Constitution of

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Friends

 

ARTICLE I. NAME AND DEFINITION

 

Section 1. Name

 

The name of this organization shall be Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Friends (GLBTF).

 

Section 2 . Purpose

 

The purpose of this organization shall be five-fold:

 

A.   To combat prejudices and discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons;

B.    To educate the community about what is meant by being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender;

C.    To affirm a positive self-image for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons;

D.   To ensure the integrity of the individal, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, against personal and social prejudices; and

E.    To promote the elimination of legal discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons.

 

Section 3. Non-Discrimination Policy

 

Membership and/or participation in GLBTF shall not be denied on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender, gender identification, gender expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or political belief.

                       

Section 4. Affiliation

 

GLBTF is not affiliated with any parent organization.  This constitution, in accordance with the University of Oklahoma Student Code, is the sole and final governing document, subject to local, state and federal laws.

 

ARTICLE II.  MEMBERSHIP

 

Section 1. Membership

 

A.   Full membership shall be open to any student currently enrolled at the University of Oklahoma and a member of the University of Oklahoma Student Association.

B.    Associate membership shall be open to any person who is a part of the university community (staff, faculty and/or spouses).

C.    The secretary shall keep a confidential list of members and associate members of the organization.  Only the officers shall have access to this list.  This list shall include both students and non-students and a means of contact (email, phone number, address, etcÉ) as well as instructions regarding what degree of discretion is required.  Only those persons listed as members shall be eligible to vote.  This list shall be updated as necessary. 

 

Section 2. Revocation of Membership

 

Membership may be revoked for cause by a unanimous vote of the Executive Committee.  The individual whose membership is being revoked may appeal the decsion of the Executive Committee to the general membership at a regularly scheduled meeting.  To overturn a decision to revoke membership requires a two-thirds majority vote of those members eligible to vote attending the meeting.  The process of removing a member must include an opportunity for the individual whose membership is being revoked to speak on his or her own behalf.

 

ARTICLE III.  ORGANIZATION LEADERSHIP

 

Section 1.  Titles

           

The officers of the organization shall consist of a president, a vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer.

 

Section 2. Qualifications

 

All officers must be enrolled students at the University of Oklahoma in good standing with the university and their college.  "Good standing" is as defined by the University and the officer's college. 

           

Section 3. Terms

 

An officer's term lasts for one year, beginning at the end of the spring semester.  If at any time the officer is no longer in good academic standing or is no longer a student, their term shall immediately end.

 

Section 4. Election

 

Elections of officers shall be held each spring semester at least twenty (20) days before the end of the semester. Nominations for officers shall be opened at a regularly scheduled meeting, remaining open into the next regularly scheduled meeting, when nominations shall be closed and the vote taken. The officers must be elected by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members eligible to vote present at the meeting.

 

Full members are eligible to vote for officers. Members must have attended at least three regularly scheduled meetings during that semester previous to the meeting at which a vote for officers is taken in order to be eligible to vote.

 

When a new officer takes over, the retiring officer shall turn over to his or her successor all records, books of account, and all monies and papers belonging to this organization that are in his or her possession.

 

Section 5. Duties of Officers

 

A.   President. The president shall be the spokesperson for the organization. He or she shall strive to maintain communication with state and national organizations of similar concerns. The president shall maintain the operations manual to facilitate the operation of the organization in the future. A pronouncement by the president shall not obligate or commit this organization unless the pronouncement receives specific authorization by the Executive Committee or by majority vote of the membership within five (5) days. The president shall be responsible for the supervision of all committees.

B.    Vice-President. The vice-president shall preside over all meetings and shall organize all official GLBTF functions and events.

C.    Secretary. The secretary shall keep and make available all notes and information concerning meetings of the organization and the organization as a whole. All such information shall only be supplied to the Executive Committee with members' full names. Any such information shall be made available to others with first names only in order to ensure the protection of members' identities.  The secretary shall be responsible for weekly updates to mailing lists, bulletin boards and other means as necessary.

D.   Treasurer. The treasurer shall keep all monetary funds of the organization and exercise general supervision of its financial affairs and keep the records and books of account thereof. He or she shall have custody of the papers involving finance and financial commitment and shall present a financial report upon request by a majority of the membership. A financial report shall be presented to the Executive committee on no less than a quarterly basis and to the general membership no less than once each semester.

