Panhel calls Beta flier demeaning

The Panhellenic Council has expressed complaints to the Beta Theta Pi fraternity over a rush flier which Panhel members considered "inappropriate" and demeaning to women, Panhel President Anita Hseuh announced at last night's meeting. The poster, touting a rush event scheduled for October 18, advertised "live animals" and had a picture of a woman underneath. At the bottom of the page was a small announcement of the actual event, a "crab night." Beta President David Wessels said last night that he had received a letter from Panhel about the flier, adding that he hopes to work out concerns with Hsueh. Hsueh said after last night's meeting that she had intended her letter to Wessels to be private, emphasizing that the letter was to be a form of "internal control." "For this to be publicized is going back on a promise [to Beta]," Hsueh said. "We're trying to build a trust within the Greek system." At the meeting, Hsueh also asked members to tell the council about any activities that seemed inappropriate to women and minorities, especially within the Greek system. In other matters before the council, several candidates for next year's board gave their speeches. The body will elect the next board at next week's meeting. College juniors Maureen Hernandez and Anne McGowan, running against each other for the Panhel presidency, both stressed the importance of increasing the visibility of Panhel and sororities on campus. McGowan said that while recent criticisms of the University's Greek system have been primarily directed towards fraternities, sororities must still present positive images. College sophomore Krista Springer, who is a candidate for Panhel Ombudsman, urged a greater consideration of racial and sexual discrimination issues by sororities. Ombudsman candidate Cindy Lin emphasized that sororities should increase their presence and role on campus. The field of candidates leaves open the possibility that next year's executive board will have significant minority presence, which the current board has advocated. This year, Hsueh and two other members of the six-member executive board are minorities. Also at last night's meeting, Panhel also decided to create several scholarship awards for sorority members based on academic achievements.

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