These are the bylaws of the club, which have been changed to reflect the club's name change and a few other adjustments.  To see the entire constitution see Tom Matthews in the Language Department. 

[Throughout this Constitution Delta Lambda Sappho Union has been replaced with Gay Straight Alliance and DLSU with GSA]

The Constitution of Gay Straight Alliance

Preamble

We, the members of the Gay Straight Alliance, in order to form a more effective association, ensure a representative and orderly system of self-governance, establish internal justice, promote and defend those inalienable rights and pursuant responsibilities common to all persons, and to pursue the fulfillment of the mission of this organization do hereby establish and ordain this constitution.

 Article l.                     Name, Affiliation and Mission Statement

 Section 1.01 Name

(a)       The official name of this organization shall be “Gay Straight Alliance.”

(b)       The abbreviated name of Gay Straight Alliance shall be “GSA.”

Section 1.02 Affiliation

(a)       GSA shall operate as an affiliate organization of Weber State University Association of Registered Organizations.

(b)       GSA shall operate as an affiliate organization of Weber State University Diversity Center.

Section 1.03 Mission Statement

The Mission Statement of GSA shall be:

“The mission of Gay Straight Alliance is to bring together the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, questioning and straight students, alumni, faculty and staff of Weber State University, their friends and families, and members of the community, in a spirit of unity, social support and self-empowerment.

Gay Straight Alliance promotes personal growth and development by encouraging outcomes such as enhanced self-esteem, leadership development, fitness and wellness, meaningful interpersonal relationships, social responsibility, satisfying and productive lifestyles, appreciation of aesthetic and cultural diversity and spiritual awareness.

Gay Straight Alliance serves as a catalyst for the creation of a campus and community environment free of prejudice, bigotry, harassment and violence.

Gay Straight Alliance provides such services as: coming out support, support for victims of homophobia and hate crimes, and services to address family issues and health concerns.

Gay Straight Alliance welcomes everyone, regardless of degree or enrollment status at Weber State University, age, gender, race, ethnicity, ability, socioeconomic status, religion or sexual orientation, who are interested in supporting or learning about the gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered communities.”

 Article II.         Membership

 Section 2.01 Non-exclusionary Membership

Membership in GSA shall be open to any individual regardless of degree or enrollment status at Weber State University, age, gender, race, ethnicity, ability, socioeconomic status, religion or sexual orientation.

Section 2.02 General Membership

General Membership in GSA shall be open to any student of Weber State University.

Section 2.03 Associate Membership

Associate Membership in GSA shall be open to any alumnus, faculty or staff member of Weber State University, their friends and families, and members of the community.

[Section 2.04 Dues

General and associate members will pay annual dues in an amount determined by the Board.]

 Article III.        Executive Authority

 Section 3.01 Executive Board

(a)       Gay Straight Alliance shall be governed by an Executive Board comprising [four elected officers,] a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and appointed cabinet members as allowed by this Constitution and/or the GSA Bylaws.

(b)       These elected and appointed members of the GSA Executive Board shall have the specific power to execute the laws and expenditures of GSA in accordance with their respective duties and responsibilities, fill vacancies within their       jurisdiction as outlined in this Constitution and the Bylaws, and to represent the membership of GSA in the most effective manner.

Section 3.02 Qualifications to Hold Elected Office

(a)       To serve as President of GSA [an elected officer on the Board, a student must be] a fully matriculated, full-time student of [enrolled in at least 6 credit hours per semester at] Weber State University, has paid all student fees, and maintains a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 [2.0] on a 4.0 scale at the time of elections may be elected to the office of President [during the period of tenure in office, namely fall and spring semesters following election].

(b)       To serve as Vice-President, Secretary, or Treasurer, any person who has obtained the age of at least 18 years at the time of elections may be elected to the office of Vice-President Secretary, or Treasurer of GSA.

Section 3.03 Appointed Cabinet Member Qualifications and Malfeasance or Nonfeasance of Duty

(a)       To serve as an Appointed Cabinet Member of the GSA Executive Board, any person who has obtained the age of at least 18 years at the time of appointment and has demonstrated the necessary skills, ability, desire and interest to serve in the vacant appointed position, may be appointed the GSA President [Executive Board] to serve on the GSA Executive Board.

