Greeks take control of UA in March election

Mount Laurel, N.J. In a March election that saw both Undergraduate Assembly and InterFraternity Council leaders lobbying for votes, only 12 incumbents retained their seats on the student government branch for next year, while Greeks won 20 of the 25 open slots. In the week prior to the election, UA leaders used e-mail to campaign for incumbent candidates, after IFC President Matt Baker sent a message to fraternity chapters urging them to vote for the 28 Greeks on the ballot. Baker, a College and Engineering senior and an Alpha Chi Rho brother attributed the high number of Greek candidates to a failed attempt to secure $20,000 from the UA to fund IFC social events in the fall. His e-mail, which Panhellenic Council President and College senior Jessica Lennon forwarded to her constituents, suggested that IFC members hoped to control enough votes on next year's UA to ensure that fraternities do eventually receive funds. "This is our best opportunity to receive funding for parties," Baker wrote. "So get out there and vote." Twenty percent of the student body cast ballots in the election, voting in 19 fraternity brothers -- including some incumbent UA representatives -- and College senior Meredith Hertz, a Chi Omega sister and an incumbent UA member. Candidates seemed to hold mixed opinions on the student government power the Greeks obtained. "The public voiced its opinion and the school voiced its opinion," said College senior Adam Etra, a Zeta Beta Tau brother and UA representative. "I think it's going to do great things for the school." But some candidates were overheard lamenting that so many incumbents lost -- including some of the most active UA members in the past few years. The loss of UA Treasurer Steve Schorr, a Wharton senior, and Dave Futer and Mark Sagat, both College juniors, particularly shocked some candidates. At its annual transition meeting in April, the newly elected body voted in College junior Noah Bilenker as its chairperson. Bilenker replaced former UA Chairperson Tal Golomb, a College senior, as head of the organization. In his acceptance speech, Bilenker discussed his plan to strengthen the UA's committee structure, build solid relationships with administrators and other student leaders and improve the UA's interaction with the rest of the student body. He explained that although he is also secretary of the IFC and a Phi Kappa Psi brother, he is concerned with more than just funding fraternity parties. As outgoing chairperson of the UA facilities committee, he noted that he has already dealt with the issues of recreational facilities and rehearsal space for performing arts groups. "One and a half years ago when I first joined the UA, it was completely overcome by bickering," he said. "I want to raise the respectability of the UA."