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Constitution of Queer and Beyond

Graduate Student Association

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Constitution of Queer and Beyond Constitution of Queer and Beyond

Article I 

The Queer Organization for graduate students of Emerson College will be known as ‘The Queer and Beyond’.

Article II: Purpose

The aim of The Queer and Beyond would be to provide a community for LGBTQIA+ graduate students at Emerson College. Queer and Beyond aims to organize social and creative events for queer graduate students. The organization will be a space where they can discuss important issues of LGBTQIA+ community in Emerson College. Queer and Beyond will be a welcoming place where LGBTQIA+ students and their allies can build up a community to share and learn together.

Article III: Membership

This organization will be open to all Emerson graduate students (full time, part time, on-line or in person). Voting members must attend 3 meetings a semester.

Article IV: Officers

Section 1

The Executive Council shall be comprised of:

  1. President
  2. Vice-President
  3. Treasurer
  4. Social Media Manager

Section 2

The President's Duties:

  1. Call and preside over meetings.
  2. Draw up an agenda for meetings.
  3. Negotiate matters concerning the organization with businesses and persons involved.
  4. Represent the GSO on any school committee.
  5. Assist the treasurer in handling the monies of the organization.

Section 3

The Vice-President's Duties:

  1. Assume the powers and duties of the President in the event of the President's prolonged absence, withdrawal from school, removal from office, or otherwise inability to fulfill the duties of the office.
  2. Preside over meetings when the President is not able to do so.
  3. Complete tasks delegated to him or her by the President.
  4. Keep minutes of all meetings of the Queer and Beyond
  5. Design, construct, and distribute any communiqué as required.
  6. Leads the Queer and Beyond discussion alongside the President.

Section 4

The Treasurer's Duties:

  1. Manage all monies of the organization.
  2. Keep detailed records of all the expenses incurred and make these records available for inspection by the Queer and Beyond members upon request.
  3. Responsible for all purchase orders, checks, expense sheets, requisitions, reimbursements or any other expenditures pertaining to the disbursement of the Queer and Beyond funds.
  4. Complete tasks delegated to him or her by the President.

Section 5

The Social Media Manager’s Duties:

  1. Reaching out to new members.
  2. Keeping students connected.
  3. Network Development.
  4. Maintaining Social Media communiqué as require
  5. Maintaining a file of correspondence received by the Queer and Beyond.
  6. Keep a list of all active members.
  7. Manage and create the monthly newsletter.

Article V: Term of Office

  1. Elected and appointed officers shall serve for one academic year only and their term shall end on the last day of the academic year.
  2. The President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Social Media Manager shall not be elected to the Executive Council more than once.
  3. No appointed officer shall hold the same position more than once; however, anyone may be reappointed to another position for the ensuing year by the incoming President.

Article VI: Vacancy in Office

Section 1

In case of a vacancy caused by resignation:

  1. A letter of resignation shall be presented to the Executive Council.
  2. The Executive Council shall then notify the general body of the resignation.

Section 2

Impeachment procedure is as follows:

  1. A petition signed by 25% of the Queer and Beyond members shall be presented to the Executive Council and the Advisor.
  2. The Executive Council shall then notify the person and the general body of the charges.
  3. The Executive Council shall make every effort to resolve the matter on its own. However, If it is unsuccessful in reaching a settlement with the party involved, it shall ask the GSA Executive Council members to discuss and vote on the matter.

Section 3

Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice-President, Treasurer, or Social Media Manager, the President shall appoint a person to serve in that position for the remainder of the academic year.

Article VII: Advisor

  1. A full time faculty/staff member shall be the Advisor.
  2. The Advisor shall meet with the President and with the Executive Council no less than once a month during each semester.

Article VIII: Voting

  1. Each member who has attended three meetings each semester has one vote.
  2. Voting shall take place by closed ballots.
  3. Votes shall be tabulated by the Executive Council. Any member of the Queer and Beyond members may be present during the tabulation.
  4. A majority vote of those present, by show of hands, or of the final tabulation, by closed ballots, shall determine the verdict for any voting issue.
  5. Ballots shall remain intact for the period of two weeks after the tabulation. F.Any Emerson Queer and Beyond member may formally request a recount during this period. G.The President may only vote if there is a tie.

Article IX: Elections

  1. Any graduate student may be nominated for office.
  2. Students may nominate themselves or any other graduate student for office.
  3. The candidate's name, department, and the office he/she seeks must be submitted in writing to the Executive Council.
  4. The deadline for name submission is the second Friday of September. Any person who fails to meet the deadline will not be allowed to enter the contest.
  5. Elections will be held during the first week of October.
  6. Any candidate running for elected office should be willing and able to serve a full year.
  7. Students graduating before May are not encouraged to seek the elected office.
  8. Candidates may campaign at their own expense. No funds will be provided by the Queer and Beyond for election campaigns.

Article X: Quorum

A quorum of three members shall be necessary to conduct business, one of whom shall be the President.

Article XI: Amendments

  1. The motion for amendment must come from the floor by a petition bearing the signature of no fewer than 20% of the membership.
  2. Queer and Beyond members shall be notified of the proposed amendments at least thirty days before voting.
  3. The constitution may be amended by a majority vote of no fewer than 35% of the membership.