Residence Hall Studios The University of Georgia Constitution Article I : Name of the Organization The name of this organization shall be the Residence Hall Studios (RHS) of the University of Georgia (UGA). Article II: Relationship with RHA and NRHH RHS is a subsidiary organization of the Residence Hall Association (RHA) and sister organization of the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH). Members of RHS are encouraged to actively participate in RHA and to join and actively participate in NRHH as well. The Programming Director of RHS shall oversee communications with both RHA and NRHH. Article III: Purpose The purpose of this organization shall be to provide an educational and leadership opportunity for University Housing residents, to provide a medium for the broadcast of information from the Department of University Housing and RHA to its constituency, and to create quality programming that aims to entertain and inform, and is appropriate for broadcast on Housing 12, a closed circuit television channel hosted by the Department of University Housing. Article IV: Membership Active members are those residents who attend at least two weekly meetings per month. If a member is unable to attend two meetings, they must make a significant contribution to at least one project in that month. The Communications Director and the producer of the project will determine what amounts to a significant contribution for that project. Article V: Benefits of Active Membership Only active members can vote and check out or access equipment. Guests may operate equipment, but only under the supervision of an active member. The Business Director shall be in charge of the checkout process. Article VI: The Board of Directors Section 1: Establishment of a Board of Directors The Board of Directors of RHS shall consist of a Programming Director, Business Director, Communications Director and Publicity Director. Section 2: Representation on RHA The Programming Director will be a liaison to the Residence Hall Association, speaking for and voting on behalf of the Residence Hall Studios, as requested by RHA. The Programming Director is also in charge of fostering opportunities for projects which highlight the efforts of RHA, RHS, and NRHH. Page 1 of 7
Section 3: Elections Only self-nominations from active members will be accepted. The officers will be elected by a majority vote of all active members present at the designated elections meeting. The executive officers will serve one academic year (August until May). A quorum of two-thirds of all active members is needed for an election to occur. Section 4: Impeachment Any officer that does not fulfill his/her duties or violates the provisions of the organization's constitution can be removed from office by a three-quarters vote of active members. A letter with signatures of one-third of the active voting body must be presented to the accused, the Advisor (s), and the Board of Directors. At the next meeting after the letter has been presented to the Board of Directors and Advisor(s), it shall be presented to the general body. The impeachment proposal must then sit for a week before being voted on. Section 5: Vacancies Should any vacancies arise on the Board of Directors, the officers will share the duties and responsibilities of the vacated office until a special election can be held in order to fill the position. The Business Director will be in charge of choosing which duties should be given to each officer. In the event the Business Director is the vacated position, those duties shall be absorbed by the Programming Director. An emergency election should take place no less than three weeks after the office has first been vacated. Section 6: Duties The duties of the Board of Directors and each individual officer shall be outlined in the Board of Directors by-laws. Article VII: The Programming Board The purpose of the Programming Board will be to select the programming options that RHS approves to be posted on the Housing-12 server. The Programming Board is also in charge of selecting the projects that RHS will originally produce. The Programming Director will lead the Programming Board, appoint members to the board from interested members of RHS, RHA, NRHH, and will break tie votes in Programming Board meetings. Article VIII: Amendments Amendments to this constitution shall be adopted or amended by two-thirds of all active members. Two-thirds of the membership must be present in order for amendments to pass. An opportunity for amendments shall happen two weeks before the end of the RHS active year in the Spring. Should a need for a new amendment arise before the date of the amendment vote, the Programming Director shall entertain amendment propositions anytime throughout the year. The amendment must then be unanimously passed by the Board of Directors before being presented to the active members, who will vote as detailed above (two-thirds vote of at least a two-thirds quorum). Page 2 of 7
