Changing of the guard on the Tangible Change Committee

As College senior and Tangible Change Committee Chairperson Samara Barend prepares for graduation, she must also bid farewell to the group she founded while a sophomore on the Undergraduate Assembly. Gearing up to pass on the torch, Barend said she formed the committee to combat the "tension" she had noticed between various student groups over funding and other resources, preventing those groups from collaborating to best serve in the interests of students. Some of the Tangible Change Committee's accomplishments include lobbying for the construction of McClelland Marketplace in the Quadrangle, improvements to the high rise rooftop lounges and an increase in lighting on Locust Walk. The group has also organized or participated in several campus-wide events -- the first-ever LoveFest '99 and annual events like WinterFest, No Place Like Penn, Homecoming and Spring Fling. "It's a little sad [to leave Tangible Change behind]," Barend said. "[But] it's a nice way to leave Penn, knowing that campus groups will continue to keep working together to improve student life." Tangible Change, which Barend says is dedicated to increasing the number of large-scale campus-wide events by "linking the mutual interests of student groups, maximizing resources and increasing communication," also promotes non-alcoholic alternatives to traditional weekend parties. "It's a huge mission that [the administration] empowered us with," Barend said. "Having all these [student] groups work together was perceived as the best means to go about altering the binge-drinking culture at Penn." The group, which began as an Undergraduate Assembly committee, is now an independent body with representatives from several student groups. Tangible Change Committee members include representatives from the BiCultural InterGreek Council, Civic House, the class boards, the InterFraternity Council, Kite and Key, the Performing Arts Council, the Panhellenic Council, the Residential Advisory Board, the Student Health Advisory Board, the Social Planning and Events Committee, the UA and the United Minorities Council. And the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education, the Interfaith Council and the Recreation Council/Sports Council may become affiliated with Tangible Change next year. Taking Barend's place as the organization's leaders are Engineering sophomore Theo LeCompte and College junior Lisa Marshall, who will jointly chair the group. Other members of the new executive board include incoming vice chairperson and College junior Jessie Beller, incoming treasurer and College junior Jennifer Brown and incoming publicity chairperson and Nursing junior Keri Hyde. "It's a sad, reminiscent feeling but the people carrying on the torch are a part of a group of the most over-achieving student leaders," Barend said. "I can rest assured that it's in good hands." LeCompte, a member of the UA, added, "I think it's going to be difficult to duplicate Samara's leadership? but I think the new executive board is fully capable of taking Tangible Change forward."

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