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Students For Life
Constitution
ARTICLE I. STUDENTS FOR LIFE
The name of this organization shall be Students for Life.
ARTICLE 2. PURPOSE
Students for Life is dedicated to the proposition enunciated by Thomas Jefferson in the United
States Declaration of Independence that all human beings are created equal and are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalienable rights, and among these is the right to life. We hold that all
persons from conception to natural death have a right to live and that the laws should support this
right. Students for Life will include within its mission educating the University community
concerning the stands taken on life issues by public officials, as revealed through voting records
and public statements, but is strictly independent of any existing or future political party.
Students for Life benefits the university by (a) providing a forum and fellowship for pro-life
students, (b) contributing to the national debate about life issues, and (c) educating people
concerning the biology of life in the womb and the status of our laws on life-related issues. We
believe students who share the organization’s orientation will wish to join, as well as others who
are interested in learning about the pro-life movement.
Students for Life exists (a) to provide an avenue for pro-life students to join together for
fellowship and to promote a pro-life culture, (b) to disseminate accurate, scientific information
concerning abortion, its consequences for physical and mental health, and life in the womb, (c) to
promote awareness of the current status of the law with respect to abortion, euthanasia,
physician-assisted suicide, and stem-cell research, as well as the positions taken on these issues
by those running for or in public office.
ARTICLE 3. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.
Students for Life is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at Clarion University
regardless of grade point average, class standing, or major. Meetings are bi-weekly during the
Fall and Spring semesters. Anyone interested in membership can contact the Faculty Advisor,
Dr. Thomas Rourke, who is available at trourke@clarion.edu.
Section 2.
Membership in Students for Life is five dollars per year, payable to the Treasurer.
Section 3.
Students for Life is absolutely committed to non-violence and to the promotion of civil
discourse concerning life issues. Moreover, Students for Life is not affiliated with any political
party or church, although it welcomes members of all parties and ecclesiastical organizations.
Members who fail to respect these norms through (a) advocating or practicing violence (b)
engaging in abusive discourse or personal attacks, or (c) compromising the organization’s status
as non-partisan and civic (as opposed to ecclesiastical) by misrepresenting the organization’s
nature through public speech or action, are subject to dismissal. The decision to dismiss for
misconduct will be made if three of the following officers concur: President, Vice-President,
Secretary, and Treasurer. In the event that the violator is an officer, the decision to dismiss will
be made by three-fourths of the existing membership. The faculty advisor reserves the right to
overturn any such decisions.
ARTICLE 4. DUTIES AND ELECTIONS OF THE OFFICERS
Section 1.
The leadership of Students for Life will consist of four elected officers, named as follows with
the following duties:
A.
President. The President works in conjunction with the
Faculty Advisor and is
responsible for chairing meetings, setting meeting agendas, making space requests, and seeing
that all necessary paperwork required by the Clarion Student Association is submitted correctly
and in a timely manner. The President is expected to attend all organization-related functions.
B.
Vice-President. The Vice-President assists the President in all of the latter’s duties,
replacing the President whenever he or she cannot attend a function or perform a duty. The
President may delegate responsibilities to the Vice-President whenever the President deems it
necessary. If the President vacates office during an academic year for reasons of illness,
resignation, or graduation, the Vice-President assumes the position of President for the remainder
of the year or for the duration of the President’s absence as the case may be. The Vice-President
is expected to be involved in the planning and execution of all meetings and functions of the
organization.
C.
Treasurer. The Treasurer is responsible for organizing fund-raising activities and
collecting student dues. The Treasurer is expected to be involved in the planning and execution
of all meetings and functions of the organization. The Treasurer is also responsible for
maintaining the organization’s financial records.
D.
Secretary. The Secretary is responsible for recording the minutes of all meetings and
maintaining all non-financial records of the organization’s activities. The Secretary is expected
to be involved in the planning and execution of all meetings and functions of the organization.
Any officer may be removed for non-fulfillment of duties. If the advisor deems that an officer is
not fulfilling duties, he or she will warn the officer verbally. If non-fulfillment of duties
continues after the warning, the Advisor will notify the President, who will make provision at the
next scheduled business meeting for a vote to remove the officer in question. A two-thirds vote
is necessary to remove an officer, in accord with Article 6, Sections 2 and 3 of this Constitution.
