ASU Constitution

ARTICLE I – Name of Organization

• African Student Union

ARTICLE II – The Purpose of the Organization

• To promote cultural awareness of the African continent within the organization and within Vanderbilt

• To foster unity among African students at Vanderbilt

ARTICLE III

• LIFE MEMBERS

o Any members that are active members during their study at Vanderbilt become life members after graduation.

• ACTIVE MEMBERS

o Currently enrolled Vanderbilt students who pay dues, attend meetings, and participate in various events organized by the organization.

• MEMBERSHIP DUES

o Currently set at $10 to be paid by members at the beginning of each semester or whenever a person joins.

• ELIGIBILITTY TO VOTE

o All active members have the right to vote.

ARTICLE IV

• ADVISOR

o Sherif Barsoum

• PRESIDENT

o Works closely with the advisor(s) with issues concerning the organization

o Works closely with other officers to oversee events and meetings

• VICE-PRESIDENT

o Assists the president

o Stands in when president cannot be present at certain events/meetings

o Works closely with treasurer and secretaries in executing their duties.

o In case there is too much work for any officer at any time, VP should relieve that officer of some of those duties

• TREASURER

o Collects dues

o Gets purchase orders

o Keeps track of budget

• SECRETARY

o Sets up meetings

o Takes care of correspondence by e-mailing members to keep them informed about activities and any announcements

o Takes minutes at meetings

o Organizes refreshments for meetings.

• Social Chair

o Event planning

o Makes room reservations for meetings and events

o Will delegate for food, decorations, clean-up, etc for events

o Help to design/find a designer for posters and flyers for events.

o Work to build ties between Vanderbilt ASU and other university’s African groups (Fisk, TSU, Belmont, etc.).

• Recruitment & Retention

o Publicity

o Charged with helping to increase attendance at events

o Work to encourage repeat attendees and new members

o Welcomes people to meetings/events

o The social face of ASU

• Webmaster

o Maintain and Update the ASU website monthly, or as necessary

o Maintain and update the ASU Facebook page

o Facebook events must be created 5 days prior to the event

o Must post reminders for the event 3 days, 2 days, and continually the day of

o Help to design/find designers for posters and flyers for events

o Post one Africa Update to the Facebook page weekly

• Historian

o Take pictures at all events!

o Work with webmaster to upload pictures to website and Facebook page

o Help to design/find designers for posters and flyers for events

o Update tri-fold board when necessary

o Create picture slide shows for Harambee and other big events

• MLC Rep

o Attend all MLC meetings

o Attend Executive Board meetings once a month to update us on MLC happenings

o Work actively within MLC to build relationships between ASU and other MLC organizations

o Attend other organization’s events as the ASU representative

• Community Services Chairs

o In-charge of planning 2 community service activities per semester

o Attend weekly E-board meetings

o Work to build community partnerships between ASU and Nashville

o Work to build partnerships between ASU and other Vanderbilt service oriented groups who share our same mission

• Freshman Representative

o Elected in the Fall

o Work closely with incoming freshman class to increase attendance and membership

o A member of the Harambee committee

TERM OF OFFICE

• Once elected officers hold their positions for a year (unless removed by appropriate procedure for inefficiency. See below).

• Elections will be held at the end of the academic year (ideally during the 2^nd week in April)

• Officers may be re-elected once i.e. may hold an office for a maximum of two years.

VOTING PROCEDURE

• Voting will be conducted by secret ballots.

REMOVAL

• If members are unhappy about a particular officer (in terms of their efficiency in carrying out the duties) the following procedure must be followed before removal:

1. A warning is issued by the executive board and the officer in question is given a chance to improve.  Officer is re-evaluated after one month

2. If this fails, a general body meeting is called and the officer may then be voted out.

ARTICLE VI

• Executive Council

o Authority in removal of an officer.

o Executive meetings called as necessary.

ARTICLE VII

• Sub-committees may be set up to take care of organizing a particular event
• The sub-committees report progress to president/V. president, and later to all members at general meetings

ARTICLE VIII

• Members shall be informed two weeks in advance about major pending issues such as elections, officer removal, changes to the constitution etc.