THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH ASIAN STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1: Name
The name of the organization shall be South Asian Students Association.
Section 2: Goals and Objectives
The organization shall have the following goals and objectives:
a) To increase awareness of Asian and Asian-American heritage.
1) Through various aspects of the curriculum and social campus-wide functions.
2) To break through myths and stereotypes of Asian students.
b) To provide a support system for students who can relate to one another in a comfortable and social atmosphere to grow, learn and cooperate.
c) To unite and be the voice of the Asian and Asian-American community at Bucknell.
d) To promote a multicultural education for a multi-ethnic society.
ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Qualifications
a) Membership shall be open to the Bucknell University community.
b) Membership is voluntary and new members shall be welcome throughout the year.
c) Membership shall be maintained in the organization only by active participation in meetings and activities.
d) A membership fee may be implemented in times of financial stress as deemed necessary by the majority of the general membership and the majority of the Executive Committee.
Section 2: Determining Membership
a) Membership shall be renewed every academic year.
b) Membership shall be confirmed based on the degree of individual participation as determined by the executive staff.
c) Members abroad for a semester shall have their membership renewed upon their return to Bucknell.
Section 3: Responsibilities
a) Members shall not make any decision individually for the organization without any approval from the executive committee and/or the general membership.
b) Each member of the organization has the responsibility to uphold the goals and ideas of the organization and to abide by the constitution.
Section 4: Directory
a) Membership shall be recorded by the member’s name, year of graduation, box number, campus address, ad phone number.
b) Membership is recorded and maintained by the Secretary.
ARTICLE III: THE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE
Section 1: The structure of the organization shall consist of two components:
a) The general membership
b) The executive officers
Section 2: Special committees shall be initiated by the Executive Committee and shall be composed of the general membership.
ARTICLE IV: ELECTED OFFICERS
Section 1: There shall be five elected officers: Two Co-Presidents, the Vice President of finance, the Vice president of Social and Political Affairs and the Vice-President of Communications.
Section 2: Duties of elected officers:
Duties may overlap depending on what is most convenient.
a) Co-presidents:
1) Responsible for representing the organization at all functions and meetings outside the organization.
2) Maintain contact and communication with administrators, university personnel and other organizations.
3) Convene and preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee and the general membership.
4) Delegate duties to the other officers.
5) Responsible for inviting past Executives of the organization for further advisement at Executive meetings.
6) Responsible for bringing attention to issues and functions relevant to the organization both inside and outside of the campus.
b) Vice President of Finance:
1) Represent the organization during appropriations.
2) Develop the budget and maintain the current status of financial records.
3) Responsible for the appropriations of funds, reimbursements, payments, accounts received etc.
4) Responsible for communication with relevant financial personnel.
5) Responsible for raising funds.
c) Vice President of Social and Political Affairs:
1) Organize activities based on the interest of the organization.
2) Assist in social functions and activities both inside and outside of the organization.
3) Help promote internal, social unity within the organization and with other ethnic clubs at other universities.
4) Plan out a practical social activity agenda.
d) Vice President of communications:
1) Maintain an accurate roster and membership directory.
2) Publicize all meetings, events, and activities.
3) Responsible for semester calendar.
4) Inform executive Committee of activities both inside and outside of the organization.
ARTICLE V: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1: Time and Nominations of Elections
a) The election of new officers shall occur in April of each year or upon the resignation or removal of any officers.
b) Nomination and election shall not occur at the same meeting.
c) The nomination and election shall be called, organized, and executed by the executive committee.
Section 2: Procedure of Nominations
a) Any member may be nominated for any of the positions in the executive committee as long as:
1) They are present during nominations.
2) They are not going abroad for any semester of the following academic year.
b) All members present shall participate in nominations.
c) All nominations shall be open and not in secret.
d) Nominations shall require the endorsement of at least two members.
e) Nominees may refuse to accept to accept a nomination, but must do so before the close of the nomination procedure in order for another member may be nominated in place.
f) Nominees shall be candidates only for positions that they have been nominated for.
g) A member shall be nominated for a maximum of two positions.
Section 3: Procedure of elections
a) Elections shall take place the following week after nominations.
b) Each nominee shall give a speech before the general membership.
c) Elections shall be a secret ballot and shall require the affirmation of a majority of the general membership present and voting.
d) Ballots shall be counted by one of the organization’s advisors.
e) A nominee running unopposed shall be required to give a speech and still be voted upon. If that person is not elected by a majority of the membership present and voting, the nomination and election procedure shall take place immediately afterward.
f) A second round of nominations and elections shall take place immediately following elections if
1) An unopposed nominee is not elected.
2) A position has no candidates.
g) Members of the current Executive Committee may be reelected.
h) Newly elected members shall resume their responsibilities at the start of the first or fall semester of the following academic year.
ARTICLE VI: REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF OFFICERS
a) An officer, continuously failing to execute the duties of office, shall be removed by a 5/6 vote of the Executive committee and the majority of the general membership.
b) An officer may resign provided that he/she continues his/her responsibilities until a replacement is found.
c) An officer removed and/or resigned shall be replaced following the normal nomination and election procedure.
ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS
Section 1: General membership meetings
a) General membership meetings shall occur every week unless otherwise specified.
b) Time, date, and place of general membership meeting shall be determined by the general membership and the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VIII: MODIFICATION TO THE CONSTITUTION
a) An amendment to the constitution shall be approved by the majority of the general membership and the majority of the executive committee.
b) Matters unspecified in the constitution shall be decided upon by the executive committee and/or general membership when necessary.
