Greeks assume national posts

Just a week after being installed as members of the University's Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils, three students are already taking on additional responsibilities as officers in the Northeast region.

At the Northeast Interfraternity Conference/Northeast Panhellenic Conference held in Pittsburgh this weekend, IFC Administrative Vice President Craig Newman, Secretary Brad Nestico and PHC President Kearsi Page were selected as regional conference officers by representatives from other Northeast universities.

Newman, who will serve as overall regional vice president, will coordinate six other regional vice presidents. Nestico was selected as one of those vice presidents. Page will serve as president of the Northeastern PHC.

Newman will coordinate next year's national conference, a task in which Page will also assist, he said.

"I felt like I had the ideas to help the conference," Newman said. Providence, R.I., will host the 1998 event, in which Newman said he hopes to see more schools represented.

Recruitment is also at the top of Nestico's list of goals for the region. He said he hopes to increase involvement by increasing personal contact with other schools in the area.

Increasing the number of universities involved at the national level can only benefit those already involved with the organization, Newman said, adding that the addition of more schools will enable universities to draw on each other for support and ideas.

"There could be some kind of domino effect," Newman said.

The assistance of other universities in the region is one of the advantages to being involved at the regional level, Page said. Smaller schools often look to larger universities for ideas and assistance, she said.

"A lot of smaller schools look to us for advice," Page said.

"They want to take responsibility into their own hands," Page said.

These are not the first Penn State students to serve on the councils. Steve Gordon, former IFC president and former regional vice president, said it is common for at least one Penn State student to serve as a member of the regional board.

"I strongly encouraged all 10 Penn Staters to run for positions," Gordon said.