In accord with a Student Judiciary ruling earlier this month, the Brandeis Libertarian Conservative Union proposed to change its name to the Brandeis Union For Liberty. The Judiciary, however, rejected the new name as inconsistent with the requirements of the justices' earlier decision.

BLCU President Joshua Nass '14 strongly objected to the decision in interviews with the Justice. He said the decision represents "a blatant abuse" of the Judiciary's power.

The case first made its way to the Judiciary after the Brandeis Libertarians, formerly known as Young Americans for Liberty, contested the validity of the BLCU using the term "libertarian" in its name. BL members said that BLCU misrepresented libertarianism.

The Judiciary decided on March 9 that BLCU would be required to change its name so as to "better represent the wide range of political views that BLCU portrayed to espouse during the trial." The original decision specifically forbade the word "libertarian," but said that using "liberty" would be allowed.

"That runs contrary to what libertarianism and conservatism is all about, which is allowing competition," said Nass of the claim that BLCU should not be allowed to have "libertarian" in their club name.

In its most recent decision not to allow the BLCU to change its name to Brandeis Union for Liberty, the Judiciary wrote in an email decision that "the name Brandeis Union for Liberty does not represent a wide range of political views."

The justices proposed other names such as "Brandeis Multi-Political Union" or "Brandeis Multi-Political Union for Liberty."
In an interview with the Justice, Chief Justice Claire Sinai '15 said the name Brandeis Union for Liberty does not comport with the earlier decision because the name did not demonstrate "multi-political views." Student Union President Ricky Rosen '14 insisted on being present for Sinai's interview with the Justice.

When asked to expand on how the name Brandeis Union for Liberty does not represent a range of political views, she said that "[i]t doesn't implicate politics in general. It just says 'Brandeis Union for Liberty.' I guess it shows libertarianism but we didn't believe at the time that it demonstrated that it has any other political views."

Although "liberty" may be acceptable in the name, in this case the word liberty "made it seem like it was more of a libertarian club and it didn't have an equal balance of political parties," said Sinai. When asked why she thinks liberty means libertarian, she said, "I'm not the person to ask about this. We said that they could use the word liberty because you can be for liberty and have many different views. But libertarianism is a specific, set view."

Nass fervently disagreed with the Judiciary's decision.

"Nobody can tell you with a straight face what that means because it makes no sense. Does that make any sense to anybody?" said Nass of the Judiciary's decision.

Associate Justice Luky Guigui '14, in an interview with the Justice, said of the case "The number one part of the case is that both clubs are at fault ... they both were not prepared for the trial like they were supposed to be."

Associate Justice Maris Ryger-Wasserman '16 did not respond to a request for comment by press time.