A request to charter the Brandeis Greek Awareness Club was first changed to a request to recognize the club, and then lost to an 11-5 vote Sunday night at the Union Senate meeting. The Union Senate discussed the club's constitution and possible conflict with the Rights and Responsibilities handbook for nearly an hour before the final vote occurred.The club's constitution stated the Greek Awareness Club's purpose. "To educate members of the Brandeis community on the social and philanthropic efforts, as well as the ideology of various Greek letter organizations at Brandeis and nationally," the document read.

"Social" was changed to "cultural" prior to the vote.

"Members of Greek organizations who accompanied me were horrified and alienated by the treatment the Senate afforded them," Union Advocate Josh Sugarman '05, one of the students who asked that the club be recognized, said.

"The Board of Trustees's policy banning Greek organizations from campus has cast a chilling effect on the freedom individual students have to discuss and evaluate on issues concerning Greek organizations," Sugarman said.

Some senators expressed anxiety that the Brandeis Greek Awareness Club could serve as a front for Greek organizations themselves, or could serve to promote their social events.

"Quite specifically, (to recognize the club) violates Rights and Responsibilities and as senators we have to uphold that," Class of 2003 Senator Aziz Nekoukar '03 said.

Appendix B of Rights and Responsibilities prohibits the recognition of fraternities and sororities. "Therefore, social fraternities and sororities, in particular, are neither recognized nor permitted to hold activities on campus or use University facilities," the document reads.

Petitioners on behalf of the Greek Awareness Club denied any ulterior motive.

"So, at that point for these organizations, the Brandeis Greek Awareness Club could be very much a front club for a fraternity, or just a recruitment club," Executive Senator Kate Vogel '03 said.

"We do hope to talk to the Board of Trustees in reference to the original policy and the indirect effect it has had, which we believe was not their original intent," Sugarman said.

"I think it should have been recognized," said Mod Senator Seth Baylis '02. "The purpose of the club's constitution stated that what they were proposing was vague and should have been reworded. But, Greek life is a culture," she stated.

"If it turned out to be a propagandist organization that was merely an outlet to get people to join fraternities or come to parties, then it should be dechartered," Baylis said.

Sugarman said that would-be members of the Brandeis Greek Awareness Club "might file UJ case, though we haven't decided how to proceed at this point.