On Sunday night, the Panhellenic Association determined who its executive board will be for the coming year. Nine positions were determined for the one year term beginning in January. Of the 13 sororities on campus, six chapters are represented on the new board.
“We have elected an incredible group of women from a variety of houses … they will undoubtedly take the Greek system to new levels in the coming year,” stated Lindsay Williams ’03, current president of the Panhellenic Association in an e-mail.
1,500 Cornell women are members of the Panhellenic Association, the governing board for the 13 sororities. “It is the single largest women’s organization on campus and works to build common goals and unity among its members and strengthen sorority women,” said Meghan Dubyak ’04, the 2003 incoming president.
The 2003 Executive Board’s president is Meghan Dubyak ’04 of Alpha Phi; the executive vice president is Anar Rathod ’04 of Delta Gamma; the vice president of communications is Emily Giffin ’04 of Kappa Delta; the vice president of judicial affairs and standards is Lauren Curry ’04 of Alpha Chi Omega; the vice president of University and community relations is Stephanie Romano ’04 of Alpha Omnicron Pi; the vice president of recruitment, publicity and extension is Lisa Kulak ’05 of Alpha Chi Omega; the vice president of formal membership recruitment is Carolyn Sieffert ’04 of Delta Delta Delta; the vice president of programming is Robyn Calmann ’05 of Kappa Delta and the vice president of finance is Sarah Pettengill ’04 of Delta Delta Delta.
Dubyak hopes to increase interactions with the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and the Multicultural Greek Letter Council (MGLC), as well as “strengthen ties between the Greek community and the Cornell community by ensuring that the Greek system is inclusive,” she stated in an e-mail. She also plans on finding ways that chapters can “socialize in a safe environment” while following Social policy.
“I’ve served as President of my chapter and have noticed how so many issues that chapters face are larger, systematic concerns. By looking at the whole system, you see issues in a different light. I’m excited to be doing this and representing the Greek system to the University.”
All women interested in running for election first submitted a letter of intent and a resume. The slating committee, comprised of executive board members, chapter presidents and delegates, interviewed each candidate and created a slate for the night of elections. Those who were slated gave brief speeches and answered questions on Sunday. The speech topics included the Greek Residential Initiative, the Diversity Initiative, relations between the chapters and recruitment.
Each sorority that had a voting delegation, which consisted of 10 or more members of their chapter, was allowed one vote per position. The winners were determined by a majority vote.
Voting procedures are governed by both Cornell and the National Panhellenic Conference. These rules include: the president cannot be from the same chapter for two years in a row, chapters cannot have more than two members on the executive board at a time and the president and vice president of judicial affairs and standards cannot be from the same chapter. These rules are intended to promote equity and “prevent any one chapter from dominating the board,” said Stephanie Moore ’03, current vice president of judicial affairs and standards.
Each of the nine positions on the executive board “has a set of responsibilities outlined in the Panhellenic by-laws. In addition, there are unwritten responsibilities such as supporting fellow officers,” Moore said.
The president serves as a liaison between the Panhellenic Association and other organizations on campus. The executive vice president assists the president and is in charge of certain events, such as Junior Panhellenic and Faculty Appreciation Awards. The vice president of judicial affairs and standards is responsible for enforcing rules and also the election. The vice president of communications is responsible for communication between the executive board and members, as well as the Sister-Sister sorority program. The vice president of formal membership recruitment is responsible for both fall and spring recruitment. The vice president of recruitment, publicity and extension is responsible for publicizing the recruitment process and the recruitment counselor program. The vice president of university and community relations is responsible for Panhellenic’s philanthropic work. The vice president of programming is responsible for programming, such as the “Greek BBQ.” The vice president of finance is responsible for the budget and planning Homecoming.
Archived article by Diana Lo