In the event of removal from Office, the President shall make provision for nomination and
election of a new officer in accord with the procedures in Section Two of this Article; with the
exception that the election will take place the meeting after the vote to remove occurs. In the
event that it is the President who is failing to fulfill his or her duties, the Advisor will make
provision for the vote to remove directly and the Vice-President shall assume the office of
President, to be followed by an election for a new Vice-President.
Section 2.
Nomination and election of officers will take place at the last meeting in April of each year.
Two votes will be sufficient for nomination for any office. Election shall be done by secret
ballot. A majority vote of the voters participating in the election is necessary to win any office.
In the absence of a majority, there will be a run-off election with the two candidates receiving the
most votes on the first ballot placed on the second and deciding ballot. The faculty advisor will
count the votes and administer the election. In the event there are vacancies in offices, an
election will be held at the next scheduled organization meeting.
Section 3.
In order to win an election, a candidate must secure a majority vote of the members participating
in the election. In the absence of a majority on the first ballot, a second and deciding ballot will
take place.
ARTICLE 5. ROLE OF FACULTY ADVISOR
Section 1.
The faculty advisor is Dr. Thomas Rourke. He serves in this capacity until he retires or resigns
the position. In the event of his departure, the President will initiate a search for a replacement.
The President has the authority to nominate a new advisor, who will assume the position with the
approval of any two other officers. The advisor oversees all organization activities. The Advisor
seeks to insure that the organization maintains its institutional integrity and that it also acts in
accord with its principles and with this Constitution.
Section 2.
The Advisor reserves the right to veto any proposed activity or communication that in his or her
judgment compromises the organization’s mission. The advisor must pre-approve (a) the content
of any written communication emanating from the organization, (b) any interviews to be granted
to media sources, (c) all space requests, and (d) all events sponsored by the organization. The
advisor is authorized to bring in speakers or presenters related to the organization’s mission at
his discretion and to commit the organization to sponsorship of events. This includes financial
commitments. The advisor can veto any proposed activity that, in his judgment, is not for the
good of the organization.
ARTICLE 6. MEETINGS
Section 1.
Meetings will be held every two weeks during the Fall and Spring Semesters. The Secretary will
issue a schedule at the beginning of each academic year. With advisor approval, meetings can be
postponed.
Section 2.
A quorum shall be deemed to exist whenever business is held at a regularly scheduled meeting at
which the President, one other officer, and six others are present. With the approval of the
advisor, students who cannot attend a meeting for a reason the advisor finds acceptable may vote
via e-mail to the advisor. In such a case, the non-attending student will be counted as one of the
six additional members needed.
Section 3.
For purposes of voting, a majority shall consist of one half of the members present plus one.
Again, with approval of the advisor, students who cannot attend a vote may vote via e-mail to the
advisor. In such a case, the non-attending student will be included in the calculation of the
majority.
Section 4.
The meeting shall be conducted in accord with the latest available edition of Robert’s Rules of
Order.
Section 5.
The Advisor may call for a special meeting if he or she deems that there is business sufficiently
urgent that it cannot wait until the next scheduled meeting. A five-day notice is required to
schedule such a meeting. There will always be a strong preference that such a meeting be held on
the same day of the week and time of the usual meeting, but the Advisor can choose another time
if this time is inconvenient. If a vote is involved at a special meeting, non-attendees can vote via
e-mail to the advisor. The President shall have the responsibility of notifying the members of the
special meeting via e-mail. The calling of special meetings need not be voted upon by the
membership.
ARTICLE 7. FINANCES AND FUNDING
Section 1.
There will be dues of five dollars per year payable to the Treasurer.
Section 2.
Funds will be sought from the Student Senate subject to the latter’s criteria.
Section 3.
Whether funded by the Student Senate or not, Students for Life will seek to raise money for
itself, subject to university guidelines.
ARTICLE 8. AMENDING, SUSPENDING AND ACCEPTING
This Constitution can be altered with the approval of three of the four officers and 75% of the
enrolled members in any given year. This must take place at a scheduled meeting. Prior to the
meeting, all members must receive in writing the proposed language of the amendment. The
Faculty Advisor must pre-approve any such amendment prior to its being submitted for a vote,
and may veto any proposed amendment. The Student Senate, the Vice-President of Student
Affairs, and the President of the University must approve changes to the Constitution.
ARTICLE 9. RATIFICATION
The affairs of Students for Life shall be governed as outlined in the preceding articles effective
upon adoption by a majority of the charter members as listed on the Organization Form
submitted to the Student Senate, and then approved by the Student Senate, the Vice President of
Student Affairs, and the President of Clarion University.
