* ASUCConstitutionHelpMe! -- please help edit this constitution! I think that the following should be in its own page where we can all edit it without using so much of this page (it would also make things more neat), but Im not sure how to do that.
This (the following paragraph in brackets) was sent out to the ASUC student group processing person. Note, if you think the name isnt good or if the purpose isnt accurate, we can submit another one. I just went ahead and did it to get the ball rolling, as it takes up to two days for the person to even consider the name and purpose as ASUC worthy.
Students Orienting Students
Purpose: Through student written articles, we inform and orient incoming students as to the scope and consequences of the activities of our University. We are educating each other in the sharing of our articles and will spread that education to the students at large with the publication of these articles. ]
This constitution was not sent out. This needs to be edited by yall. What I have written will be bold and italicized. Remember when you edit, we are not necessarily trying to capture our actual organization in ASUC form, nor are we necessarily trying to get our actual organization legitimized by the ASUC. But we are trying to put forward a constitution that would simultaniously get us money and not be a huge lie (which may or may not have consequences). When you edit this document, please edit with this in mind: which words and phrases would be most effective in achieving our goals? Thanks for your imput! I really need it! :
STUDENT ORGANIZATION NAME: Students Orienting Students Date Prepared Sept 30 07/ Amended: / /
Date Approved (OSL staff): / / Approved by (OSL staff):
_ ARTICLE I – Name: Students Orienting Students
What is the exact title and any group acronym that will be used in addressing your organization?
Students Orienting Students: SOS
NAME RESTRICTIONS: · The following names and terms CANNOT BE USED in any part of your student group name: Cal, California, UC Berkeley, Berkeley Campus. · The name “Berkeley” can be used only at the end your student group name in reference to geographical location, i.e., “at Berkeley” or “of Berkeley.” You may not begin your student group name with the name “Berkeley.”
ARTICLE II – What is your group’s purpose? Briefly describe the purpose and objectives of your organization
We seek to inform and orient incoming students as to not commonly known local resources and activities, as well as the historical scope and consequences of our University's activities past and present. We are educating each other in the sharing of our articles and will spread that education to the students at large with the publication of these articles.
ARTICLE III – Membership Describe who is eligible for membership? Are there any restrictions on University students (e.g., grade point average, class standing, etc.)?
Any student may join our group to help the research, writing, editing publication, fundraising, organizing, or distribution of the articles. Furthermore, any Berkeley resident or community member may also join as a 'non-active' member and be involved in all of the functions and activities of the organization as mentioned above (except voting and holding office). We will not haze according to California State Law; we will not restrict membership based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, physical and mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or status as a covered veteran (special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran or any other veteran who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized).
[REQUIRED MEMBERSHIP LANGUAGE] Only currently registered students, faculty and staff may be active members in a registered student organization. Only active members may vote or hold office. If your organization will be recognizing off-campus participants, including your group’s alumni, you are required to include a statement about these “non-active” members in this section.
[REQUIRED ANTI-HAZING STATEMENT] We will not haze according to California State Law; we will not restrict membership based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, physical and mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or status as a covered veteran (special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran or any other veteran who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized).
ARTICLE IV - Officers/Elections List the officers by title (e.g., President) or define the leadership structure if another system is used (e.g., spokesperson by consensus). What officers constitute an executive committee? Describe the process and required majority of votes by your active, voting membership by which officers will be elected or selected. What time of year will selection occur? How long do officers serve? Which officer serves as the primary signatory? How will officers be removed or replaced?
We make all of our decisions by formal consensus. Specific tasks and duties are allocated to persons who want to take on these responsibilities, subject to group oversight: group signitories, editing teams, layout comities, etc., which will be formed and dissolved as the group deems necessary. Within those teams, consensus is still an assumed means by which to make decisions.
ARTICLE V - Meetings How often will the group meet? Who will call the meetings? What is quorum? Will there be a call for special emergency meetings? How will you notify people of emergency meetings?
Our group meets every Friday at 3:30pm. Quorum for a particular issue is at least half of the active members of the group who have been working on that issue. Emergency meetings are called at least a day beforehand if they are needed and are called by any member who feels that extraordinary meetings are necessary, by means of the email listserve.
ARTICLE VI - Constitutional Amendments Who can propose an amendment? How are they proposed? What is the required period of time between the proposed amendment and a final vote? How will you notify active members that an amendment is going to be voted upon? Incorporate into your constitution that an amendment will need a 2/3 majority vote from your active membership in order to pass. Amendments change the structure of the group and it is important to have that 2/3 approval from the members at large.
Anyone can propose an amendment to the constitution, and that amendment must be ratified by consensus.
- [REQUIRED AMENDMENT CLAUSE] All amendments, additions or deletions must be filed with the Office of Student Life, 102 Sproul Hall. [REQUIRED ASUC AMENDMENT STATEMENT] All amendments, additions or deletions must be filed with the ASUC Office of Student Affairs, 400 Eshleman Hall within one week of adoption.
ARTICLE VII – Dissolution – (Address each point, please!) How will dissolution be decided? What is the required majority of votes to dissolve the group? What will you do with the unspent funds?
Dissolution will be decided by consensus of the group. All unspent funds will be returned to the ASUC or will go to fund other student publication projects aligned with our group's purpose.
[REQUIRED ASUC FUNDS STATEMENT] All unspent ASUC funds shall remain the property of ASUC, all Graduate Assembly funds shall remain the property of the Graduate Assembly. Remaining privately-obtained funds may be donated to another nonprofit organization with prior approval of the ASUC Senate Finance Committee.
There it is. The sooner we get this finished the sooner we can be a ASUC group. So, I will give it until the end of this week to get every one's input . . .? I dont know. Call me if you have any questions (although I just started a vow of silence and will not be talking untill Wednesday). 310-804-3475. Love you brothers and sisters!
Peace and Health,
matt
Edits by Peter Friday 10/5 Edits by AD Weds 10/17 - I included the mandatory non-hazing/non-discrimination statement, and a bit about the 'non-active' members as required. I just talked with Matt on the phone and he said we just need to put this in a word format and send it over to ASUC with some names. I'm putting it into a word format and sending it around.