SAC re-recognizes seven groups

The Student Activities Council voted last night to re-recognize seven groups which had lost recognition, mostly for lack of attendance. The body also approved funding for four other student groups and elected a new member, College sophomore Beth Limon of the Ballroom Dance Society, to the steering committee. Limon defeated College senior Daniel Fromer of the Lubavitch Students Association in a special election to fill a vacant steering committee spot. In last April's steering committee elections, no one ran for the position. In her speech, Limon said she wants to "be in touch with all the SAC groups and lobby for more money." SAC Chairperson Grace Esteban opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and saying that she wanted to increase SAC's role at the University. "We need to make SAC a more pro-active organization," she said. "We should lobby for more money." The steering committee recommended that social club Groove Phi Groove, which was up for re-recognition, not be recognized by SAC. After some debate, the full body decided to grant Groove Phi Groove re-recognition. During discussion, steering committee member Brad Rosenberg said that since Groove Phi Groove excluded members of Greek organizations from joining, it could not receive recognition. SAC guidelines state that in order to receive recognition, groups must be accessible to all students. Groove Phi Groove member Brian Lynk replied that his organization was formed as an alternative to Greek groups and that by definition it could not include members of fraternities. Lynk enlisted the aid of UA Chairperson Seth Hamalian, who affirmed his support for Groove Phi Groove. "This is an alternative to Greek life," Hamalian said. "Greeks can't join, just like someone who doesn't like singing or can't sing wouldn't join an a capella group." Hamalian added that SAC rules were merely guidelines and were less important than the "merit" of a group.