The Justice

Student Union President Shreeya Sinha '09 rallies students outside of Bernstein-Marcus and Gryzmish today in a Union-organized protest. Photo by Sara Brandenburg/the Justice.

"Hey Hey, Ho Ho, students rights cannot go," approximately 150 students chanted outside of the Bernstein-Marcus and Gryzmish administration buildings this afternoon, protesting the decision by Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Jean Eddy to approve a proposal that will allow Student Events to receive its funding directly from the department of Student Activities.

The proposal, approved by Eddy Nov. 26, allows Student Events to bypass the Student Union Finance Board when receiving 17 percent of the Student Activities Fee, which amounts to one percent of each student's tuition.

While the Union says the proposal is unconstitutional and detrimental to the ideas of student autonomy and financial oversight, Student Events representatives uphold that the money will allow them to react faster and with greater flexibility in planning events.

This was the second rally the Student Union organized for this cause, the first one coming last Sunday night in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium. This afternoon's protesters held signs and marched in a circle around the plaza outside administration buildings Bernstein-Marcus and Gryzmish, withstanding the cold weather and waiting for senior administrators to exit on their way to a faculty meeting.

After several minutes of marching, followed by call and response chants of "What do we want? - Student Rights, When do we want it? - Now," and, "Whose university? - Our university, Whose money? - Our money," the students created a tight circle around Student Union president Shreeya Sinha '09.

This is a "call to action," Sinha said. She explained the situation and said that the student body must believe in student rights and autonomy. Any decisions regarding the SAF "must be decided by you," she said. Sinha added that the protest was held to protect democracy and show that "we matter here at Brandeis."

The rally was held to raise awareness, Union Treasurer Choon Woo Ha '08 said. The constitution is a "sacred document," and once it is broken, it is forever broken. He said the decision must be reversed to protect the constitution and the rights of students.

Continued...

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