Constitution
PREAMBLE
Realizing that we are an under-represented population at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) and are collectively faced with issues unique to
us as students of color of African descent, the Black Graduate Students of MIT
do hereby organize the BLACK GRADUATE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION.
ARTICLE I - Name and Type
The name and type of the organization shall be the Black Graduate Students
Association (BGSA), a non-profit student run organization.
ARTICLE II - Purpose
The purpose of the BGSA is Education, Empowerment, Encouragement, and
Entertainment. We are an organization that recognizes graduation with a Masters
or Ph.D. as our #1 priority. Secondly we wish to empower our members so that
they can properly transfer the usage of the tools acquired at MIT to
successfully advance our community. Third we wish to provide a place of refuge.
A place where African, African American, and Afro-Caribbean graduate students
are encouraged to express ideas, concepts, and frustrations without rebuke.
Finally, we try to provide opportunities for our membership to relax, relate,
and release through healthy entertainment.
ARTICLE III - Membership
Section 1.
Any graduate student shall be
considered a full member of the BGSA if that student has paid his/her dues for
the current academic year.
Section 2.
All other interested parties shall be associate members with no voting
privileges.
Section 3.
It is understood that members will abide by this constitution.
Section 4.
BGSA shall not discriminate on the basis of sex, handicap, status as a veteran,
sexual orientation, nationality or ethnic origin.
ARTICLE IV - Administration
Section 1.
The Executive Committee of BGSA shall consist of:
a) 2 Co-chairpersons
b) Treasurer
c) Administrator
d) Assistant Administrator
Section 2.
The Executive Committee shall:
a) Be accountable to the General Body and none of its acts shall conflict with
the goals and objectives of the organization or the decisions made by vote of
the full members.
b) Determine the objectives of the organization for each academic year.
c) Determine all questions of policy and shall administer the affairs
of BGSA.
Section 3.
The chairpersons and the treasurer are the only persons authorized to make
transactions on BGSA accounts.
Section 4.
The Executive Committee shall not spend more than a specified amount of BGSA
funds between General Body meetings without the approval of the General Body.
The specified amount and the annual dues for the next academic year will be
determined by the incoming Executive Committee before the end of the fiscal
year.
Section 5.
The BGSA agrees to abide by the rules and regulations of the Association of
Student Activities (ASA), its executive committee and the finance board. This
constitution, amendments to it and the by-laws of the organization shall be
subject to review by the ASA Executive Committee to insure that they are in
accordance with the aforementioned rules and regulations.
ACTICLE V - Committees
In order to ensure that the purpose of BGSA is fulfilled, and to ensure that
the BGSA is a cohesive, effective, and efficient organization, the following
committees are hereby permanently established:
a) Educational Support Committee (ESC)
The role of the BGSA-ESC is to assist in the recruiting, retention, and
graduation of African, African American, and Afro-Caribbean Students at MIT.
b) Political Action Committee (PAC)
The role of the BGSA-PAC is to inform, educate, and raise consciousness of the
membership and the MIT community on political issues relevant to the African
Diaspora.
c) Community Service Committee (CSC)
The role of the BGSA-CSC is to work to increase the level of service to and
interaction between the local (Collegiate (undergraduate and graduate),
Cambridge, and Boston) and international Black Community and BGSA members.
d) Ebony Affair Committee (EAC)
The role of the BGSA-EAC is to organize and facilitate the annual BGSA Black
History Month Ball, also known as The Ebony Affair.
e) Publicity Committee (PC)
The role of the BGSA-PC is to enhance the awareness of the MIT, Cambridge, and
Boston communities to the events and happenings of the BGSA.
f) Social Committee (SC)
The role of the BGSA-SC is to help maintain the sanity and cohesiveness of the
BGSA by providing stress relieving, entertaining, and healthy social outings for
the organization.
ARTICLE VI - Offices
Section 1.
Each member of the Executive Committee must be a full member of the BGSA.
Section 2.
Each full member of the BGSA is entitled to one vote.
Section 3.
In general, decisions shall be made by the majority vote of those full members
present.
Section 4.
In case of an emergency (decided by the Chairperson), a decision shall be made
by a majority vote of the entire Executive Committee. Such a decision must be reported to the
general body at the next meeting or in writing before the next meeting.
Section 5.
Voting by proxy is only allowed during elections.
Section 6.
Elections:
a) General elections for the Executive Committee shall be held at the
second-to-last meeting of each academic year.
b) The Executive Committee shall appoint a parliamentarian prior to the
second-to-last meeting of the Spring term, who shall preside over elections,
count ballots and announce election results.
c) A candidate must receive a majority of votes cast to be elected.
d) In case of a tie, there will be a re-vote for the two top candidates.
e) Committee Chair elections shall be held at the first meeting of each of the
six committees and prior to the second general body meeting in the fall.
f) Committee Chairs shall be selected by a majority vote of those full members present. In
case of a tie, the Executive Committee Co-Chairs will select the committee
chair.
Section 7.
The membership reserves the right to impeach any officer or committee chair by a
two-thirds majority of the full membership.
ARTICLE VII - Duties of Officers and Committee Chairs
The duties of the elected officers are:
a) Co-Chairpersons (2):
