The Brandeis Undergraduate Consulting Club returned to the Union Senate during its March 21 meeting to pitch why it should be recognized as a club. A recognized club is approved for operation by the school, but unlike chartered clubs, does not receive funding.

Consulting Club President Matthew Massa ’22 said that the club had made changes from the previous semester and was now qualified to be a club. Last semester, the club had asked for funding, and this semester, they only sought recognition.

According to Massa, Hiatt Career Center's Assistant Director of Career Development Zachary Vigliani had endorsed the club prior to the meeting. Massa read a statement from Vigliani which said, “The Hiatt Career Center fully supports this club. … We look forward to collaborating with them in the future.”

In general, the opinions expressed by the senators at the Sunday meeting were more favorable to the club than last semester. Senators that had previously voted against the club also expressed their support. “I didn’t support them last time, but I’m really impressed by your presentation tonight,” Sen. Asher Brenner ’24 told Massa.

Sen. Noah Risley ’24 was the only voice in opposition to the club. Risley cited what they saw as Massa’s inadequate response to questions about diversity and inclusion within the club, as well as personal objections to multiple speakers and companies, such as Bain Capital, which the club plans to host in future events.

The Senate voted by roll call to approve the club, with 15 votes in support and only three abstentions and two votes in opposition.

Next, Brandeis Television President Libby Eisenberg ’21 came to present to the Senate why the club  should retain its status as a secured club. There are only 10 secured clubs, and their status as secured means that they do not need to itemize their funding requests. Student Union members only decide whether these clubs retain their secured position every three years, when they review the Union Constitution.

The Senate voted by roll call, with six abstentions. Only one senator voted in BTV’s favor.

The Senate’s vote on BTV’s status was only a “courtesy vote,” according to Vice President Krupa Sourirjan ’23. Only the constitutional review board will be able to make the final decision on whether BTV remains a secured club.

Sourirajan then informed the Senate that Allocations Board member Jacob Zackai ’24, who was put on probation for violating A-Board rules last semester, resigned from his position earlier this week. She did not give any details as to why Zackai chose to leave his position.

The Senate then moved to vote on Sen. Courtney Thrun’s ’22 Midnight Buffet Senate Money Resolution, which was discussed the previous week. Thrun said that she managed to bring down the cost of the bucket hats by $2 each, which would allow the Senate to order 50 more hats for roughly the same price. Thrun also included $1,000 for food expenses, which would only be used if the food could be prepared and distributed in line with COVID-19 regulations. If this is not possible, the $1,000 would remain unused, she said.

Sen. Joseph Coles ’22 opposed the “hanging cost” of the $1,000. “I don’t think it’s good practice for the Senate to allocate large sums of money and use a portion of that,” Coles said.

The Senate voted by roll call, with 13 in favor, seven abstentions and two in opposition, passing the SMR.

Sen. Ben Topol ’24 then presented his revised SMR, which would fund five picnic tables to be put in Massell Quad, as well as five signs to show that the tables had been bought by the Union. The tables would replace rotting tables and add new spaces for students to eat outside.

Three senators abstained, and the other 18 voted to pass Topol’s SMR.

At the end of the meeting, the Senate passed by acclamation Cole’s amendment to the Union bylaws which would require that all projects funded by the Union have the Union’s name and/or logo on it, when possible.