Constitution

Updated 7/17/06. Section 1: Anti-Discrimination now reads: “SIK membership will not be discriminatory on the basis of race, religion, natural origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation and disability” to reflect change in CSUSB policy.

California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB)
Constitution
Club: Students for International Knowledge (SIK)
Submitted by: Andre Castillo

Article I: Name and Purpose
Section 1: Name
Students for International Knowledge

(SIK)Section 2:
Mission
To increase the knowledge of CSUSB students, faculty, and staff in the areas of greatest importance and ignorance, that of foreign cultures and crises, through word, letter, and image, so that they influence and guide others to the path of truth and justice.

Section 3: Affiliation:
This organization will be in partnership with Alternate Focus and other like-minded organizations.

Article II: Membership
Section 1: Eligibility for Membership
To reach member status, a student must attend at least one regular meeting and express a desire to join in accordance with constitution. Members must agree to follow all university policies and directions from the Director of Student Leadership and Development in addition to federal, state, and local laws.

Section 2: Voting Member Criteria
To achieve voting status, a member must attend no less than three regular meetings in a span of no more than four weeks, and submit an approved newsletter article or make a contribution of equal worth, determined by discretion of the President, or be granted such status by the Officers.

Section 3: Removal of Members
Members not in good standing with the organization may be subject to removal.A majority vote to remove a member must be done at regular or special meeting. The member will then be notified, and at a following meeting grounds for removal are to be presented by an officer at a regular or special club meeting. The member in question will be provided an opportunity to present a defense either in person or in writing.A quorum shall be present, and a majority vote of the present voting members shall decide upon removal, subject to the veto of the President.

Article III: Officers
Section 1: Officer Qualifications
Officers must have a minimum 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) and be enrolled at CSUSB.

Section 2: Elected Officers
The officers consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Financial Officer, and Public Relations Officer.All Officers are to submit a monthly article to the Vice President for publication in the Newsletter, subject to the President’s approval. All Officers must maintain a 2.0 GPA each quarter and cumulatively. Officers must follow the constitution and its mission.The duties of the President include presiding at meetings, presenting the agenda, calling special meetings, appointing committee chairs, being the primary contact to the University, approving Newsletter articles, and running the election process.The duties of the Vice President include assuming the President’s duties in his/her absence, collecting Newsletter articles and enforcing their deadlines.The duties of the Secretary include recording and distributing the minutes, checking the mailbox, record keeping, and submitting changes to the constitution to the Student Leadership and Development Office within two weeks of their vote.The duties of the Financial Officer include keeping all financial records, notifying the organization of financial issues, preparing the budget and allocating requests, and being the primary funding board representative.The duties of the Public Relations Officer include scheduling rooms and facilities, being the secondary contact to the University and its Institutions, advertising organizational functions, managing membership information and recruitment.The aforementioned duties are the primary responsibilities of their respective Officers. Other Officers or members may temporarily assume responsibility of an Officer’s duty with their consent if the delegation is both necessary and proper. Officers and members are encouraged to aid one another in their duties and responsibilities.

Section 3: Vacancy in Office
In the event of a vacancy, the President shall appoint a temporary representative until a special election can be held. In the event of a vacancy in the Presidency, the Vice President shall assume responsibility until a special election can be held.

Section 4: Removal of Officers
Officers negligent in their duties may be subject to removal.A petition to remove the officer in question must be submitted to another officer. This petition must contain the signatures of a majority of all voting members. When such petition is received, the officer shall call a meeting of the club to determine whether or not the officer should be removed.Grounds for removal are to be presented by the officer in charge at a regular or special club meeting. The officer in question shall be provided an opportunity to present a defense either in person or in writing.A quorum shall be present, and a 2/3 vote of the present voting members shall decide upon removal.Officers not meeting the minimum GPA requirement are to be removed immediately without vote upon the President receiving and presenting official University notification to the organization.

Section 5: Appeal of Removal of Officers
A removed Officer wishing to appeal the decision may seek another hearing with the permission of the Advisor. An Officer removed for violating the minimum GPA requirement wishing to appeal must present official University documentation correcting the mistake.

Article IV: Elections
Section 1: Nomination Process
Nominations will take place during the first meeting of the Spring Quarter, unless delayed by vote of the officers. Voting members may nominate any qualified voting member for office.

Section 2: Election
Elections must have quorum. Voting will be by secret ballot, tallied by the Officers. Elections are to be held by the fourth week of the Spring Quarter.

Section 3: Special Elections
Vacancies are to be filled by special elections within four weeks. Special elections will be done by secret ballot, tallied by the Officers.

Article V: Advisor
Section 1: Selection
Advisors will be proposed and affirmed by the Officers.

Section 2: Duties
The Advisor is to assist the organization in achieving its goals and objectives by providing a liaison between the University and the organization. Advisors are expected to attend all Special and Major Events sponsored by the organization, and must attend all special programs held on-campus beyond regular operating hours and for those programs which involve a significant level of risk to the participants.

Article VI: Meetings
Section 1: Regular Meeting/Club Activities
Regular meetings will occur weekly. The organization will engage in at least one act of Positive Difference Making per quarter and publish a monthly scholarly newsletter. The organization will also engage in informative video making with the assistance of Alternate Focus.

Section 2: Special Meetings
Special meetings will be called with the consent of the President.

Section 3: Parliamentary Authority
Meetings will be run by parliamentary procedure if deemed necessary by the Officers. Otherwise meetings will proceed at the discretion of the President.

Section 4: Quorum
60% of voting members must be present for an official vote to take place.

Article VII: Amendments
Section 1: Ratification
Amendments must be proposed and ratified by 2/3 of all voting members.

Section 2: Submission
Any changes made to this constitution must be submitted to the Office of Student Leadership and Development within two weeks of ratification.

Article VIII: Precautions

Section 1: Anti-Discrimination
SIK membership will not be discriminatory on the basis of race, religion, natural origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation and disability.

Section 2: Hazing
Neither SIK nor its members shall conspire to engage in hazing, participate in hazing, or commit any act that injures, degrades, or disgraces or tends to injure, degrade, or disgrace any fellow student or person attending the institution.

Section 3: Off-Campus Issues
This organization and its members, if asserting positions on issues, recognizes and will fulfill its obligation to make clear that it in no way represents the official position of the California State University, San Bernardino.Date of revision: 7/17/06