Exec Board Intros

Panhellenic Exec Board

Back row: Tori Searl, Alex Delfiner, Ali Sassos, Alissa Eisenberg, Ashley Alden

Front Row: Laura Minskoff, Rachel Brill and Meredith Bress

Missing: Jessie Goodman

Panhellenic is lucky to have nine dedicated women serving the Association! We thought we'd take a post to introduce you to them.

Alissa Eisenberg serves as President of Panhellenic and is a senior in the College. She's originally from Westfield, NJ. She's active in Quaker Girls, CityStep, and a number of other committees throughout the University. Alissa knows just about everyone at Penn. If you don't know her, definitely seek her out.

Laura Minskoff serves as the Executive Vice President and is a senior in the College. She's from Boise, ID and is involved with Kite and Key and Street. She also tends to be one of the funniest people you'll meet at Penn.

Tori Searl serves as the Vice President of Recruitment and is a senior in the College. This is her second year on the board. She is from Salt Lake City, Utah. Tori has been involved with Penn Ski Team, Circle K and Peer Advising. She's responsible for everything to do with recruitment.

Meredith Bress serves as the Assistant Vice President of Recruitment and is a junior in Nursing. She is from Brookside, NJ. Meredith has been an editor for Penn Course Review Nursing as well as holding offices in her chapter.

Ali Sassos serves as the Vice President of Judicial Affairs and is a senior in the College. She is from Cos Cob, CT. She's been involved with the Pennvelopes, Active Minds and the Hellenic Student Association.

Rachel Brill serves as the Vice President of Risk Management and is a senior in Engineering. She is from Parkland, FL. She has held a number of different positions within her chapter.

Ashley Alden serves as the Vice President of Marketing and is a senior in the College. She is from Deer Park, IL. She has been active with The Walk magazine, Dzine2Show and her chapter.

Jessie Goodman serves as the Vice President of Finance and is a senior in the College. She is from Princeton, NJ and has been active in Alpha Kappa Psi, Civic House, Wharton Women and her chapter.

Alex Delfiner serves as the Vice President of Administration and is a senior in the College. She is from the Bronx, NY and has been active Kite and Key and a number of community service projects. She's responsible for this year's Rena Rowan Ribbon Run/Walk.

Field Day

Field Day: Moon Bounce, BBQ, Bake Sale, Pie Eating Contest and Raffle

Kappa Alpha Theta's philanthropy event is on Saturday, October 3, 2009. It will be a Field Day held in conjunction with St Anthony's Hall, and will raise funds for Court Appointed Special Advocates. (CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused children, to make sure they do not get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system.)

Where: 3937 Locust Walk

Time: 1-4 PM

It is open to everyone in the univeristy and hopefully will raise enough money so that the respective charities continue their mission.

Why I'm Greek

For my first post as a Panhellenic blogger, I say to all Penn ladies who want to be campus leaders: Go Greek.

Within my chapter are more student leaders than in any other organization I'm involved in. And in every organization I'm a part of, I'm not alone in being Greek.

Before I continue harping on about how much I love being in a sorority, I should probably introduce myself. My name is Abby Schwartz (on the right, standing next to my little sister, Christine), and I am a Phi Sigma Sigma. I am also involved in SPEC, Dzine2Show, and The Daily Pennsylvanian, but when I introduce myself to people, I am a Phi Sig first.

Why? Well, in a way, I live Phi Sigma Sigma. Not just because I've lived in the chapter house ever since I left the Quad, but because being a Phi Sig has, in many ways, directed my path at Penn. My big sister introduced me to Dzine2Show, and one of my younger sisters first encouraged me to join the DP with her.

Every sorority woman you talk to will tell you the same thing: I love my chapter. No matter which one you become a part of, your sisters will encourage you to be your best and break out of your comfort zone. They will also be some of the best friends you'll ever find.

When I sit down tonight to interview prospective staff members for The WALK fashion magazine, I will be accompanied by my three co-editors, all sorority women as well and all members of different chapters. What we demonstrate is that it doesn't really matter which chapter you are accepted into, when you join a sorority, you become a part of a larger organization. An organization that will help you grow. It will also help you get bruises from playing powderpuff (these are truly worthy of bragging rights).

