AC Allies Constitution
Article I: Name
The name of this organization is Assumption College Allies.
Article II: Purpose
AC Allies is a student organization, open to all students., The purpose of AC Allies is to cultivate a campus environment that acknowledges and respects the human dignity of all persons, with special concern for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (hereafter GLBTQ) individuals at Assumption College.
AC Allies works within the context of Catholic teaching which is rooted in the belief that every person is made in the image and likeness of God. This teaching promotes respect for the human dignity inherent in every person. AC Allies seeks to foster a broader campus-wide understanding of the Church’s teaching on homosexuality and work toward a campus free from harassment, injustice, oppression and violence against GLBTQ persons. In conjunction with the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, AC Allies works to increase awareness of homosexuality and foster an environment where faith and reason are valued and respected.
In this spirit, AC Allies seeks to do the following:
Section 1: To provide a safe space where students, regardless of their sexual orientation, can gather for open and honest dialogue.
Section 2: To encourage all members of the campus community, regardless of sexual orientation, to gain a greater awareness and understanding of topics related to homosexuality.
Section 3: To plan and implement programs to educate its members and the college community, consistent with the Catholic identity and mission of the college.
Article III: Membership
Section 1: Membership is open to all Assumption College students. Faculty, staff and administrators are welcome to attend meetings and programs offered by Allies but are not eligible to be members of the group.
Section 2: All members are expected to respect one another and engage in civil conduct and reasonable dialogue in the spirit of the Assumption College Code of Conduct.
Section 3: Members are given the following privileges:
Article IV: Meetings
Section 1: Meetings are to be held every week or as deemed necessary by the organization. A regular meeting time will be determined at the beginning of the semester. E-mail notices will be sent out in advance to notify members of meetings.
Section 2: When sensitive information is shared at a meeting, all members are asked to maintain confidentiality regarding such information. Because the meetings are open to the all students, there is a limit to the level of confidentiality that can be maintained. However, the discussion and content shared in the meetings will be kept unrecorded if so requested by any individual.
Section 3: All members are expected to respect the comfort and privacy levels of individuals. No pressure is to be placed on any member to reveal his/her sexual orientation. Disclosing the sexual orientation of a member without his/her permission is contrary to the spirit of the group and anyone who breaks this confidentiality will be asked to not participate in AC Allies.
Section 4: The last general meeting held in April shall be known as the annual meeting, at which election of officers for the following academic year will be held.
Article V: Leadership
Section 1: In accordance with the Student Government Association and its guidelines, the group may elect four officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Joint duties:
Section 2: A vacancy occurring in an officer position shall be considered by the officers and advisor and filled by an appointment of the officers until the next annual meeting.
Section 3: The advisor will be a member of the Campus Ministry staff. The advisor will assist the officers of the organization, facilitate leadership development and offer advice where appropriate.
Article VI: Funding
Section 1: AC Allies will have money allotted to a budget line within the Office of Campus Ministry. The organization may also hold fundraisers as needed with the appropriate approval through their advisor.
Article VII: Elections
Section 1: In order to hold an officer’s position on the executive board of AC Allies, the interested party must go through an application and interview process. All applicants will be given interviews as long as they meet the GPA requirements set forth by Student Affairs.
Section 2: The current officers not applying for an executive position and the AC Allies advisor will conduct the interviews. In the event that there are no seniors on the executive board, or in the event that everyone is re-applying, then the interviews will be conducted by the advisor, who may invite other members of Campus Ministry and/or Student Affairs.
Section 3: Upon completion of the interviews and reviewing the applications, the parties that conducted the interviews will choose the candidates who are best suited for the position for which they applied. The advisor will have the final say as to who may be chosen as the future executives of AC Allies. These students will then run for election in a general meeting in April in which they will be elected by the Allies.
Section 4: The last two weeks in April shall be designated as a Transition Period. During this time, the incoming officers will be trained by the outgoing officers and advisor. The Officers will return in August to participate in Student Leadership Training.