Drafted: 04-22-14
Last Amended: 04-23-14
Student Organization Constitution
Articles
Article I: The Name, Purpose, and Non-Discrimination Policy of the Organization
§ Section 1/3:
o Name: “The Critical Media Literacy Society”
§ Section 2/3:
o Purpose: “It is the purpose of The Critical Media Literacy Society to offer students a space within which to not only learn about, draw upon existing, and develop novel methods for critically analyzing potentially institutionally discriminatory media forms, but also experience and contribute to an inclusive, critically-minded, democratic student community.”
§ Section 3/3:
o Non-Discrimination Policy: “This organization and its members shall not discriminate against any individual(s) for reasons of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.”
Article II: Membership – Qualifications and Categories of Membership
§ Section 1/1:
o Qualifications and Categories of Membership: Membership is open to all currently enrolled students, undergraduate and graduate, of The Ohio State University. Voting membership is restricted only to currently enrolled students of The Ohio State University. Faculty, alumni, professionals, etc., other than currently enrolled students of The Ohio State University, are encouraged to join, but must accept a non-voting associate membership and/or honorary (also non-voting) membership.
Article III: Organization Leadership – Titles, Terms of Office, and Duties of Leaders
§ Section 1/3:
o Titles:
§ Student President
§ Student Vice-President (#1)
§ Student Vice-President (#2)
§ Student Treasurer
§ Student Secretary
§ Student Events/Social Chairperson
§ Student Service/Philanthropy Chairperson
§ Section 2/3:
o Terms of Office:
§ Student President: One Registration Year, Renewable Ad Infinitum Upon Re-Election
§ Student Vice-President (#1): One Registration Year, Renewable Ad Infinitum Upon Re-Election
§ Student Vice-President (#2): One Registration Year, Renewable Ad Infinitum Upon Re-Election
§ Student Treasurer: One Registration Year, Renewable Ad Infinitum Upon Re-Election
§ Student Secretary: One Registration Year, Renewable Ad Infinitum Upon Re-Election
§ Student Events/Social Chairperson: One Registration Year, Renewable Ad Infinitum Upon Re-Election
§ Student Service/Philanthropy Chairperson: One Registration Year, Renewable Ad Infinitum Upon Re-Election
§ Section 3/3:
o Duties of Leaders:
§ Student President: To oversee general organization management, including correspondence, marketing, meeting planning, initiative planning, and dispute resolution
§ Student Vice-President (#1): To oversee general organization management, including correspondence, marketing, meeting planning, initiative planning, and dispute resolution, in accordance with the directives of the Student President
§ Student Vice-President (#2): To oversee general organization management, including correspondence, marketing, meeting planning, initiative planning, and dispute resolution, in accordance with the directives of the Student President
§ Student Treasurer: To oversee all organizational accounts and provide all members with regular updates regarding the statuses of these accounts
§ Student Secretary: To compile and manage transcripts from all meetings and to assist the Student President and Student Vice-Presidents with any and all correspondence and marketing tasks
§ Student Events/Social Chairperson: To manage all organizational and community events, in accordance with the directives of the Student President and Student Vice-Presidents
§ Student Service/Philanthropy Chairperson: To manage all university and community outreach initiatives, in accordance with the directives of the Student President and Student Vice-Presidents
Article IV: Method of Selecting and Removing Members and Officers
§ Section 1/4:
o Method of Selecting Members: Membership is open to all currently enrolled students, undergraduate and graduate, of The Ohio State University.
§ Section 2/4:
o Method of Removing Members: “General members and elected or appointed leaders should be expected to meet certain standards and conduct themselves in a way that reflects well on the organization.” Thus, the Student Officers shall collectively and immediately terminate any student’s membership status or students’ membership statuses for any one or combination of the following reasons:
§ Breaking Any Local, State, or Federal Law(s)
§ Breaking Any OSU Policies
§ Breaking the Organization’s Non-Discrimination Policy
§ Section 3/4:
o Method of Selecting Officers: Two-thirds of the organization must be present upon a designated date in April to democratically vote for, via balloting, elected Student Officers.
§ Section 4/4:
o Method of Removing Officers: “General members and elected or appointed leaders should be expected to meet certain standards and conduct themselves in a way that reflects well on the organization.” Thus, all fellow Student Officers shall collectively and immediately terminate any officer’s membership status or officers’ membership statuses for any one or combination of the following reasons:
§ Breaking Any Local, State, or Federal Law(s)
§ Breaking Any OSU Policies
§ Breaking the Organization’s Non-Discrimination Policy
§ Dropping Below the Mandated Minimum Cumulative GPA for Student Officers
Article V: Qualification Criteria for Advisor(s)
§ Section 1/1:
o Qualification Criteria for Advisor(s): “Advisors of student organizations must be members of the University faculty or Administrative & Professional staff.” Advisors should assist Student Officers with their duties and serve as contacts for all members’ questions and concerns.
Article VI: Meetings of the Organization – Required Meetings and Their Frequency
§ Section 1/1:
o Required Meetings and Their Frequency: General membership should meet once each month during the autumn and spring semesters.
Article VII: Method of Amending the Constitution – Proposals and Voting Requirements
§ Section 1/2:
o Proposals: “Proposed amendments should be in writing, should not be acted upon but read in the general meeting in which they are proposed, should be read again at a specified number of subsequent general meetings and the general meeting in which the votes will be taken.”
§ Section 2/2:
o Voting Requirements: Approval requires at least two-thirds of voting members present and to conduct any business a quorum must be present, which is at minimum 50% + 1 of total organization members.
Article VIII: Method of Dissolution of Organization
§ Section 1/1:
o Methods of Dissolution of Organization: The organization’s original founder possesses the ultimate vote regarding whether or not to dissolve this organization. No Advisor’s, Advisors’, Student Officer, Student Officers’, member’s, or members’ vote or votes shall possess the potential to challenge or overturn the original founder’s vote regarding dissolution. In the absence or abstinence of the original founder’s opinion and/or vote, the majority of voting Student Officers shall then possess the right to decide whether or not this organization can be dissolved. In the case of a tie, the Student President’s vote shall count as two votes. Upon the dissolution of the organization, the Student Treasurer shall immediately remit all organizational assets to The Ohio State Student Union and the Student Officers shall immediately remit all existent debt to The Ohio State Student Union.
By-Laws
Article I: Parliamentary Authority
§ Section 1/1:
o Parliamentary Authority: “The rules contained in Robert’s Rule of Order shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the by-laws of this organization.”
Article II: Method of Amending By-Laws
§ Section 1/1:
o Method of Amending By-Laws: “By-laws may be amended by proposing in writing and reading the change at a general meeting of the membership and then bring the proposed change up for a vote at the next general meeting with a 2/3 majority vote of the membership present (a quorum being present).”
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