Section 1: Name
The name of the organization shall be South Asian Students Association.
Section 2: Goals and Objectives
The organization shall have the following goals and objectives:
a) To increase awareness of Asian and Asian-American heritage.
1) Through various aspects of the curriculum and social campus-wide functions.
2) To break through myths and stereotypes of Asian students.
b) To provide a support system for students who can relate to one another in a comfortable and social atmosphere to grow, learn and cooperate.
c) To unite and be the voice of the Asian and Asian-American community at Bucknell.
d) To promote a multicultural education for a multi-ethnic society.
ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Qualifications
a) Membership shall be open to the Bucknell University community.
b) Membership is voluntary and new members shall be welcome throughout the year.
c) Membership shall be maintained in the organization only by active participation in meetings and activities.
d) A membership fee may be implemented in times of financial stress as deemed necessary by the majority of the general membership and the majority of the Executive Committee.
Section 2: Determining Membership
a) Membership shall be renewed every academic year.
b) Membership shall be confirmed based on the degree of individual participation as determined by the executive staff.
c) Members abroad for a semester shall have their membership renewed upon their return to Bucknell.
Section 3: Responsibilities
a) Members shall not make any decision individually for the organization without any approval from the executive committee and/or the general membership.
b) Each member of the organization has the responsibility to uphold the goals and ideas of the organization and to abide by the constitution.
Section 4: Directory
a) Membership shall be recorded by the member’s name, year of graduation, box number, campus address, ad phone number.
b) Membership is recorded and maintained by the Secretary.
ARTICLE III: THE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE
Section 1: The structure of the organization shall consist of two components:
a) The general membership
b) The executive officers
Section 2: Special committees shall be initiated by the Executive Committee and shall be composed of the general membership.
ARTICLE IV: ELECTED OFFICERS
Section 1: There shall be five elected officers: Two Co-Presidents, the Vice President of finance, the Vice president of Social and Political Affairs and the Vice-President of Communications.
Section 2: Duties of elected officers:
Duties may overlap depending on what is most convenient.
a) Co-presidents:
1) Responsible for representing the organization at all functions and meetings outside the organization.
2) Maintain contact and communication with administrators, university personnel and other organizations.
3) Convene and preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee and the general membership.
4) Delegate duties to the other officers.
5) Responsible for inviting past Executives of the organization for further advisement at Executive meetings.
6) Responsible for bringing attention to issues and functions relevant to the organization both inside and outside of the campus.
b) Vice President of Finance:
1) Represent the organization during appropriations.
2) Develop the budget and maintain the current status of financial records.
3) Responsible for the appropriations of funds, reimbursements, payments, accounts received etc.
4) Responsible for communication with relevant financial personnel.
5) Responsible for raising funds.
c) Vice President of Social and Political Affairs:
1) Organize activities based on the interest of the organization.
2) Assist in social functions and activities both inside and outside of the organization.
3) Help promote internal, social unity within the organization and with other ethnic clubs at other universities.
4) Plan out a practical social activity agenda.
d) Vice President of communications:
1) Maintain an accurate roster and membership directory.
2) Publicize all meetings, events, and activities.
3) Responsible for semester calendar.
4) Inform executive Committee of activities both inside and outside of the organization.
ARTICLE V: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1: Time and Nominations of Elections
a) The election of new officers shall occur in April of each year or upon the resignation or removal of any officers.
b) Nomination and election shall not occur at the same meeting.
c) The nomination and election shall be called, organized, and executed by the executive committee.
Section 2: Procedure of Nominations
a) Any member may be nominated for any of the positions in the executive committee as long as:
1) They are present during nominations.
2) They are not going abroad for any semester of the following academic year.
b) All members present shall participate in nominations.
c) All nominations shall be open and not in secret.
d) Nominations shall require the endorsement of at least two members.
e) Nominees may refuse to accept to accept a nomination, but must do so before the close of the nomination procedure in order for another member may be nominated in place.
f) Nominees shall be candidates only for positions that they have been nominated for.
g) A member shall be nominated for a maximum of two positions.
Section 3: Procedure of elections
a) Elections shall take place the following week after nominations.
b) Each nominee shall give a speech before the general membership.
c) Elections shall be a secret ballot and shall require the affirmation of a majority of the general membership present and voting.
d) Ballots shall be counted by one of the organization’s advisors.
e) A nominee running unopposed shall be required to give a speech and still be voted upon. If that person is not elected by a majority of the membership present and voting, the nomination and election procedure shall take place immediately afterward.
f) A second round of nominations and elections shall take place immediately following elections if
1) An unopposed nominee is not elected.
2) A position has no candidates.
g) Members of the current Executive Committee may be reelected.
h) Newly elected members shall resume their responsibilities at the start of the first or fall semester of the following academic year.
ARTICLE VI: REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF OFFICERS
a) An officer, continuously failing to execute the duties of office, shall be removed by a 5/6 vote of the Executive committee and the majority of the general membership.
b) An officer may resign provided that he/she continues his/her responsibilities until a replacement is found.
c) An officer removed and/or resigned shall be replaced following the normal nomination and election procedure.
ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS
Section 1: General membership meetings
a) General membership meetings shall occur every week unless otherwise specified.
b) Time, date, and place of general membership meeting shall be determined by the general membership and the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VIII: MODIFICATION TO THE CONSTITUTION
a) An amendment to the constitution shall be approved by the majority of the general membership and the majority of the executive committee.
b) Matters unspecified in the constitution shall be decided upon by the executive committee and/or general membership when necessary.