By Gaston Ceron '96
The governing organizations of Cornell's fraternities and sororities recently under went changes in leadership, and new members say they are looking to the future.
On Feb. 4, the Panhellenic Council, which represents 13 sororities, elected its officers for 1996. Then, in a two-session election on Feb. 5 and Feb. 12, the Interfraternity Coun cil (IFC), which represents 40 fraternities, chose its leaders for the coming year.
The newly elected Panhellenic officers include: Alpha Chi Omega's Catherine Courtney '97, president; Chi Omega's Sarah Musher '97, executive vice president; Kappa Kappa Gamma's Elizabeth Everett '97, vice president, judicial; Kappa Alpha Theta's Jessica B. Colwill '97, vice president, communications; Delta Gamma's Alane Kosanosich '97, vice president, rush and extensions; and Delta Delta Delta's Jennifer Houff '97, treasurer.
The IFC's new officers are: Beta Theta Pi's Mike Perera '97, president; Psi Upsilon's Jerome Lande '98, executive vice president; Tau Kappa Epsilon's Fred Mahakian '97, vice president for judicial affairs; Psi Upsilon's Mike Greenle '97, vice president for rush; Pi Kappa Alpha's Chris Weldon '98, vice president for university and commu nity relations; Alpha Epsilon Pi's Dave LaBush '97, vice president for communica tions; and Phi Kappa Psi's Chris Kowalski '97, vice president for finance.
After their elections, Panhellenic officers offered a view of the immediate future for sororities at Cornell. Incoming Panhellenic Council President Catherine Courtney spoke of the need to expand the breadth of sorority activities.
"We want to increase our focus on things like philanthropy events and community ser vice," she said. Courtney, a communications major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said her motivation for working
with the Panhellenic Council came from her previous leadership experiences with her so rority and the council's potential for improving Greek life at Cornell. New Executive Vice President Sara Musher pointed to sorority education as an area that she would focus on.
Some of the same goals were echoed by the newly elected IFC officers. President -elect Mike Perera, a business and managerial economics major in the College of Ag riculture and Life Sciences, said his main goal was to strengthen and unify the Greek system through increased responsibility and improved university relations. Incoming Vice President for Communications Dave LaBush added that improving the image of Greeks within the university and the community were key to the success of the IFC.
Both the IFC and Panhellenic officers addressed the need to present a positive image to freshmen as a prelude to the annual January spring-rush process, when fraternities and sororities do most of their recruiting.