The Rockhurst University UNITY Constitution Article I Name The name of this organization shall be the Rockhurst University UNITY, hereafter referred to as the Organization. Article II Purpose The purpose of this organization shall be to address the topic of sexual orientation and related issues in an educational and caring manner. This organization intends to address sexual identity within the teachings and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. We invite persons of all faith traditions to promote the Christian and Ignatian vision which affirms the goodness, worth and dignity of every person. This organization will foster an environment where all individuals, especially those who identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, or allied, may be unified in embracing diversity. The objectives of this organization shall be as follows: 1. To promote learning, respect, understanding, safety, and care among students of all sexual orientations and gender identities through educational programming and resource sharing. 2. To inform members and the student body of issues and events affecting the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and allied students. 3. To collaborate with University Offices and Departments around educational, University-sponsored programs that increase knowledge, challenge stereotypes, broaden experience, and engage in meaningful dialogue and reflection. 4. To create a safe, welcoming space for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and allied students to socialize and talk together about issues they hold in common. Article III Membership Regular membership of this organization shall be open to Rockhurst University students of any race, color, sex, creed, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, or religion. To be considered a regular voting member, the individual must uphold all the ideals of the organization and attend at least three meetings or events per semester. The following actions will be grounds for removal from this organization: 1. Revealing another member s sexual identity to any individual no matter if it is presumed that the person is supportive. 2. Speaking for the organization as a whole in reference to personal beliefs or controversial issues. This is solely the responsibility of the officers and the moderator(s). 3. Not acting in accordance with the purpose, objectives and beliefs of this organization.
4. Being on Disciplinary Probation I or II. For removal from the organization, the member will be notified in writing to appear for a removal hearing. The moderator(s), at least one officer and the member must be present at the hearing to discuss the member s removal. Following the hearing, the officers and moderator(s) will vote on the member s status. The member will then be notified in writing of the decision and their official membership status. Article IV Officers. Officers of the organization shall be as follows: 1. President 2. Vice President 3. Secretary 4. Treasurer Officers of the organization shall be elected during the last meeting of the fall semester by a majority vote of quorum (See Article V, Section 2). All members will be notified at least two weeks in advance of the election. The procedure for election is as follows: 1. A written notice of candidacy shall be submitted to the Officers of the organization two weeks before the election. 2. The candidate must be present at the election and shall be prepared to address any questions held by the voting membership. 3. A copy of the written notice of candidacy shall be presented to the voting membership. 4. Voting is conducted by a closed secret ballot. 5. The Moderator will be responsible for counting all votes and announcing the results of the election. Officers shall take office at the first meeting of the spring semester and shall hold office for a period of one year. Section 4. All Officers must have a minimum 2.5 GPA and shall not be on academic or disciplinary probation at the time of their elections and throughout their terms in office. Section 5. If an office becomes vacant, a special election will be held to elect a representative to finish the tenure of the office left vacant. Any special election will follow regular election procedures described in Section 6. Any Officer may be impeached from office for failure to perform the duties of their office (See Section 7). Impeachment requires a 2/3 vote of the membership present at the meeting at which an impeachment vote shall be taken. All members shall be notified in
writing at least two weeks in advance of the date of the impeachment vote. The procedure for impeachment is as follows: 1. A written motion outlining the circumstances for the removal of a particular officer shall be authorized by at least three members of the organization, and submitted to the remaining officers of the organization. 2. A copy of this motion shall be presented to the officer in question. The officer in question shall be given the opportunity to provide a defense. The officer shall not be present at the time of the vote. 3. A copy of this motion shall be presented to the voting membership the meeting of or before the impeachment vote. Section 7. Duties of the Officers. 1. The President shall preside over all organization meetings, conduct all official organizational business, conduct all public relations releases and requests, and reserves the right to appoint all committee chairpersons with the approval of quorum present. The president s responsibilities also include leading a committee that shall be responsible for collecting funds for special projects and to coordinate all student travel to any conferences or functions that may enhance the organization. 2. The Vice President shall coordinate and conduct programming that will serve to educate the organization and the Rockhurst community about homosexuality and other related issues. In the absence of a Service chair, the Vice President shall coordinate monthly service projects for the organization. The Vice President will also maintain all current service contacts and ongoing projects. 3. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all business meetings, keep official records for the organization, and be responsible for distributing and processing communications among members. 4. The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping accurate records of all financial matters and collecting dues. The Treasurer will cosign all checks with the President or the Moderator. The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping all officers and moderator(s) up-to-date regarding the Allocations process and the organization s standing. Article V Meetings A regularly scheduled meeting shall be held once every week while school is in session. Additional meetings may be called by the President or Vice President when the need arises. All members shall be notified by email with 24 hours notice prior to the meeting. A quorum shall consist of 50% plus one of the regular members.
A quorum must be present in order for any official business to be conducted. Official business shall include election of officers, setting of dues and other major decisions affecting the organization. Article VI Committees The Officers of the organization shall have the authority to create any committees, standing or special that will further the purpose of the organization. Article VII Finances Dues shall be determined by the Officers of the organization, subject to the approval of a majority vote, at a meeting of the organization. If the organization dissolves, all funds granted by Rockhurst University will be returned to the Rockhurst University Allocations Committee. Article VIII Parliamentary Authority In formal business meetings, parliamentary authority shall be the current edition of Robert s Rules of Order Article IX Moderator(s) The Moderator(s) is a non-voting member who provides guidance and oversees actions and activities of the organization and its members. The Moderator(s) should support the purpose and objectives of the organization, and will be selected by the organization in collaboration with the Dean of Students and VP for Mission & Ministry. The process for Moderator approval shall be: 1. The executive board of the organization shall present the Dean of Students and VP for Mission & Ministry with three recommended candidates. 2. The executive board, the Dean of Students and VP for Mission & Ministry will have a collaborative conversation regarding the merits of each candidate. 3. As a result of the collaborative conversation, the final selection will be mutually agreeable to the executive board and the administrators named above. For more specific duties of the organization Moderator(s), please refer to the Moderator(s) Agreement Form, which is available in the Office of Student Life. Article X- Amendments All amendments to this constitution require previous notice of one month prior to being discussed and voted upon.
All amendments require a quorum (50% plus one) for adoption. Amendments become effective only after approval by the Student Senate, Student Welfare Committee, and the President of the University.