Campus DJs Club Constitution
ARTICLE I
SECTION I:
Our club will be known solely as Campus DJs
SECTION II:
Our Mission and Philosophy:
To increase cultural diversity by generating awareness for the genre of electronic music originating from various cultures worldwide, to unite and develop variety of creative skills, excite student involvement on campus and to reinforce the importance of core Benedictine values.
We strongly believe that music is one of the purest and most effective forms of communication and an influential tool in learning more about ones culture and interest. We believe music is more than just a melody and beat captured by the ears of the listener but instead an experience retained by the many senses possessing the capability to alter mood and convey emotion. Given the right atmosphere, music can be the means to any end. Thus the art of DJ'ing, much like live instrumental music, is one which requires immense skills surrounding knowledge of music, understanding the concept of the "mix" and most importantly "feeling" the many sounds produced within a song. As a result, a skilled DJ becomes a viable asset for any social gathering.
SECTION III:
Electronic music offers a distinct experience which, at times cannot be replicated by any other genre. Our main objectives through Campus DJs are to build awareness and entice/incentivize listeners across the campus (and beyond) to experience electronic music for themselves with an open mind, develop an interest and revolutionize their perceptions. In order to accomplish such objectives, our club is determined to use a delivery method through DJ'ing (disc jockeying) or mixing tracks together in a continuous, seamless experience. The secondary, yet equally important, objective of our club is to unite undergraduate students across campuses possessing a variety of skills including sound and video production, effect lighting, live audio and DJ'ing in order to excite involvement and creativity towards developing a student-run system aimed at production and live performance.
SECTION IV:
Campus DJs places strong emphasis on the community at CSB/SJU. Therefore all the events held on Campus will either offer free-entry to the community or a small fee with all proceeds donated to a foundation, non-profit organization or charity. Additionally we shall always offer free services to any on-campus club or organization's event. However, off-campus locations such as bars and clubs will be home to events with entry fees and/or paid services either providing financial incentives to those involved or increasing the generated on-campus account. The dual-venture strategy will allow the club to emphasize Benedictine values encompassing the importance of community as well as provide opportunities for financial compensation to student performances located off-campus.
ARTICLE II
SECTION I:
Although our club places strong emphasis on acquiring skilled, dedicated and hardworking members, our core values encompassing morality, ethics and the Benedictine tradition places an even greater emphasis on accepting all members regardless of race, gender, culture, creed or any other pertaining background. However, for the sake of maintaining organizational structure and ensuring the continuity of the club, we reserve the right to categorize memberships based on a standardized list of qualifications including campus-wide involvement, current or projected dedication and skill level pertaining to music as well as DJ'ing.
SECTION II:
Upon enlisting as a member of the club, the individual will be offered three levels of involvement; Active membership or Public membership and in rare occasions; Executive membership. NOTE: Although our club places emphasis on DJ'ing, we encompass a variety of skills including sound and video production, effect lighting and live audio and dancing. Thus, we classify all such experiences as "club-offered skills."Executive Members
Although no limit exists on the number of Executives, a limit of ten exists on the Officers of the government or the Executive Officer Board (See ARTICLE III below).Active Members
Executive Officers. Active members also have the potential to perform live at club sponsored events.Public Members-
SECTION III:
In order to adapt to fluctuations in member skills, involvement levels and interests, the club offers methods to move up and down within the hierarchy of the club.Promotion
In order to move up from a Public Member to Active Member, the individual must show dedication and interest to becoming actively engaged in the club by not just attending meetings but by helping out in events. Approval to Active Membership is done by Executive Officers.
In order to move up from Active Member to Executive member, the individual must possess adequate knowledge and experience of a certain club-offered skill. Furthermore the member must have been actively involved in numerous events and is a regular attendee of meetings. The approval to Executive membership is done by the Executive Officers. Promotion is either offered by the EOB or brought to the attention of the HR Officer by the individual.Demotion
Demoting members is necessary if adequate levels of involvement and dedication are not shown by particular members in regard to the specific membership. The first offense results in a warning by the Executive Officers, a second in demotion and loss of privileges/rights. If the member continually lacks the dedication and attention to the club following demotion, they may be subject to release or removal from the club from the Active Council and Executive Officer Board (SEE ARTICLE III). Any member deserves a right to appeal his/her demotion or removal. By submitting a formal document to the EOB and Active Council regarding situation, the EOB will review the terms of the document and re-determine whether the member at current status.Impeachment of Executive Officer Board Members
To protect the success and continuity of the club, Officers may be demoted or impeached due to poor performance. In the event a given Officer of the Board has performed inadequately, the remaining members of the Executive Officer Board may vote for his/her removal. However, such a decision requires Active Council approval. The vote for removal by the EOD may be vetoed by the Active Council resulting in a Public Assembly in which every member, regardless of membership, votes with a majority win.
