As the semester draws to a close, Penn Greeks have begun the annual transition into next month's rush season with the election of new leaders. Two of the three Greek umbrella organizations -- the Panhellenic Council and the Bicultural Inter-Greek Council -- recently elected officers that will help the University's fraternities and sororities interact with each other and the campus as a whole. Sorority presidents elected seven new Panhel board members Wednesday night. Topping the list was College junior Jessica Lennon, of Delta Delta Delta, who was elected president. She said she wants Panhel to play a more active role in educating the campus about women's sexual health issues and about Greek life in general. And the BIG-C, an umbrella group for seven minority fraternities and sororities, elected College junior Jason Rosas as its president. Rosas is a member of Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. Officers elected to both new boards said they looked forward to expanding their involvement in University Greek affairs. Panhel Treasurer-elect Mary Woland, a College junior, ran to expand upon her experience as Alpha Chi Omega treasurer. "Because I had been treasurer [of AXO] last year, I can see how funding works on a house level," she said. She stressed that her past position will help her in her new role as an advisor to the treasurers of Panhel's eight sororities. Woland's main objective as treasurer will be to reduce the dues sororities pay to Panhel. "There's not a lot of programming on the Panhel level," she said, adding that excess dues money could be better spent on the chapter level. Beating two other contenders for vice president, College junior Bethany Rubin plans to ensure that Panhel's "junior program" runs smoothly. Rubin, who previously served as membership chairperson for Pi Beta Phi, said the program educates pledges about Greek life on a campus level. Like many other new officers, Rubin said she is excited about the University's new 21st Century Greek System plan, which she says will bring "more visibility" to Greek life. The BIG-C vice presidency went to College sophomore Everett Sands, an Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., member. Sands, whose job will involve coordinating group activities among BIG-C members, said that while the 21st Century Plan was not a specific election topic, it drew thorough discussion at a BIG-C retreat two weeks ago. College sophomore Leticia Young, an Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., member who will serve as corresponding secretary, said she ran for office to bring new ideas to the BIG-C. "Being that I was a neophyte, I had a lot of enthusiasm and wanted to get to know [Greek life] better," she said. Others elected to the BIG-C board include: Wharton sophomore Diana Gonzales, a Sigma Lambda Upsilon Sorority, Inc., member elected treasurer; Parliamentarian Renee Arthurs, a Wharton sophomore in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; and Nursing junior Andrea Charlton, a Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., member elected recording secretary. Panhel also elected College sophomore Beth Linn, a Delta Delta Delta sister, as vice president for publicity; Vice President for Rush Jen Wigman, an AXO sister and a College junior; College sophomore and Kappa Alpha Theta sister Julie Galluzzo, as assistant vice president for rush; and Treasurer Jamie Miles, a junior in the College and a Sigma Delta Tau sister.
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