PHILANTHROPY + LILLY PULITZER + life

Crush parties are definitely a gossip-worthy aspect of sorority life, and I can't wait for my sorority's, coming up next month (I'll definitely fill you in as I try to figure out what crush-worthy boy gets my pick). However, another part of sorority life that I'm involved in is Philanthropy...just to remind everyone, I am one of Tridelta's philanthropy chairs. Lately, my co-chair and I have been extremely busy planning several different events, including Chili's Chalk Off, which we ran last Monday on Locust Walk. It was the first time that the event had been run nationally, and it was a great honor for Penn's chapter to have been chosen to participate. One of my jobs as Philanthropy chair is to act as a liaison between St. Jude reps, Tridelta reps, and our chapter. So, when Rachel, my co-chair, and I met with one such rep and discussed this event, we were thrilled to have been chosen for the trial run, and it ended up going extremely well! I'd like to thank everyone who came out, donated a dollar, and colored in the chili--although it ended up being a lot of deltas doing the coloring! (there was much apprehension about chalk getting all over everything-- my hands were beautiful shades of pink and purple all day). Rachel and I woke up early Monday morning and bought tons of chalk and supplies to make a big sign, and then we met with our designated chili-drawer to sketch a giant chili right outside of Van Pelt. Throughout the day, sisters stopped by in Delta-gear and helped out, assuming half-hour shifts on Locust Walk, asking people for donations in return for a Free Chips and Salsa Gift Certificate from Chili's. If you are one of the lucky people who got one, make sure to go to Chili's this MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, because 100% of whatever Chili's makes that day will go toward St. Jude!

Something else that sororities sometimes do for their various causes is hold trunk-shows at their Chapter houses. For example, today was Phi Sigma Sigma's jean sale, and next Wednesday, September 30th, Tridelta is holding a Lilly Pulitzer Trunk Show, open from 6-7 for Deltas only and 7-9 PM for everyone else! So be sure to stop by our chapter house (4044 spruce) and pick up some cute gear for the fall! These are also great opportunities to sneak a peak at the different sorority houses on campus.

Check out the facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=251686970506&index=1

volps

Secret Crushes

You know that really hot boy in your math class who helps make that 3 hour long lecture go by a little faster?  One thing I've learned is having someone to stare at improves any class.  Of course, I rarely actually work up the courage to talk to them, or even sit next to them.  Hopefully tomorrow night that will all change...

Tomorrow night my sorority is having a crush party.  It's a party that we throw downtown, planned by our social chair (a member of the executive board in our sorority).  Every girl gets to anonymously send the email addresses of our "crushes" to our social chair, who then sends them an invitation to the party.  Some people "crush" their friends or acquaintances, but I decided to take it to the extreme and invite my true secret crushes.  And while I obviously can't reveal them here (duh), I can promise that they're definitely crush-worthy.  

Am I brave enough to approach someone and admit that I crushed them? Will my crushes show up??!!  I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out...

Recruitment Registration is Open

Panhellenic recruitment registration is now open! Recruitment doesn't begin until January 13th but sign up now to receive information about fall events including Fall Open Houses and Meet Your Rho Gamma.

Half Priced Jeans!

Phi Sigma Sigma is hosting their annual jeans sale. Hope you'll come on out, buy some new jeans and support the National Kidney Foundation. Time, date and address are in the picture above!

CHILIS CHALK OFF TOMORROW

So, I just got back from chapter and I was reminded by my lovely sorority sisters to remind you all that TRIDELTA's CHILI'S CHALK OFF IS TOMORROW from 12-4 IN THE QUAD!!!! come pay $1 to color in a giant chili pepper, get a gift certificate for free chips and salsa, and HANG OUT WITH ME!!! (all proceeds go to St. Jude)

Meet & Greet: September 16th

Were you there?

Who did you meet?

Meet and Greet

Tomorrow (wednesday) there is a sorority meet and greet happening from 6:00-9:00 in the Bodek Lounge of Houston Hall.  It's a great way to come meet members of all the sororities at Penn and get an idea as to whether you're interested in rushing.  I promise you it will be infinitely more fun than sitting in the basement of Van Pelt working on your math homework.  And who doesn't need a study break?  I'll be there at 8:00 so come introduce yourself and keep me company!

SIGMA KAPPA ULTRA-VIOLET QUIZZO and TRIDELT CHILIS CHALK OFF

THINGS SORORITY-RELATED TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS WEEK:

Saturday, Sept. 26th: Sigma Kappa is hosting a Quizzo event at Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall from 8-10. Entry is $100 per team, and you can win super cool prizes like a fully paid Spring Break Trip!!

Postponed to Sometime Next week, TBD: Delta Delta Delta's Chili's Chalk-Off. Pay $1 to color in part of our ginormous chili, in the quad from 12-4. In return, you get a gift certificate for free chips and salsa at Chili's, which is located on 38th and Chestnut. All proceeds go to St. Jude! So come donate $1, and also, I'll be there along with my stellar co-philanthropy chair Rachel and other volunteers, so it's guaranteed to be a good time.

peace out from NYC (where I'm currently the lovely owner of some random viral infection)

volps

INTRO FROM VOLPE

Hi! My name is Lynden, but everyone calls me Carolyne...super confusing and unnecessary, I know. I'm a Junior in Delta Delta Delta, and I'm looking forward to writing for this blog along with Andrea to help everyone learn about Greek Life at Penn. Some quick facts about me: I'm from New York City, I'm Philanthropy Chair for my sorority, I am co-editor in chief of Green Couch (which will ACTUALLY come out this year, hopefully), I participate in write-on!, I'm majoring in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and minoring in History, and I get realllllyyyyy into any sort of themed party.

