Constitution

The Consitution of Spectrum: LGBTQ & Allies

Ratified September 2014

Article I: Organization Name

The name of this organization shall be Spectrum: LGBTQ & Allies

Article II: Purpose Statement

By providing a safe space for discussion, activism, and education, we seek to promote equality for all members of the gender identity and sexuality spectrum.

Article III: Membership and Eligibility Criteria

Section A: WSU Policy

WSU Policy: 8.10 Statement of Nondiscrimination in Educational Programs, Activities and Gender Identity.
It is the policy of Wichita State University to prohibit discrimination in educational programs and activities because of race, color, religion, gender, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, political affiliation, disabled/Vietnam-era veteran status or physical or mental disability. In addition, it is the policy of Wichita State University to prohibit discrimination in educational programs and activities on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital status, and political affiliation, status as a veteran or disability. Spectrum shall not discriminate in its membership, programming, or activities, on the basis of gender identity or expression.

Section B: Membership Requirements

Membership is open to any enrolled WSU student or community member who:

Affirms the Community Values of Spectrum
Attends at least three consecutive Spectrum meetings over the course of a single semester, or attends three nonconsecutive meetings, with the approval of the Spectrum executive council

Section C: Voting

Voting membership and candidacy for the President, Vice President and Treasurer are not open to non-WSU students. However, Wichita-area community members who wish to participate in Spectrum meetings and events may do so, subject to their affirmation of Spectrum's Community Values, and support of Spectrum's mission and purpose.

Section D: Dues and collection procedures (if any):

The fiscal year of the organization, shall be from July 1st to June 30th
The amount of annual dues shall be determined each year by the executive council. If dues are determined to be mandatory for all members, this determination must be ratified by a vote of members, at a meeting which must be announced in person and by way of the Spectrum listserv, at least one week in advance.
The disbursement of dues shall not be based on race, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.

Section E: Membership policies

The organization and its members agree to adhere to city, state, and federal laws, to the Student Code of Conduct, Student Government Association and the RSO Handbook – any member found violating this may be removed from the organization.
Any member who violates the Community Values of Spectrum may be removed from the organization. Contributing factors in a member's removal include: the physical or emotional endangerment of another member, or of the group as a whole; the violation of core Community Values regarding the support of LGBTQ individuals; and/or a failure to recognize and acknowledge the violation and its significance.
The egregious misrepresentation or defamation of Spectrum, its members, or its executive council, may also lead to a member's removal from the group.

Section F: Removal of membership procedures:

Any member may have their membership revoked by a unanimous vote of the Executive Board. Any member removed may appeal to the general membership. Said member shall be considered reinstated with majority approval from the members.

Article IV: Voting

Section A:

A quorum will be at least ten members, including executive council members when present, provided that information concerning a vote has been dispersed in person and via online communication media, no less than one full week in advance.

Section B:

Each student member in good standing may vote.

Section C:

Proxy voting is not allowed.

Article V: Officers

Section A:
Spectrum shall have a President (or two co-Presidents), a Vice President, a Treasurer, an Alumni Advisor, and a Faculty Advisor. Other officer positions may include Social Justice Chair, Social Chair, Communication and Marketing Chair, and/or Officer-at-Large. These officers comprise the Executive Council.

Section B:
President, Vice President, and Treasurer must be members of Spectrum and currently enrolled, in good standing, within Wichita State University.

Section C:
The Faculty Advisor must be a full time faculty or staff member within Wichita State University.

Section D:
The term of office shall be from the date of new executive council elections, each year.

Section E:
Election of executive council members shall be held annually, each May. At least two weeks' notice shall be given before the election. Nominations shall be initiated by interested candidates, who must submit a completed interest form by a date to be specified by the present executive council. Election is by appointment, to be made by a committee comprised of present executive council members (exclusive of those who are running for the position being decided.

Section F:
Any officer may be removed from membership by the normal membership removal process with the qualification that the officer in question will not vote. Furthermore, if an officer fails to maintain the requirements of office, said officer will be removed from office.

Section G:
Any vacancy which may occur in an office may be filled by appointment by the Executive Council.

Section H:
Although each Executive Council position has a different role and set of responsibilites, all Executive Council members shall share the duties of planning the group calendar, planning and facilitating meetings, and considering the structure and direction of the group as a whole.

Article VI: Duties and Powers of Officers

Section A: The President or Co-Presidents

The President is the chief executive officer; and
The President makes arrangement for the continued existence of Spectrum as an RSO, by registering it each year, and booking space for meetings; and
The President shall represent Spectrum when another officer or member is not more appropriate or available; and
The President leads meetings of, and mediates conflicts within the Executive Council; and
The President, with the approval of the Executive Council, leads those group meetings which are particularly sensitive, or call for the representation of Spectrum to a large sector of the outside community; and
The President, with the support of the Executive Council and Advisor(s), mediates conflicts within Spectrum; and
The President takes primary responsibility for the composition and revision of Spectrum's Mission Statement, Community Values, and Constitution; and
The President will keep and have available current copies of the Constitution and Community Values.