Constitution
ARTICLE I. STUDENTS FOR LIFE
The name of this organization shall be Students for Life.
ARTICLE 2. PURPOSE
Students for Life is dedicated to the proposition enunciated by Thomas Jefferson in the United
States Declaration of Independence that all human beings are created equal and are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalienable rights, and among these is the right to life. We hold that all
persons from conception to natural death have a right to live and that the laws should support this
right. Students for Life will include within its mission educating the University community
concerning the stands taken on life issues by public officials, as revealed through voting records
and public statements, but is strictly independent of any existing or future political party.
Students for Life benefits the university by (a) providing a forum and fellowship for pro-life
students, (b) contributing to the national debate about life issues, and (c) educating people
concerning the biology of life in the womb and the status of our laws on life-related issues. We
believe students who share the organization’s orientation will wish to join, as well as others who
are interested in learning about the pro-life movement.
Students for Life exists (a) to provide an avenue for pro-life students to join together for
fellowship and to promote a pro-life culture, (b) to disseminate accurate, scientific information
concerning abortion, its consequences for physical and mental health, and life in the womb, (c) to
promote awareness of the current status of the law with respect to abortion, euthanasia,
physician-assisted suicide, and stem-cell research, as well as the positions taken on these issues
by those running for or in public office.
ARTICLE 3. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.
Students for Life is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at Clarion University
regardless of grade point average, class standing, or major. Meetings are bi-weekly during the
Fall and Spring semesters. Anyone interested in membership can contact the Faculty Advisor,
Dr. Thomas Rourke, who is available at trourke@clarion.edu.
Section 2.
Membership in Students for Life is five dollars per year, payable to the Treasurer.
Section 3.
Students for Life is absolutely committed to non-violence and to the promotion of civil
discourse concerning life issues. Moreover, Students for Life is not affiliated with any political
party or church, although it welcomes members of all parties and ecclesiastical organizations.
Members who fail to respect these norms through (a) advocating or practicing violence (b)
engaging in abusive discourse or personal attacks, or (c) compromising the organization’s status
as non-partisan and civic (as opposed to ecclesiastical) by misrepresenting the organization’s
nature through public speech or action, are subject to dismissal. The decision to dismiss for
misconduct will be made if three of the following officers concur: President, Vice-President,
Secretary, and Treasurer. In the event that the violator is an officer, the decision to dismiss will
be made by three-fourths of the existing membership. The faculty advisor reserves the right to
overturn any such decisions.
ARTICLE 4. DUTIES AND ELECTIONS OF THE OFFICERS
Section 1.
The leadership of Students for Life will consist of four elected officers, named as follows with
the following duties:
A.
President. The President works in conjunction with the
Faculty Advisor and is
responsible for chairing meetings, setting meeting agendas, making space requests, and seeing
that all necessary paperwork required by the Clarion Student Association is submitted correctly
and in a timely manner. The President is expected to attend all organization-related functions.
B.
Vice-President. The Vice-President assists the President in all of the latter’s duties,
replacing the President whenever he or she cannot attend a function or perform a duty. The
President may delegate responsibilities to the Vice-President whenever the President deems it
necessary. If the President vacates office during an academic year for reasons of illness,
resignation, or graduation, the Vice-President assumes the position of President for the remainder
of the year or for the duration of the President’s absence as the case may be. The Vice-President
is expected to be involved in the planning and execution of all meetings and functions of the
organization.
C.
Treasurer. The Treasurer is responsible for organizing fund-raising activities and
collecting student dues. The Treasurer is expected to be involved in the planning and execution
of all meetings and functions of the organization. The Treasurer is also responsible for
maintaining the organization’s financial records.
D.
Secretary. The Secretary is responsible for recording the minutes of all meetings and
maintaining all non-financial records of the organization’s activities. The Secretary is expected
to be involved in the planning and execution of all meetings and functions of the organization.
Any officer may be removed for non-fulfillment of duties. If the advisor deems that an officer is
not fulfilling duties, he or she will warn the officer verbally. If non-fulfillment of duties
continues after the warning, the Advisor will notify the President, who will make provision at the
next scheduled business meeting for a vote to remove the officer in question. A two-thirds vote
is necessary to remove an officer, in accord with Article 6, Sections 2 and 3 of this Constitution.
