Thursday, a mixed audience of approximately 70 students, club leaders, senators and administrators attended the Union Senate's first town hall forum of the semester, to discuss the new club chartering bylaw.The bylaw, passed in December, requires potential club leaders to obtain 200 signatures -- 20 from potential club members and 180 from students willing to support the club's existence -- rather than the previous standard of 10 signatures from potential members.

Class of 2003 Senator Aziz Nekoukar moderated the forum. "The Senate is sponsoring this to help everyone understand the situation," he said. A panel of senators, including Jonathan Cohen '06, Erica Lemansky '05, Daniel Mauer '06, Colin Rowan '04 and Kate Vogel '03 responded to questions, comments and concerns from audience members.

Lemansky, who co-authored the bylaw with Class of 2005 Senator Michael Corwin, said before its passage, some students felt "clubs were little more than an easy way for a social clique of friends to get money to hold a party." Similar clubs often competed for resources and members, she said. Lemansky added that further amendments to the bylaw and the general club chartering system may be necessary, but said she wishes to see the effects of the new bylaw during a trial period.

Daniel Silverman '05, a developer of the myBrandeis website, suggested that clubs should be required to put their meetings and events on the online calendar, so the entire community can participate in club activities.

The senators on the panel said they were receptive to this idea, and to making the bylaw texts more visible online. "I think the Senate does drag its feet electronically, but it is always being worked on," Nekoukar said.

Several club leaders said they believe obtaining 200 signatures to be a difficult and unwieldy process. Cohen, however, responded that earlier in the day, four senators spent only one hour each gathering 200 signatures to start the hypothetical Brandeis Concert Club.

Jonathan Sclarsic '03, student representative to the Board of Trustees said it is more difficult for first-years to approach students for signatures than for senators. "You're putting a serious roadblock in people's way," he said.

Jessica Badiner '03 said she worries students will eventually tire of constantly being approached to sign a club's chartering petition. She said this could lead to more difficulties in obtaining signatures in the future.

Vogel responded to Badiner's concerns. "I think that's why we need to give this bylaw some time," she said. "Bylaws can be changed."

Sarah Karpman '06, who chartered the Brandeis Greens last semester, said she believes "200 signatures is such a powerful discouragement that people wouldn't even try" to start a club. Mauer, however, responded that "part of making clubs stronger and more visible ... is showing you are willing to make an attempt to get all these people in your club."

Student Union President Ben Brandzel '03 shared his thoughts on the bylaw at the forum. "Nothing is wrong with cliques starting clubs," he said. He said he believes the new bylaw is "too paternalistic on the part of student government," and added, "this measure can and should be repealed." This last remark produced loud applause from the audience.

Vogel, however, said the Senate is not eager to return to the old chartering system. "I don't think (repealing) is the first step," she said. "Today is a lot about listening and hearing where the concerns are."

Club Resources Coordinator Nate Westheimer '05 said his committee of 16 students will be contacting the leaders of all 240 or so clubs this semester to meet with them individually to discuss club and funding issues.

After listening to the senators' reasoning behind passing the initiative, some student and club leaders were still dissatisfied with the new bylaw. "I think this requires more public action and possibly a referendum," said Joel Fried '03, a founder of the Brandeis Official Reader's Guild.

"I can promise you'll see some legislative action, either from the Senate or myself," Brandzel said.

Senate panelists and audience members said they believe the forum was productive. "Everybody who wanted to got a chance to talk, which was very important," Karpman said. "It was a really good discussion. I don't know what they are going to do with it now, but hopefully they are going to take into account a lot of the things we said because a lot of people came here with a lot of passion, really meaning everything they said and really with a lot of conviction behind it."

Vogel also said she agrees the forum was a success. She noted, however, that the audience was predominantly club-leader based. "I felt like I heard from a good diversity of opinions, but there are still segments of the campus that I haven't yet heard from," she said. "I would love any feedback. We all have contact information online, and I encourage people to contact their senators.