Social Planning and Events Committee members will elect a new executive board this Monday, seeking a president who will ensure that SPEC remains on campus after its three-year funding agreement with the University expires at the end of next year. Current SPEC Vice President of Publicity Lincoln Singleton and current SPEC Secretary Anne Todd are running for president, the only contested position on the board. According to College junior Lisa Nass, current SPEC president, the most important issue for next year's board will be seeking money from the Office of Student Life and the Undergraduate Assembly. When SPEC was formed in January 1990, the University and the UA agreed to give the student group money for three years to fund undergraduate social events such as Homecoming and Spring Fling. The three-year agreement ends in December 1992. Both Singleton and Todd said yesterday they are confident that they will be able to keep SPEC on campus in future years. Singleton said he will continue a petition to "Save Our SPEC" and will push for the group to be included in a report from the University's Student Affairs Committee to Vice Provost for University Life Kim Morrisson. Todd said she plans to establish an endowment board to look into different ways to fund SPEC, including soliciting corporate sponsors. She also plans to continue the "Save Our SPEC" campaign and would like to meet with President Sheldon Hackney to garner his support for the group. Singleton said he also plans to focus the committee next year more on minority concerns and to increase interaction between SPEC members and the general student body. "This is a big year for SPEC and it's going to need a leader who is dedicated to social planning, yet is still aggressive, authoritative, yet not heavy-handed, decisive and approachable," Singleton said. "And I think I have all those qualities." Singleton said if he does not win the election he will not run for a lower board position, but may decide to chair a committee or be a regular member. Todd said she plans to focus her year on establishing SPEC securely in the University community and said her "enthusiasm" and "dedication" will help her lead the social committee. "I've had a lot of time and experience with SPEC," Todd said. "I absolutley love it, and I'm there 100 percent." For other board positions, College junior Richard Greenberg is running for Executive Vice President, College sophomore Marni Sommer for Vice President of Membership, College sophomore Pilar Ramos for Vice President of Publicity and Engineering junior Maryellen Feehery for Secretary. So far, no one has applied for the position of treasurer. The election will be Monday, December 2 at 7 p.m. in Houston Hall's Bodek Lounge. Any recognized SPEC members will be able to vote for the next board.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.