In the event of removal from Office, the President shall make provision for nomination and
election of a new officer in accord with the procedures in Section Two of this Article; with the
exception that the election will take place the meeting after the vote to remove occurs. In the
event that it is the President who is failing to fulfill his or her duties, the Advisor will make
provision for the vote to remove directly and the Vice-President shall assume the office of
President, to be followed by an election for a new Vice-President.
Section 2.
Nomination and election of officers will take place at the last meeting in April of each year.
Two votes will be sufficient for nomination for any office. Election shall be done by secret
ballot. A majority vote of the voters participating in the election is necessary to win any office.
In the absence of a majority, there will be a run-off election with the two candidates receiving the
most votes on the first ballot placed on the second and deciding ballot. The faculty advisor will
count the votes and administer the election. In the event there are vacancies in offices, an
election will be held at the next scheduled organization meeting.
Section 3.
In order to win an election, a candidate must secure a majority vote of the members participating
in the election. In the absence of a majority on the first ballot, a second and deciding ballot will
take place.
ARTICLE 5. ROLE OF FACULTY ADVISOR
Section 1.
The faculty advisor is Dr. Thomas Rourke. He serves in this capacity until he retires or resigns
the position. In the event of his departure, the President will initiate a search for a replacement.
The President has the authority to nominate a new advisor, who will assume the position with the
approval of any two other officers. The advisor oversees all organization activities. The Advisor
seeks to insure that the organization maintains its institutional integrity and that it also acts in
accord with its principles and with this Constitution.
Section 2.
The Advisor reserves the right to veto any proposed activity or communication that in his or her
judgment compromises the organization’s mission. The advisor must pre-approve (a) the content
of any written communication emanating from the organization, (b) any interviews to be granted
to media sources, (c) all space requests, and (d) all events sponsored by the organization. The
advisor is authorized to bring in speakers or presenters related to the organization’s mission at
his discretion and to commit the organization to sponsorship of events. This includes financial
commitments. The advisor can veto any proposed activity that, in his judgment, is not for the
good of the organization.
ARTICLE 6. MEETINGS
Section 1.
Meetings will be held every two weeks during the Fall and Spring Semesters. The Secretary will
issue a schedule at the beginning of each academic year. With advisor approval, meetings can be
postponed.
Section 2.
A quorum shall be deemed to exist whenever business is held at a regularly scheduled meeting at
which the President, one other officer, and six others are present. With the approval of the
advisor, students who cannot attend a meeting for a reason the advisor finds acceptable may vote
via e-mail to the advisor. In such a case, the non-attending student will be counted as one of the
six additional members needed.
Section 3.
For purposes of voting, a majority shall consist of one half of the members present plus one.
Again, with approval of the advisor, students who cannot attend a vote may vote via e-mail to the
advisor. In such a case, the non-attending student will be included in the calculation of the
majority.
Section 4.
The meeting shall be conducted in accord with the latest available edition of Robert’s Rules of
Order.
Section 5.
The Advisor may call for a special meeting if he or she deems that there is business sufficiently
urgent that it cannot wait until the next scheduled meeting. A five-day notice is required to
schedule such a meeting. There will always be a strong preference that such a meeting be held on
the same day of the week and time of the usual meeting, but the Advisor can choose another time
if this time is inconvenient. If a vote is involved at a special meeting, non-attendees can vote via
e-mail to the advisor. The President shall have the responsibility of notifying the members of the
special meeting via e-mail. The calling of special meetings need not be voted upon by the
membership.
ARTICLE 7. FINANCES AND FUNDING
Section 1.
There will be dues of five dollars per year payable to the Treasurer.
Section 2.
Funds will be sought from the Student Senate subject to the latter’s criteria.
Section 3.
Whether funded by the Student Senate or not, Students for Life will seek to raise money for
itself, subject to university guidelines.
ARTICLE 8. AMENDING, SUSPENDING AND ACCEPTING
This Constitution can be altered with the approval of three of the four officers and 75% of the
enrolled members in any given year. This must take place at a scheduled meeting. Prior to the
meeting, all members must receive in writing the proposed language of the amendment. The
Faculty Advisor must pre-approve any such amendment prior to its being submitted for a vote,
and may veto any proposed amendment. The Student Senate, the Vice-President of Student
Affairs, and the President of the University must approve changes to the Constitution.
ARTICLE 9. RATIFICATION
The affairs of Students for Life shall be governed as outlined in the preceding articles effective
upon adoption by a majority of the charter members as listed on the Organization Form
submitted to the Student Senate, and then approved by the Student Senate, the Vice President of
Student Affairs, and the President of Clarion University.