Respectively, an Officer deserves a right to appeal his/her removal. In the event of an Officer appeal, the member will write a formal document to the fellow Officers and speak publically to the Active Council regarding his/her situation. The Active Council will vote on the situation. The veto capability remains for the EOB and Active Council remains effective in such situation (SEE ARTICLE III).
ARTICLE III
SECTION I:
The club must be adequately organized and prepared to govern a large number of members, protect a large amount of assets and deal with a variety of issues as swiftly and effectively as possible to ensure appropriate justice for all parties involved. In addition, the government must be secure from outside threats and ensure the most qualified individuals are the primary decision-makers for the club.
The club will operate as a split power system. The primary power, the Executive Officer Board, will operate as an oligarchic system made up of no more than ten Executive members all possessing equal power. Each member will have a specialized role in the operations of the club (SEE ARTICLE II). The secondary power is the Active Council made up of all Executive and Active members operating as a Direct Democracy (there must be at least ten members in the Active Council in order to operate). When the Executive Officer Board (EOB) decides on a major plan or event, it will be passed on for approval by the Active Council. Each member has one vote; decisions are made by majority ruling; Executive Officers do not vote in Active Council sessions unless the vote regards the election of a new officer to the EOB. Necessity for approval by the Active Council only applies to certain decisions or policy changes; the qualifications if a given decision made by the Board of Executive Officers requires a Active Council approval is if:
- The decision effects the future of the club
- The decision presents ANY sort of ethical or moral impacts on external subjects
- The decision possesses negative risks or consequences to the club and the corresponding members
- The decision effects particular member roles, rights or privileges
- The decision is attempt to reduce, overrule or disregard any policies of the Constitution
- The decision conflicts with core values of the mission, CSB/SJU policies and/or Benedictine values.
Furthermore, general EOB decisions towards policies or club changes which need Active Council ruling to be implemented involve:
- Large events or performances that are not a usual occurrence for the club
- Constitutional amendments
- Changes in the financial budget
- Large club purchases of equipment or investments
- Any large scale club changes which are not listed in the ConstitutionSplit-Power Veto and the Public Assembly
In the event of a decision made by the EOB which is not approved by the Active Council, the EOB has the capability to issue a re-vote within the Active Council. If the decision still does not pass, the EOB may veto once again thus moving the decision to a Public Assembly. The Public Assembly involves all members each possessing a single vote; Majority rules.Early or Minimal Member Operation Procedures
If there are less than twenty total members, the Executive Officer Board will absorb all of the Executive and Active members, although not all members may be Officers and possess roles leaving the voting method as direct democracy with one vote per person. Once the club exceeds twenty Executive and Active members, normal operations will resume with ten Executives on the EOB and remaining on the Active Council.
SECTION II:
The members of the Executive Officer Board are divided with equal power (one vote each in an EOB meeting) into seven specific roles with the purpose of distributing the responsibilities amongst leading members of the club.
The Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Human Resource Officer, External Affairs Officer, Research and Development Officer and the Technical Officer.
Active Council
SECTION III:
Chief Executive Officer
Atending and leading all sessions of the EOB and Active Council. Although possessing the most responsibility, the CEO still maintains the same amount of power as all other Officers.
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Marketing Officer
Human Resource Officer
External Affairs Officer
Research and Development Officer
Technical Officer
Three Officers remain on the Board without specialized roles in order to aid other members when help is needed. In addition to the three available Officers, any of the leading role Officers may hire two other Executive or Active members as assistants in order to increase productivity. The other four Officers are available if future roles are necessary.
SECTION IV:
Given the Executive Officer Board operates as an oligarchic system, a short-term vacancy results in allocation of duties to another Officer. The circumstances are deemed by who is best qualified or possesses the availability to accomplish given tasks (Most likely the CMO or CFO).
Long term vacancy results in the election of temporary replacement to the EOB through a special voting procedure done by the Active Council. During an Active Council assembly, members will nominate and elect an Executive member who will temporarily assume the role of the Officer vacant from Board.
In the event of a perpetual vacancy (either through club removal or demotion), a special election will be held to find the most suitable individual for the replacement role through a Public Assembly vote.Vacancy Duration Specifics
Short-term
Long-term
Perpetual
ARTICLE IV
SECTION I:
General Elections for Executive Officers are held once a year at the beginning of the fall semester for by the existing Active Council. Due to the rare skills and experiences necessary to become Executive members and Officers, once one is elected an Officer, they are always an Officer unless they voluntarily resign, are absent for a period (study abroad), are demoted or impeached or they graduate (REFERENCE ARTICLE IV: SECTION IV). If there are already ten Officers on the EOB then General Elections will not be held that year.SECTION II:
Once a year (every Fall semester) EOB Elections will occur within the EOB. Officers accept roles or are chosen/selected roles by other Officers rather than an actual election process. If a decision cannot be made over a role, then an official EOB Election will be held during an Active Council in which each member possesses one vote; Officers reserve the right to vote (not for the self however).SECTION III
ARTICLE V
SECTION I:
Our club advisor will be selected on the grounds of:1)2)3)4)5)6)7)
SECTION II:
As mention in Section I, our club advisor shall be expected to attend an adequate number of combined EOB and Active Council assemblies as well as general public meetings and events. We have expectations regarding the Advisor's input and feedback regarding our decisions as well as the necessity to offer ideas for events or boosting club performance. We believe our Advisor is truly an important member of the club in that he/she should make it his/her responsibility to promote our club whenever the opportunity arises. Most importantly, much like the core values of our mission, the Advisor should continually remind us of Benedictine traditions as well CSB/SJU policies. Overall, we wish the Advisor to enjoy their experience as an member of the club.