Article IX: Enactment This constitution and any revisions shall go into effect immediately upon acceptance by twothirds of the voting membership of the Residence Hall Studios. Article X: Voting All active members present at a general body meeting may have a vote in any decisions that take place in that meeting. No one may serve as a proxy to an active member in the event that active member is absent. Article XI: Non-Discrimination Clause Residence Hall Studios shall not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, handicap, or sexual orientation in the selection of its members or in its programming. Page 3 of 7
Residence Hall Studios The University of Georgia By-Laws Article I: Programming Section 1: Material will be considered for broadcast if: It is prepared within the Department of University Housing, and/or It is prepared outside of the Department of University Housing and meets at least one of the RHS/Housing 12 goals, and/or It is approved for broadcast by the Programming Board and the Programming Director. Section 2: All programs will periodically be evaluated by the Programming Board, who will analyze the content and the programming's success to see if it is reaching the goals of RHS/ Housing 12. The Programming Board may elect to conduct audience surveys each Section 3: All programming should meet contemporary ethical and moral standards. Because of the uniqueness of television as compared to other modes of expression where it enters into the privacy of each home, it is easily accessible to children and adolescents. Programs that attack racial or ethnic groups, malign religious organizations, degrade any identifiable group, or use offensive language without significant redeeming social or artistic value are examples of program content that will not be accepted for broadcasting through Housing 12. Section 4: The Programming Director and Advisor(s) of Housing 12 are responsible for all final decisions regarding the broadcasting of all program material. Article II: Producer/Director's Legal Rights and Responsibilities The following are the rights and responsibilities of the producers of each individual project. The Programming Director shall ensure all producers are well-versed in the rights they have when they bring a project idea to RHS. Section 1: Producer/Directors are responsible for securing proper written clearances for use of copyrighted material. Section 2: Producer/Directors are responsible for securing proper written clearances for participation of all persons to be involved with the program. Section 3: Producer/Directors jointly own any completed program produced in RHS/Housing 12 facilities with the Department of University Housing. Students who wish to buy the full rights for the program material should discuss costs with the Advisor(s) of RHS. In return for use of Housing 12 facilities and name, Producer/Directors give RHS/Housing 12 unrestricted license to use the Producer/Director's program for non-profit purposes. Section 4: The user of RHS/Housing 12 equipment and/or facilities shall assume full financial responsibility for the proper use and return of any and all Housing equipment and production resources such as videotape. Section 5: No commercial or personal use of RHS/Housing 12 equipment is permitted. Page 4 of 7
Article III: Broadcasting of Controversial Issues RHS/Housing 12, as a part of the University community, is dedicated to making available a variety of ideas representing different viewpoints regarding controversial issues. It is not the function of RHS/Housing 12 to limit the expression of issues of controversy within the context of any individual program. Rather RHS/Housing 12 seeks to engage the residents of University Housing in meaningful dialogue on issues of concern. While RHS/Housing 12 may directly influence some program content in its developmental stage, other programs will be presented without editorial control. Within these limitations RHS/Housing 12 will broadcast its programs with fairness and balance. It will endeavor, as well, to provide additional programming as the need arises to present a variety of viewpoints on local issues including those which are not adequately addressed through normal programming. Article IV: Obscenity, Indecency, and Programming of Material with Sexual Content RHS/Housing 12 standards for governing the programming of sexual program content will be consistent with State and Federal laws. These standards are not meant to limit the serious discussion and presentation of sexually related topics over RHS/Housing 12 or the artistic portrayal of sexually related content. The programming materials will be governed by the same professional standards and exceptions that guide all RHS/Housing 12 programming. In addition, discretionary information will be provided to the audience before and during the program. Article V: Program Review Program review and evaluation are integral parts of educational experience. RHS/Housing 12 reserves the right not to broadcast programming that it finds inconsistent with the mission of Department of University Housing or the University of Georgia. The Programming Director and Advisor(s) of Housing 12 has final authority in regards to content questions. Article VI: Duties and Responsibilities of The Board of Directors Section 1: The Board of Directors shall meet biweekly to evaluate the progress of RHS and coordinate efforts among the Board of Directors to achieve RHS's goals. Section 2: The Programming Director shall: Part 1: Preside over Board of Directors and Programming Board meetings. Part 2: Preside over weekly general body meetings, or appoint an officer to do so. Part 3: Delegate and oversee project progress. Part 4: Prepare agendas for all RHS meetings. Part 5: Ensure active members are adequately trained on the safe operation of equipment. Part 6: Organize the channel lineup and assist in the upload of content to the server. Page 5 of 7
