The results of the new Greek elections are in. Will Quaranta will be the new IFC President, so we decided to sit down with him and ask him some questions. He looks to bring a fresh outlook onto Greek life at Penn State. Here is what he had to say.

Onward State: What got you initially interested in joining Greek Life at Penn State?

Will Quaranta: Having grown up in New York, there aren’t too many Penn State students from my hometown. So coming to Penn State, I knew I wanted to get involved. I was sure to try a bunch of different organizations, and soon realized a fraternity was for me. I’ve definitely been pleased with the opportunities that fraternity life has offered me, and I look forward to serving this community in the coming year.

OS: The IFC President is a job that’s a lot of hard work, and very public. What inspired you to run for this position?

WQ: The IFC President position is certainly a demanding and public position, but I think the work is well worth it. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that you can positively impact your community. With my term as a VP coming to an end, I realized that our board has done some great things this year, and I was well-positioned to continue this success in 2016.

OS: You served as IFC Vice President for Recruitment. How did that position prepare you to be President? 

WQ: Having been on the board for an entire year will be great experience coming into the role as President. I’ve learned an extraordinary amount over the past year, and I think I will be able to apply that knowledge and experience in 2016. Furthermore, I’ve developed relationships with Penn State and community leaders, and I think that will be key in working with other organizations on campus.

OS: I know that the IFC executive board gets a lot of nice perks. What are you most excited for? 

WQ: As far as perks—no doubt I’m most pumped for the IFC jacket! Even as a New Yorker, I’m still not used to these State College winters, so I’m looking forward to feeling warm in style.

OS: What would be your top priority to accomplish this year for IFC?

WQ: I think my top priority is strengthening our relationships with other organizations on campus. I’ve been able to work closely with the other Fraternity and Sorority Governing Councils while serving my term on the board, and I think it’s vital to continue to work closely with them. Our organizations heavily rely on each other, so its extremely important to continue our relationships with them.

OS: What do you think is a challenge IFC is facing or will face in this upcoming year, and how do you plan to address that?

WQ: I think the biggest challenge that the IFC faces, at least in the short-term, will be transitioning boards. I was gifted the opportunity to be the only student my age to serve a full-term on the board, but now we face the task of replacing many members of the board. Additionally, Dr. Baker, the former Director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life here at Penn State, has moved to another university. As one of the most qualified and experienced leaders of the Fraternity and Sorority community, he will be nearly impossible to replace. Therefore, I think it is vital to make a smooth transition, but I have great trust in the transition process we have in place.

OS: What changes do you hope to make to IFC and the Greek system as a whole this year?

WQ:  Fraternity life across the nation has been given an unfavorable reputation in recent years due to a few unfortunate events. However uncommon, these incidents must be addressed head on. This behavior undermines the credibility of all fraternities, and must be swiftly and appropriately addressed. Therefore, I don’t think there is any need for ‘change’ (as the question suggests), but I think it is important to continue the IFC’s commitment to the morals and values of a fraternity.

OS: IFC has been doing a lot this year regarding the huge issue of sexual assaults in the Penn State community. What are your plans to address sexual assaults?

WQ: “With great power comes great responsibility.” I think this saying is extremely applicable to the IFC’s role in preventing sexual assault. Fraternities have a tremendous impact on the community, and I think we can really be a part of the solution. I recently attended the first Green Dot workshop, and I believe the Penn State community is committed to solving this issue. On a more personal level, I think preventing sexual assault is my duty as both a human being and a student leader.

OS: If your house cook could only make one dinner for the rest of eternity, what would your requested meal be?

WQ: Sushi. My favorite food, no doubt about it. My stomach would probably hate me after a couple of weeks, but those couple of weeks would be incredible. Wasabi on the side is a must.

OS: If you were a dinosaur what dinosaur would you be and why?

WQ: Ah. The Onward State dinosaur question—probably one of my biggest fears of becoming president was having to answer this question. But I think I’ll go with a T. Rex. Why not, right?