The Justice

Alterman said that he talked with Newman and the other senators about revising the constitution of A Cappella Etc. so that it wouldn't have a role in distributing money. "We talked about A Cappella Etc. getting money from the F-board to plan events, but it wouldn't give money to those groups; it would just invite those groups to participate," Alterman said. Another conflict standing in the way of chartering a cappella groups is that the groups are considered exclusive since they hold auditions. The Student Union doesn't charter clubs it considers exclusive because it does not want funding only going to select Brandeis students. Melman explained in an e-mail that to be granted charter status, a cappella groups would need to prove that there are "some ways for non-performing members to get involved and actively demonstrate a commitment to that."

Newman described a host of ways in which a cappella groups can demonstrate their nonexclusivity. "[A cappella groups] get help in a lot of ways-lighting, costumes, ushering, sound design or even as a liaison to recording studios." He explained that the nonexclusive ways to become involved are no different and also more extensive than other performing groups, many of which receive funding. Newman considers the only difference between a cappella and theater production to be that opportunities are "just not as advertised as theater production."

Newman also said that the funding of a cappella groups would benefit anyone who attends the show and enjoys their performance, so their ends are nonexclusive. "There are exclusive groups with exclusive ends. But there are also exclusive groups with nonexclusive ends. A capella groups have nonexclusive ends," said Newman.

Alterman is hopeful that the proposal to charter A Cappella Etc. will pass. "What I proposed and what we came to an agreement on seems like it could happen. In the end it depends on how many people vote for it."

Sniderman expressed the relief she would feel if this passes. "It would be so nice to do an event and not always have to be thinking about how we will get the money to have this event."

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