Part 7: Attend any and all RHA general body and Board of Directors meetings, as requested by the President of RHA. Part 8: Know and abide by the RHS constitution. Part 9: Attend a monthly one-on-one meeting with the RHS Advisor(s). Part 10: Know and abide by the RHA constitution and by-laws. Part 11: Write one Of The Month (OTM) bid each full month of the school year. Section 3: The Business Director shall: Part 1: Organize the schedule for RHS's projects and events. Part 2: Prepare and submit the budget to the active membership at the beginning of each Part 3: Handle the financial matters of the organization, in accordance with the Constitution and Advisor(s). Part 4: Attend weekly general body meetings and biweekly Board of Directors meetings. Part 5: Sit on the Programming Board. Part 6: Attend no less than one RHA general body meeting and one RHA program per Part 7: Assume or delegate the duties and responsibilities as necessary of any positions vacant on the Board of Directors until elections are held. Part 8: Know and abide by the RHS constitution. Part 9: Attend monthly one-on-one meetings with the Advisor(s). Part 10: Write no less than one Of The Month (OTM) each Section 4: The Communications Director shall: Part 1: Ensure constant communication and transparency within RHS. Part 2: Maintain the minutes from the weekly meetings, Board of Directors meetings, and Programming Board meetings. Part 3: Forward copies of the weekly meeting's minutes to the housing student leaders, RHS membership, and administration as deemed necessary by the Advisor(s). Part 4: Update and maintain the RHS listserv (housing12-l@uga.edu). Part 5: Maintain and control access to the RHS email address (rhs12uga@gmail.com). Part 6: Attend weekly general body meetings and biweekly Board of Directors meetings. Part 7: Know and abide by the RHS constitution. Part 8: Attend no less than one RHA general body meeting and one RHA program per Part 9: Write no less than one Of The Month (OTM) each Section 5: The Publicity Director shall: Part 1: Run no less than two publicity campaigns across campus to increase RHS's visibility and attract more members each Part 2: Maintain the RHS website and social networking pages. Part 3: Create advertising flyers as requested by producers. Part 4: Attend weekly general body meetings and biweekly Board of Directors meetings. Page 6 of 7
Part 5: Know and abide by the RHS constitution. Part 6: Attend no less than one RHA general body meeting and one RHA program per Part 7: Write no less than one Of The Month (OTM) each Article VII: The Programming Board All active members may sit on the board. Other members of RHA may apply to be on the Programming Board through an application process detailed by the Programming Director at the first RHA general body meeting of the year, and will be approved by the Programming Director within a week of the next pitch meeting they could attend. The board must judge a potential project on criteria set forth by the Programming Director at the beginning of the The following three criteria must be included: Producer's Experience, Amount of Preparation, and Clarity of Vision. After a project proposal has been presented to the Programming Board, they must vote to either (1) Produce the Project, (2) Backup the project, (3) Support the project, or (4) Deny the project. If they vote to (1), all members of RHS will be invited to make the project as soon as possible. If they vote to (2), they will produce the project at the next possible opportunity. If they vote to (3), they are allowing the project to continue with RHS equipment and funding, but no members are required to work on that project, they are only encouraged to. If they vote to (4), the project will not happen with RHS equipment or funding. The only reason a project should be denied is if it does not progress the goals of RHS or does not abide by RHS's constitutional by-laws. Under these conditions, the Programming Director may choose to support a project that was voted "denied" by the board. In the event the board cannot decide by a majority vote what to do with a project, the Programming Director holds the tiebreaker votes in all such decisions. Enacted March 21, 2012 by Robert B. Clement, Megan Harrigan, Robert Miller, Jasmine Bonds, Ryan Williams, Akelah Martin, Bree Preuitt, Kelcie Willis, Katy McGill, Samantha German, and Christine Choi. Page 7 of 7