This week's Senate meeting was centrally dedicated to two new proposed amendments to Brandeis' process of recognizing and chartering clubs. The amendments had been discussed and debated for several weeks, and during this meeting the Senate rejected each amendment. The amendments were introduced by the Ways and Means committee and were principally represented by Executive Senator and Senator for the Class of 2014 Ricky Rosen. Other important issues besides the amendments were also discussed at length.

The amendments to the Student Union constitution bylaws were discussed last. Both amendments were intended to revise the processes for club recognition and chartering.

The first amendment, which was defeated nine to three, would have completely separated club recognition and charter by two weeks and set required meeting times. According to Rosen, this would create a more stable process. Members of the Club Support Committee disagreed, stating that the amendment would merely create unnecessary red tape for clubs.
The second amendment, also defeated, would have gotten rid of the requirement for prospective club administrators to gather 100 signatures for the club to be chartered. The reason for this proposed change was to give club leaders less busywork and more time to write constitutions and fill other requirements to prepare for recognition and chartering.

Preceding the amendment votes, Student Union President Todd Kirkland '13 spoke to the senate about community outreach. Kirkland expressed his concern that there was not enough effort by the Union to encourage student participation in events and discussions, as evidenced by the drop in student attendance at public forums and Senate events.

He also announced his decrease in responsibility in relation to 'Deis Impact, as he is graduating in the spring.

There was also discussion as to the issue of attendance at Senate Committee meetings, which has been inconsistent.
Next was a request from Student Union Finance Board Chair Nathan Israel for a possible step between club recognition and chartering, as the number of chartered clubs has grown so high that on-campus storage for clubs has begun to run out.

This was followed by a presentation by Rasheik Trammell '13, Brandeis charter coordinator for Teach for America.

Trammell promoted a collaborative effort between the Student Union and Teach for America to set up student events at Brandeis dedicated to Teach for America's campaign against education inequality.

Various Senate committees then presented issues they had encountered over the past few weeks. The major problem addressed was the fact that theft of silverware from Sherman Dining Hall has already cost the University $15,000 since the beginning of this semester, according to Danny Novak '15, the head of the senate dining committee.

The Senate will soon formulate methods to discourage said theft.

-Jess Linde