic about giving up the position." "It's probably been my best college experience because it's been all encompassing," she said. "It's been social, it's been academic, and it's been philanthropic." Also elected to the Executive Board were College junior and Pi Beta Phi sister Hayley Lattman, who will serve as vice president of publicity; and College sophomore and Alpha Chi Omega sister Jennifer Wigman, who will serve as assistant vice president of rush. Calderon advised the future executive board to "create change." "When you have 1,300 members, numbers give you power," she said. "But it's up to the members to accomplish things. We're only as strong as our individual members."