When the final count was tabulated at Thursday night's Panhellenic Council (PHC) executive board election exiting president Ann Marie DiPietro announced that former Collegian staff member Mairys Joaquin of Delta Gamma defeated Amy Sciortino of Kappa Kappa Gamma to become the new PHC president.
"I'm ecstatic," said Joaquin (junior-journalism) "I'm both honored and humbled by the opportunity," she said.
Joaquin was a member of The Collegian until she accepted the executive position. Per Collegian policy, no staff member "should be an officer in any student organization, including sororities and fraternities."
The candidates for every position had presented speeches to representatives from each PHC sorority earlier in the week, but once again had the opportunity to give a short speech again Thursday night.
Joaquin stressed that she would help Penn State sororities take back control of their reputation.
"Help me, help you, unite us together in order to show all of those outside just how indispensable we are," Joaquin said as she addressed the voters.
She told them that they cannot allow people outside the greek community to tell them about what it means to be greek.
"Don't allow other people to tell you who you are. Don't allow those outside of the greek community to tell you just what being greek means," she said.
Both Joaquin and newly elected Executive Vice President Kirsten Fleming (junior- hotel, restaurant and institutional management) share the goal of improving the PHC's recruitment numbers and retainment rates.
Fleming said she hopes to organize a retreat that would take place soon after potential new members accept bids to join a sorority as a way to generate excitement about greek life, even among women who are disappointed by the bid they received.
While Joaquin spoke about controlling the sorority image, newly elected Vice President for Standards Kate Patton (junior-marketing and psychology) has ideas to help raise the standards for sorority life.
Patton hopes to create a system for sorority members to anonymously report violations, such as hazing incidents, so that members will be held accountable for their actions.
Other positions elected include Vice President for Communications Kara Zinger, Vice President for Programming Jessica Emann and Vice President for Finance Steph Dell'Osa. Zinger is a member of The Collegian's business division.
The council was unable to produce a majority vote for the Vice President for Membership position.
Applications will be available to fill the position, and a selection will be made by the executive board, Joaquin said.
The officers elected last night will be officially installed December 10.
