Dec. 6, Student Union President Ben Brandzel '03 delivered his biannual State of the Union address in the Shapiro Campus Center atrium.In his speech, he said the new campus center "represents the most significant addition to our campus in a generation," adding that it "recenters and in many ways redefines our campus, by providing a new hub for the work, activities and leisure of Brandeis students."

Other campus changes Brandzel said he was pleased about included BTV's recent granting of Secured Allocations Funds. He also praised Brandeis' diversity initiatives of the past year, including promoting Reverend Nathaniel Mays to the newly created position of Assistant Dean for Student Life and Coordinator for Diversity Services. In addition, Suzy Talukdar '96, a practicing Muslim has been hired as the new Intercultural Center director.

Brandzel said the planned walkout against war with Iraq demonstrates that the Brandeis community "displays a remarkable level of social conscience and cognizance of our connection to the outside world and our responsibilities as moral actors within it," making him proud to be a Brandeis student.

Brandzel also mentioned Student Union accounting policies and its rollover funds in the address. He said the accounting system is currently being reworked now that the administration's auditing process has been completed.

Brandzel criticized the Union Senate's passage of the new bylaw raising the signature requirement for club chartering. However, he said he favors stricter accountability for clubs once they have formed, and clarified standards for the allocation process from the Allocations Board.

Finally, Brandzel said "the state of our union is strong. It is diverse, democratic, healthy and vibrant. But, like all things so intricate and important, it needs constant vigilance and constant participation to remain so.