Section B: The Vice President (the duties listed below shall be fulfilled by the Presidents in the event co-Presidents hold office)

The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President should the office become vacant, or in the absence of the President; and
The Vice President will keep and have available current copies of group information and new member surveys, and distribute that to the information table at group meetings; and
The Vice President will perform other duties as assigned by the President and Executive Council.
The Vice President will work closely with other members of the Executive Council to develop joint initiatives, and to consider the ways in which other programming can best work for equality within the queer community.
The Vice President shall work to build relationships with other campus groups whose primary membership and focus is minority and marginalized groups, to develop strategies for mutual support.

Section C: The Social Justice Chair

The Social Justice Chair shall plan and develop programming related to social justice for the LGBTQ community and related groups; and
The Social Justice Chair will work closely with other members of the Executive Council to develop joint initiatives, and to consider the ways in which other programming can best work for social justice; and
The Social Justice Chair will work within the larger community, on and off-campus, to change policy and practice in a way which is conducive to social justice. This might include adding gender identity and expression to university-protected categories; creating training for academic and health professionals on-campus; constructing and designating gender-neutral restrooms; working for gender-blind housing; etc.; and
The Social Justice Chair will perform other duties as assigned by the President and Executive Council.

Section D: Communications and Marketing Chair

The Communications and Marketing Chair must maintain the orgsync and Facebook Group; and create and distribute publicity for meetings and taking primary responsibility to check the group email account; and events, and is responsible for design of publicity materials as assigned by the Executive council; and
The Communications and Marketing Chair shall plan and develop programming related to the equal treatment of marginalized and minority groups within the LGBTQ community. These may include such groups as: women, people of color, minority religious groups, disabled populations; trans people; bisexuals and pansexuals; and any other group determined by the Communications and Marketing Chair or Executive Council as a whole to need additional, specifically focused programming—either by and for themselves, or to foster support from the broader membership; and
The Communications and Marketing Chair will perform other duties as assigned by the President and Executive Council.

Section E: The Social Chair

The Social Chair shall plan and develop social events on a regular basis, with no less than one social event each month; and
The Social Chair shall maintain a complete and accurate account of attendance and membership status; and
The Social Chair shall seek extensive input and feedback from group members, regarding their interests and
preferences in social events; and
The Social Chair will perform other duties as directed by the President and Executive Council.

Section F: The Advisor(s) – The University Faculty/Staff Advisor and Alumni Advisor

The Advisor(s) shall assist the group in the execution of roles and responsibilities; and
The Advisor(s) shall provide feedback to the organization regarding its operation and functioning; and
The Advisor(s) shall serve as a resource; and
The Advisor(s) should provide advice upon request, and also should share knowledge and expertise; and
The Faculty Advisor shall be a full time faculty or staff member of Wichita State University; and
At the discretion of themself and the Executive Council, an Advisor may facilitate some group meetings; particularly those where their knowledge, experience, or personal connection to visiting presenters is especially germane, or where it is important that all Executive Council members participate on an equal footing with members; and
The Advisor(s) will be nonvoting members of the organization.

Section G: The Treasurer

The Treasurer shall keep a current record of all financial transactions; and
The Treasurer shall develop quarterly reports containing a list of all receipts and disbursements and distribute them among the membership; and
The Treasurer will be responsible for checking the accuracy of all bills and invoices and paying them correctly and on time; and
The Treasurer will seek advice from the President and Staff Advisor; and
The Treasurer will perform other duties as directed by the President.

Section H: Signatory Power

Signatory power shall be vested collectively in the Faculty Advisor and President (or co-Presidents).
All contracts in which Spectrum is a party must be signed by both the Faculty Advisor and the President.
The signature of either co-President shall suffice in meeting the presidential requirement for the signing of contracts.

Article VII: Group Committee Structure

At the discretion of the Executive Council, additional committees, temporary officers, or assistants to the executive council may be formed to assist in planning and developing specific events, or fulfilling especially extensive responsibilities of a given Executive Council position. The specific responsibilities and roles of such positions must be agreed upon by a consensus of the entire Executive Council, in advance of their creation. Committee leaders, temporary officers, and individual assistants will be appointed by the Executive Council as whole; committee members may participate at their own discretion, and that of committee leaders.

Article VIII: Meetings

Section A: Group Meetings
Spectrum shall meet at a fixed time and location, on a weekly basis, while school is in session. If the time or location of a meeting is altered for a special event or activity; members should be notified in person at the preceding meeting, and by way of all online communication media, at least one full week in advance.

Section B: Officer Meetings

The Spectrum Executive Council shall meet at a fixed time and location, separately from the larger group meeting, on a weekly basis, while school is in session.
Additionally, the Spectrum Executive Council shall meet briefly after each larger group meeting, to address any immediate or pressing concerns from the meeting. This meeting should not exceed fifteen minutes, except by the agreement of all officers present. In cases where a larger group meeting was not facilitated by a Spectrum officer, or in other instances where the entire executive council agrees that no meeting is necessary; it may be cancelled by consensus.

Article VIII: Meetings