ARTICLE VI
SECTION I:
The Executive Officer Board meetings occur bi-weekly (once every two weeks) unless an emergency session is needed and declared by the CEO. Active Council assemblies occur at a similar interval or immediately following any EOB meeting (Active Council meetings only occur if there are enough members available; Active Council requires a minimum of ten members).
The Active Council assemblies are only required to finalize the decisions made by the EOD (SEE ARTICLE III). Public Meetings occur monthly to update all members on semester events or new club operations/ventures. All members are invited to join. Public Assemblies are scheduled by the CEO for voting purposes only and rarely occur. If meetings are not held at scheduled days for any reason, they will be immediately rescheduled by the CEO at the next available time.
SECTION II:
The Executive Officer Board meetings are scheduled and lead by the CEO. The Active Council Assemblies are lead by the CEO Public Meetings are lead by any attending Officers as they are responsible for reporting to all members Public Assemblies are lead by the entire EOB.
SECTION III:
Executive Officer Board meetings require 6/10 Officers or 4/7 Officers with active roles present (CEO must be present) in order to function as an appropriate meeting. Active Council Assemblies operate at roughly 2/3 of total Executive and Active Members. If less than minimum attend meeting, the vote to pass a decision through the Active Council will be held at the next meeting. Public Assemblies operate at forty-percent members for an essential vote. Public Meetings operate at any number of members who attend.
ARTICLE VII
SECTION I:
(SEE ARTICLE III)
ARTICLE VIII
SECTION I:
As any organization or club requires finances for growth, Campus DJs will apply for CFB monies for the purpose of acquiring assets necessary for successful operations of the club on the CSB/SJU campuses. Although we present ourselves as a dual-venture organization, operating both on and off campus, we believe in the importance in keeping finances from both ventures separated into both allocated and generated accounts just as we do for policies and objectives. Our focus on delivering entirely non-profit services to the CSB/SJU community increases our reliance on external funding; thus justifies our application to the Co-Funding Board. (SEE ARTICLE I, SECTION IV)
SECTION II:
As stressed in our policies surrounding the dual-venture nature of the organization, found in ARTICLE I: SECTION IV as well as in the previous section, our operations on-campus will prohibit the delivery of honorariums of any kind to any member of our club; for it will directly violate our on-campus policies as well our core values and mission.
We note, however, that although honorariums will not exist through on-campus events, our off-campus ventures through generated on-campus accounts may/may not involve such characteristics. Thus, we reserve the right to distribute honorariums by our discretion using external finances in the generated accounts not acquired by the CFB.
The matter for the distribution of honorariums depends entirely on the style of event. If the event is promoted towards individual member performances, then those specific members will receive honorariums in addition to any other member havingsignificant involvement in the particular event. (NOTE: The degree to which involvement is deemed significant will be determined prior by the EOB). However for fundraisers or standard club events in which all members are welcome to attend and participate, no honorariums will be distributed. Instead, participation will be noted in logs kept by the HR Officer.
SECTION III:
Regular dues will not implicitly nor explicitly exist in the operations of our club. However, In the event of a financial crisis recognized by the CFO, with the approval by both the EOB and Active Council, members may be required to pay fees for events or services which have traditionally come free. The specifics will be left entirely open to the decision of the EOB and Active Council.
ARTICLE IX
The Constitutional Amendments
In the event of changes necessary to be made to this constitution whether they are deemed improbable, unequal, or direct violation of CSB/SJU policies/Benedictine values, this article allows room for the addition or amendment to any existing club policies listed in the constitution.
In order for an amendment to be implemented, it must pass the EOB with 80 percent favor by vote and 2/3 vote in the Active Council. If one passes and another rejects, a Public Assembly will be called to vote passing only with a 2/3 favored ruling.
ARTICLE X
Campus DJs admits students without regard to their race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and other activities, generally accorded or made available to members of the organization.
ARTICLE XI
Campus DJs considers hazing to be a degrading and destructive activity which is inconsistent with the standards of this student organization. Campus DJs recognizes the dignity of every person and opposes all forms of hazing.
Article XII
The Campus DJs agree that its activities, mission statement and goals are consistent with the Benedictine Values.