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EDITORIAL: Club exclusivity is justifiable
No need for umbrella group
Editorial | 3/17/09
Posted online at 11:32 PM EST on 3/16/09
/ Last updated at 2:15 AM EST on 3/16/09
A Cappella Etc., an umbrella organization that encompasses the University's 11 a cappella groups, recently received chartered status from the Student Union, allowing them to request funding from the Finance Board. The umbrella organization must exist because, according to the Student Union bylaws, the Union will only charter clubs that are "open to all members of the Brandeis community," meaning exclusive clubs like a cappella groups, which hold auditions, cannot receive F-Board funding.
But these groups should not need the hassle of an umbrella organization to obtain funds. The Union should have simply removed this clause from its bylaws. Instead of punishing exclusive organizations, it should celebrate the talents of our peers.
While we understand that the Union wants all members of the Brandeis community to be able to participate in any club they choose, the Union should also take an interest in ensuring appropriate club quality. Clubs like these a cappella groups deserve Union recognition to receive the funding necessary to properly display their talents.
Furthermore, if an a cappella group does not accept a prospective member, that individual student can always audition for a different group or start his or her own.
A cappella groups are not the only exclusive student clubs at Brandeis. Several of Brandeis' student-run theater groups, such as Tympanium Euphorium, hold auditions, and although anyone can contribute to the production of the show, the club does not cast every student who auditions in an acting role.
Yet these groups are still chartered and still request and receive money from the F-Board to use for their performances. Why shouldn't a cappella groups receive similar privileges so that they can enhance their performances as well? It appears to us that the Union is already disregarding its exclusivity policy in the case of theater groups.
We know that students are concerned about exclusivity with regard to Greek life on campus; however, changing this bylaw would not affect Greek life as there is already specific language in the bylaws that bans fraternities and sororities.
In place of the current blanket policy against exclusive clubs, the Union should determine on a case-by-case basis whether clubs are justifiably exclusive. A policy that will permit clubs a reasonable amount of leeway with respect to student qualifications would actually be more inclusive by allowing more student organizations to access club resources while still preventing an unfair exclusivity rule.
But these groups should not need the hassle of an umbrella organization to obtain funds. The Union should have simply removed this clause from its bylaws. Instead of punishing exclusive organizations, it should celebrate the talents of our peers.
While we understand that the Union wants all members of the Brandeis community to be able to participate in any club they choose, the Union should also take an interest in ensuring appropriate club quality. Clubs like these a cappella groups deserve Union recognition to receive the funding necessary to properly display their talents.
Furthermore, if an a cappella group does not accept a prospective member, that individual student can always audition for a different group or start his or her own.
A cappella groups are not the only exclusive student clubs at Brandeis. Several of Brandeis' student-run theater groups, such as Tympanium Euphorium, hold auditions, and although anyone can contribute to the production of the show, the club does not cast every student who auditions in an acting role.
Yet these groups are still chartered and still request and receive money from the F-Board to use for their performances. Why shouldn't a cappella groups receive similar privileges so that they can enhance their performances as well? It appears to us that the Union is already disregarding its exclusivity policy in the case of theater groups.
We know that students are concerned about exclusivity with regard to Greek life on campus; however, changing this bylaw would not affect Greek life as there is already specific language in the bylaws that bans fraternities and sororities.
In place of the current blanket policy against exclusive clubs, the Union should determine on a case-by-case basis whether clubs are justifiably exclusive. A policy that will permit clubs a reasonable amount of leeway with respect to student qualifications would actually be more inclusive by allowing more student organizations to access club resources while still preventing an unfair exclusivity rule.
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