On Sunday night, the Senate convened for its weekly meeting to continue the process of recognizing and chartering clubs and discuss upcoming elections and events.

They first went through the process of chartering and recognizing two different campus clubs. The group Brandeis Students for Disability Activism was approved for recognition with a vote of 10 in favor, three abstains and one against and was also officially chartered with a vote of eight in favor, one abstain and four against. 

The Farmers Club also received both recognition and chartering, with a recognition vote of 11 in favor, one abstain and one against and a chartering vote of 11 in favor, two abstains and zero against. 

The club SoUnique, one of the University’s step groups, requested to change its name to Platinum and was approved with a vote of 13 in favor, 0 abstains and 0 against.

The Union then discussed student communications and administrative communications.

After executive officer reports, the Executive Senator discussed the importance of attendance at committee meetings and the need to get out the Senate Money Resolutions, or SMRs, which indicate what events or causes the Senate allocates portions of their budget toward.

Vice President Charlotte Franco ’15 discussed Student Union E-Board and Allocations Board elections, to take place this Wednesday, and the upcoming Senate Elections on March 16. 

She also discussed an upcoming event to be held  on campus on the evening of March 19, titled  “What Do You Want to See in our Next University President?” 

This event will allow students and members of the community to share and discuss what qualities they would like to see in the next elected University president or in future candidates. 

Next, the Senate heard brief reports and updates from Committee Chair leaders on future initiatives. Sustainability Committee Chair Anna Bessendorf ’15 discussed the State of Sustainability Town Hall that took place last Thursday as part of the committee’s Eco Week. Bessendorf said that the town hall went well and that Eco Week initiatives were successful overall. 

The Services and Outreach Committee discussed the Senate Money Resolution (SMR) that will fund the Midnight Buffet, an event held for the Brandeis community at the end of every semester to celebrate the end of classes.

 The Campus Operations Working Group, headed by Mitchell Beers ’17, discussed several renovations that will happen on campus this summer that were discussed with Vice President for Operations Jim Gray. 

These renovations will include major renovations to Sherman Dining Hall, the Einstein Bros. Bagels in the Shapiro Campus Center and the on-campus bookstore. They will also include several smaller renovations to bathrooms and the replacement of furniture and carpets in Rosenthal Quad, Ziv Quad and North Quad. 

The Social Justice and Diversity Committee discussed a social justice march they had planned to hold during the semester, stating that they decided to postpone it to next year. They also discussed an upcoming Social Justice Poetry Slam that needs increased advertising.

The meeting concluded with senator reports, in which various senators discussed ideas and new initiatives. 

Class of 2018 Senator Skye Golann discussed the idea of Turkey Shuttle transportation for all mid-semester and general breaks and mentioned partnering with Volunteer Vacations. 

Other senators discussed the upcoming underclassmen dance this Saturday, the idea of filling in potholes on campus, a Senate Money Resolution for gym equipment, Joseph’s Shuttle transportation and fire alarm drills.  

—Rachel Sharer