START THE GIVING SEASON WITH A LITTLE
GIFT FOR YOU. Spotlight on UPUA President By Shaina Stern
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Fall 2012
always putting our best foot forward, [we] need to be a little more firm.” She recalls times when she’s been interrupted and taken less seriously. “People think they can boss us [women] around,” she says. “We need to exhibit confidence and lay down the law.” Fortunately, the UPUA executive team has a really good relationship. “We are friends. We hang out outside of UPUA. We get dinner together, go to the bars,” Lennartz says. She has no political aspirations, but through UPUA, Lennartz has realized she wants to go into university administration after graduating. The experience also taught her time management, effective communication and how to manage people, “especially my peers, which is the most difficult thing to do,” she says. “We’re all in the same playing field; we’re all in college,” she says. Though the odds of becoming UPUA president are slim, Lennartz offers advice to aspiring leaders. “Get involved early on. If you wait ‘til you’re a junior or senior, it’s hard to get leadership roles,” she advises. “Meet the people you need to know, get to know the university and organization and grow with it.”
Photos by Lindsay Lipovich
“I knew what I was getting into,” she says. The Old Main bell chimes 7 a.m. – “As [UPUA] vice president I got to work with or “Hail, to the Lion,” rather - and UPUA TJ [T.J. Bard, president emeritus] a lot and President Courtney Lennartz is already see what the position entailed, so when he in the building. decided not to run I thought I could serve the Suited up (literally) from finished hair and students best,” she says. made-up face, to the point of her high heeled Aside from sitting in on seemingly everyshoes, she’s up and ready for early-morning thing, Lennartz is also an active member administrative meetings. of her sorority Gamma Phi Beta, where she “I feel like I’m an adult,” Lennartz jokes. serves as scholarship chair. “Get up at 6 a.m., go to bed by 10.” “People tell me I’m a normal Penn State Being the leader of Penn State’s student student,” she insists. “I still go out and make body and a female leader in the student body, sure I’m having fun with my friends.” Lennartz has faced obstacles most students Lennartz sometimes receives criticism can’t fathom – especially this year, in light of about being in a sorority and often feels the Sandusky scandal, her duties have only intensified with the national media’s attention. like she has to prove herself more as a woman leader. “[The scandal] made the UPUA presidency “People say things, or tweet at me, like much more visible than in the past,” she says. I’m stupid or that I only won because I’m in “It’s been a learning experience; it’s not like I a sorority,” she says. had prior experience in PR.” “Being a woman, I’m held to a different She says she’s gotten backlash for not being standard”. sensitive enough to the victims, but learned to Historically, Greeks have a better chance at keep going strong. winning UPUA elections, but there has only “I represent the students and moving been one other female president to date. forward,” she says. Alluding to the ideals of her sorority, With Penn State’s new transparency poliLennartz says female leaders are responsible cies, students have more input, and Lennartz for “promoting the highest standard of is the students’ voice. She sits in on the board womanhood.” of trustees, the provost search committee, “We are judged more harshly than men,” committees looking toward the future and the she explains. “[We] need to make sure we’re Freeh report implementation committee.
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