Over 40 student-run clubs were notified last January that they were in danger of being dechartered or derecognized because their leaders failed to submit mandatory club renewal forms to the Student Union by the Feb. 14 deadline.The Brandeis Democrats, Student Events, Students for Environmental Action and several other active campus groups may lose their copy privileges, the ability to request funds from the Finance Board and Web space on the Brandeis server, if the Senate votes in favor of dechartering or derecognizing them Sunday.

In order to regain their status, these clubs would have to go through the same process as a new club hoping to get chartered or recognized: Attend a Senate meeting, make a presentation on why the club should exist and then be voted on by the Senate.

Union Secretary Alex Braver '09 sent the initial warning to clubs to send in the online form via e-mail Jan. 30. The form requests general club information, including its name, status, current leadership and number of active members. Club leaders were also asked to upload their club constitutions to their Web sites and give feedback on the form regarding their funding for the year, as well as recap the successes and failures of the year.

Senator-at-Large Shreeya Sinha '09, who serves as chaiar of the Club Support Committee, sent an additional reminder Feb. 15 stating that the initial deadline had passed and would be extended until 11:59 p.m. Feb 16. Sinha reminded club leaders they were in danger of being dechartered or derecognized if they did not fill out the form.

The final deadline for club renewal forms, which was extended again, was Sunday at 7 p.m. At the Senate meeting immediately following the deadline, the Union planned to vote on whether to decharter and derecognize the clubs.

However, the motion was tabled until next Sunday because Sinha did not submit the list of endangered clubs, according to Executive Senator Laura Covey '07, or attend Sunday's meeting.

Club leaders disagree over whether the Union did an adequate job informing them about the form, explaining the reasons behind the renewal forms and supporting their clubs.

Courtney Rand '07, co-president of the Punk, Rock n' Roll Club, which filled out the form by the first deadline, wrote in an e-mail that she felt satisfied with the three e-mails and Facebook message the Union sent to remind her about the form.

Brandeis Democrats President Sarah Mulhern '08 disagreed because e-mails get lost in the shuffle, she said.

"The fact that no one did me the courtesy to e-mail me [outside of the list] that my club was in danger of being dechartered was downright offensive," she said. Her club is in danger of being dechartered.

More clubs were at risk for being dechartered or derecognized in past semesters, Sinha said, but there was more hype this year because she extended the deadlines.

"I don't want to see clubs go," she said. "Their purpose is valuable."

Josh Karpoff, senator for the Class of 2007 said the renewal form is important because "we want to make sure we are not just giving resources to random individuals who used to be a part of clubs that used to be active."

Compromises have been suggested by senators and club leaders. "The Union should take steps against [clubs] but I don't think they should be dechartered," said Robbie Schwartz '08, Ziv Quad senator. Mulhern proposed calling for a mandatory meeting to discuss how to handle the clubs that are late in filling out the forms. Schwartz recommended revoking copy machine privileges until forms are completed.

Jason Gray '10, senator for Massell Quad, said the Union shouldn't get rid of a club if they know it's active on campus. "If a club exists, and is doing its job, it won't be dechartered or derecognized; there should be no qualms about that," he said.