Sororities can get a bad rep, especially if you’re not a “girlie girl.” Definition: one whose favorite color is pink (Think Legally Blonde), could spend an entire day at Bloomingdales, and thinks Brad Pitt is, like, totally cute. And while this all does, in fact, apply to me (hey, at least I’m honest), sorority sisters do not all, in fact, come from this mold.

From K-12 (thirteen years, for those numerically challenged, like me), I attended an all girls’ school in New York City. Because of this experience, I knew from the beginning I wanted to find some sort of niche, like a sorority, where I could experience the same camaraderie and form the same kinds of bonds I did with my former classmates. But I was apprehensive about sororities and wanted to investigate a little, because I did not want the experience to be just about partying and cute boys (although cute boys could never be a bad thing). And I found out, believe it or not, sororities are in fact about much, much more.

My sorority consists of about 120 girls who are all unique. We have dancers, singers, and political activists. There are girls in Wharton, girls who are English majors, girls who are math majors. Girls who are kick-butt athletes and girls who are kick-butt news reporters, girls who can speak four languages. Girls from all over the globe, from Hong Kong to California to Texas to New York. You name it, we got it. But there is one thing we have in common: TriDelta. It sounds cliché and totally cheesy, but it’s completely true. These girls have become my sisters. And at a big school like Penn, having such a small community where everyone is so supportive is irreplaceable. We cheer each other on at sports meets, debates, a capella concerts; we give each other awards (think: officer of the week) and help out with sisters’ projects—academic and not. It’s like having 120 family members on call twenty-four hours, seven days a week, for anything. Seriously, it rules. So it doesn’t matter if pink is or isn’t your favorite color, if you prefer math to English, or if you find Zac Efron hotter than Brad Pitt (I’ll agree, it’s debatable…), you’ll find your fit at any sorority at Penn if you want to, and trust me, you do.

xoxo

volps

Quizzo Anyone?

Sigma Kappa presents...ULTRA-VIOLET QUIZZO

Saturday September 26th

8-10pm

Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall

20 teams of 10 competing for the largest grand prize Penn has ever seen
All proceeds go to Alzheimer's Disease Research and the Sigma Kappa Foundation

The first place team will win: A free spring break trip from Student City, a free night at the Four Seasons in Philadelphia, a $200 gift certificate to the Four Seasons Spa, a free semester of Chipotle, two free nights at the Inn at the Canal in Maryland, a free Kaplan test-prep course, and $300 cash!!
Second place: signed copies of Freakonomics, a signed copy of The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket, free games from EA games, free games and movies from Target
Third place: gift certificates from Metropolitan Bakery, Naked Chocolate, Cosi & New Deck Tavern Just by entering the event you will also be entered into a raffle to win a $25 gift card to Bubble Tea House

With guest appearances by: Mask & Wig, Off the Beat, and Excellano Project!

How to enter (for only $10 a person!): Send me your Team name & roster (10 members), and the contact info for the team captain.Collect the money ($10/person- $100/team) and hand it to the SK you got this from, or put it in an envelope with the above information in our mail slot at the SK House (3928 Spruce) to save yourself a spot!

If you have any questions feel free to contact me at quinntl@sas.upenn.edu

Intro from Andrea

Hey.  My name is Andrea and I’m a sophomore in Sigma Delta Tau.  I grew up outside of Philadelphia, and currently I live in the SDT house on campus.  I would tell you what I’m majoring in, but I don’t have a clue.  Last year, one time I was at Naked Chocolate (okay I was there way more than once, but this one particular time…) and I ran into this freshman girl from my friend’s writing seminar.  She proceeded to inform me that she was already studying for the LSATs.  So she asked me “What are you doing with your life?”  I responded “…Rushing?” Okay, so rush was only a week away and on my mind, but I think this demonstrates my lack of clarity on my major.  So if you’re as confused as me- I promise you’re not alone.  And if you do know what you’re doing with your life…I’m jealous.

On another note, I’m really interested in photography, and my other obsessions include frozen yogurt, spicy tuna rolls, and the movie Dirty Dancing.  And while I could easily spend hours watching Dirty Dancing while eating sushi and froyo, I’ve been trying to get involved in more campus activities this year, including writing for Street, working on The Walk (Penn’s fashion magazine), and becoming the Community Service Chair for my sorority.  I went to the student activities fair and put my name on every listserv (listserv: an online mailing list a.k.a. both your greatest source of info and sometimes biggest annoyance in college; example of usage: “listserv abuse”).  I will be sure to update you on how getting 4084820 emails a day works out for me. 

I hope you enjoy the blog, and feel free to comment if you have any questions about sorority life you’d like us to address!

Welcome to the Penn Panhellenic Association's blog. We are looking forward to having two fantastic sorority women - Carolyne and Andrea - share their Greek experience with you this year. Look for introductions from each of them within the next week and add us to your feed for continued updates on what Greek life is like at Penn throughout the year!