Panhel inaugurates sorority pledges

A line stretched out the doors of Meyerson Hall last night as a large crowd of new sorority pledges presented themselves as a group for the first time. The 386 new members of eight Panhellenic sororities filed into the lecture hall to install the six new officers of the Panhellenic Council as part of the "Circle of Sisters" event. With over 1,300 members, Panhel -- the umbrella organization that represents the chapters and coordinates various inter-sorority functions -- is the largest women's organization at the University. Former Panhel President Suzanne Rosenberg, a College senior, urged the new members to act as team players, mentors and to get involved with both Panhel and with the individual chapters. As representatives of such a large organization, the executive board faces important challenges, according to former Executive Vice President Toby Tucker, a College senior. "Just last year, our executive board had to fight for your right to rush as freshman," Tucker said. Each past executive board member then handed down the "symbols of office" to the new officers. Lissette Calderon, a Wharton junior who served as Panhel treasurer last year, was elected president of the new board. She passed the treasurer's sword to College junior Amy Greenfield. And Tucker passed the evergreen -- a symbol chosen for its longevity -- to new Executive Vice President Laurie Curtin, a College junior. Goals for this coming semester include efforts to collaborate with the other two Greek umbrella organizations, the InterFraternity Council and the BiCultural InterGreek Council, Calderon said. College junior Laurie Curtin, Wharton junior Tracy Akresh, Wharton Sophomore Danielle Morgan, and College junior Tara Troy were also inaugurated last night.

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