A fledgling coalition of Penn gay-interest groups is pushing for a seat on one of the University's most influential advisory bodies.
The Lambda Alliance, encompassing eight groups, will officially come into existence tonight when those groups elect their first board of leaders. The coalition is applying for a spot on the University Council, a body of students, faculty and administrators that makes recommendations to President Amy Gutmann.
Tonight's vote will install a five-person board to run the alliance. Three people are running for programming chair, meaning that they would plan events and publicize the group. The other four positions are uncontested.
The new group will join the Asian Pacific Student Coalition, the United Minorities Council, the Latino Coalition and Umoja in serving as a major umbrella for Penn minority organizations.
Member groups include the Queer Student Alliance, which currently holds one spot on the University Council, and Queer People of Color.
The alliance turned in its application to the Nominations and Elections Committee, which runs student elections, for a spot on the council this week. Organizers hope the new group will become the voice of Penn's gay community.
Members of the alliance hope "to have influence on campus policies such as gender-neutral housing," QSA co-Chairman and Wharton junior Brett Thalmann said.
Representatives of the member organizations say they hope the new coalition will help boost their lobbying power.
"The groups are finally unified and can act as one," College junior and QSA co-Chairwoman Alexis Ruby-Howe said.
Howe is running uncontested for political chair of the alliance.
The coalition's new leadership will present its ratified constitution to all members tonight. Organizers drafted the original document at a town-hall meeting last month, after which all member organizations offered suggestions.
Those running for leadership positions said they hope the coalition will give smaller groups a chance to have their voices heard.
"We only have 10 people in our group," College sophomore and Queer People of Color Chairman Malek Lewis said. "Being a part of Lambda Alliance allows us to help influence decisions that affect everyone."
Joining up Groups in the Lambda Alliance: - Allies - Queer Christian Fellowship - Queer Student Alliance - Queer People of Color - Wharton Alliance - Jewish Bisexuals, Gays and Lesbians - Delta Lambda Phi - Penn's Athletes and Allies Tackling Homophobia and Heterosexism