E.    In the event that an officer is unable to fulfill a part of his or her duty, that duty shall be performed by another officer, decided by consent at an Executive Committee meeting.  Any duty not specified here shall also be delegated to an officer by consent during an Executive Committee meeting.

 

Section 6. Removal of Officers

 

An officer may be removed from office for reasonable cause. Reasonable cause shall be understood as neglect of duty or gross misconduct. A member may initiate such action by bringing any charges to the Executive Committee. If any officer find the charges to have merit, then the issue shall be brought before the membership. If no officer finds the charges to have merit, the general membership may be petitioned at a regularly scheduled meeting, where a majority vote may initiate a vote to remove the officer in question. In this case, the advisor should oversee the vote. A vote to remove an officer shall be announced at a regularly scheduled meeting and taken at the next regularly scheduled meeting. The vote to remove an officer shall require a two-thirds majority of those members eligible to vote attending the meeting. The process of removing an officer must include an opportunity for the individual being removed to speak on his or her own behalf.

 

Section 7. Officer Vacancies

 

If the president leaves office before his or her term is over, the vice-president, or in his or her absence the secretary, or in his or her absence the treasurer, shall call for an election to replace the president. If any other officer leaves office before his or her term is over, the president shall call for an election to replace the officer. Elections to replace officers shall be held within three (3) weeks of the announcement. Elections to replace officers shall follow the procedure given in Article III, Section 3.  The replacement officer shall serve until the next regular spring election, when they may be eligible for re-election.

 

ARTICLE IV. ADVISOR.

 

Section 1. Qualifications

 

GLBTF shall retain at least one full-time University of Oklahoma faculty or staff member as an advisor.

 

Section 2. Responsibilities

                       

The faculty or staff advisor shall act as a liason between GLBTF and the University of Oklahoma administration.

 

Section 3. Role in Organization

 

The faculty or staff advisor shall be eligible to vote in all officer elections (including votes for the dismissal of officers): however, his or her consent shall not be required in any election or vote, including those for constitutional amendments or to initiate the process of officer removal.

 

ARTICLE V. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

 

Section 1. Name of Committee

 

The executive committee of GLBTF shall be known as the Executive Committee.

 

Section 2. Members of Committee

 

The members of the Executive Committee shall be the president, the vice-president, the secretary, and the treasurer.

 

Section 3. Duties/Responsibilities of Committee

                       

It shall be the responsibility of the Executive Committee to approve or revoke membership, authorize pronouncements by the president to obligate or commit the organization, and oversee the process of approving or removing officers. The Executive Committee shall present regular reports, to number no less than twice each semester, to the general membership regarding its actions, the groupÕs progress and compliance with constitutionally required activities.

 

Section 4. Meetings

 

The Executive Committee shall meet each week of its term. 

 

ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS

 

Section 1. Required Meetings

                       

Students are required to attend 3 meetings to be considered full members of the organization.

 

Section 2. Frequency

 

Regular meetings shall be held once a week throughout the fall and spring semesters, except when replaced by a GLBTF-sponsored event.

 

Section 3. Notification of Meetings

 

Regular meetings require public notice of at least one week. An announcement at the previous meeting shall constitute public notice. Further notification may include, but shall not be limited to: emailing notices, chalking campus sidewalks, posting flyers on campus, and same-day notice in the "Campus Notes" section of The Oklahoma Daily. 

 

Section 4. Quorum

 

Business may be conducted at any regularly scheduled meeting as long as proper notification of members has occurred. Meetings shall follow a traditional parliamentary procedure, as those presented at http://www.rulesonline.com.

 

ARTICLE VII. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

 

Section 1. Proposals

                       

Proposed amendments to this constitution must be introduced at a regularly scheduled meeting.

 

Section 2. Notice

 

All members will be notified by email that an amendment to this constitution has been proposed. Amendments to this constitution shall be voted upon at the next regularly scheduled meeting to follow the meeting at which the amendment has been proposed.

 

Section 3. Voting Requirement

 

A two-thirds majority of members eligible to vote is required for the approval of amendments. Three copies of the amended constitution are to be submitted to Kim Fairbanks in the Center for Student Life each time an amendment is made.