(b)       Any elected member of [T]he GSA Executive Board shall have the power to remove any appointed cabinet member within the jurisdiction of said office and not specifically delineated in this Constitution, or the GSA Bylaws, with GSA Executive Board approval for reasons of malfeasance or nonfeasance of duty.

Section 3.04 Term of Office

The members of the Executive Board, including appointed cabinet members allowed by this Constitution and/or the GSA Bylaws, shall serve a term of one year, beginning on the First day of June and ending on the Thirty-first day of May [last day of the spring semester in which they are elected (although the requirements for GPA and course load take effect only during the following fall and spring semesters], with the right to re-election or re-appointment as long as the member continues to meet the qualifications and criteria for the desired position as outlined in this Constitution and/or the GSA Bylaws.

Section 3.05 Line of Succession

(a)       In the case of the removal (impeachment) of the President from Office, or of death, resignation or temporary inability to discharge the duties of said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President and such elected member shall act accordingly for the duration of the term of the President, or until the disability be removed. Should the Vice-President, having assumed the duties of President, no longer continue in said office for any reason, then the Secretary shall assume the office of President for the duration of the term of the original office, or until the Elected President may return to office.

(b)       In the case of removal (impeachment) of the Vice-President, Secretary, or Treasurer from office, or of death, resignation or temporary inability to discharge the duties of said office, the same shall devolve on a new Vice-President, Secretary, or Treasurer to be nominated [selected] by the President of GSA [Executive Board] and ratified by a majority vote of those present [at a regularly scheduled meeting of the GSA], excluding abstention votes, of the GSA general and associate membership.

[Section 3.06 Quorum Requirements

When the Elected Members of GSA Executive Board meet before having appointed other members to the Board, all four of them must be in attendance. Thereafter, fifty percent of the entire Executive Board will constitute a quorum.]

Article IV. Election, Oath, Impeachment and Conduct of Business

Section 4.01 Election

The times, places, and manners of holding elections for all elected members of the GSA Executive Board shall be prescribed in the GSA Bylaws.

Section 4.02 Oath of Office

Any elected member of the GSA Executive Board shall begin executing the duties of said office only by taking the following oath: “I (Name), do solemnly affirm that I will faithfully execute the-Office of (title of office) of Gay Straight Alliance and will, to the best of my ability, represent, preserve, protect, and defend the -membership and Constitution of Gay Straight Alliance.”

Section 4.03 [4.02] Impeachment

A three-fourths majority vote of those present [at a regularly scheduled meeting of the GSA], with at least ten percent of the GSA general and associate membership voting, excluding abstention votes, shall impeach any elected member of the GSA Executive Board after a hearing, as outlined in the GSA Bylaws.

Section 4.04 Conduct of Business/Finances

(a)       The Gay Straight Alliance Executive Board shall conduct its proceedings in accordance with this Constitution and the GSA Bylaws. GSA shall keep minutes of all of its proceedings, which shall include the voting record on any legislation or business conducted during Executive Board Meetings.

(b)       The times, places, and manners of holding GSA Executive Board meetings shall be prescribed in the GSA Bylaws.

(c)        Gay Straight Alliance shall not provide financial gain, incidentally or otherwise, to any GSA Executive Board member, or any GSA general or associate member in the form of wages, salaries, bonuses or incentives.

(d)       The Gay Straight Alliance Executive Board must approve by a majority vote of those present, excluding abstention votes, any expenditure from the GSA financial accounts.

Article V. Guarantee of Rights and Privileges and Continuity Clause

Section 5.01 Guarantee of Rights and Privileges

All rights and privileges not specifically outlined or enumerated by this Constitution and the GSA Bylaws shall be reserved to the individual general and associate members of GSA. No elected or appointed member of the GSA Executive Board, while serving as the representatives and individuals authorized to act for and in behalf of GSA shall perform any act which would infringe upon, detract from, or deny the rights and privileges of any individual member of GSA guaranteed by this Constitution and the GSA Bylaws in any manner not prescribed herein.

Section 5.02 Continuity Clause

Any agreements, contracts, or other binding actions entered into before the Adoption of this Constitution and the GSA Bylaws shall be as valid against GSA under this Constitution as under the former governing documents, except where specifically altered by the changes and differences of this Constitution.

 Article Vl.       Amendments and Ratification

 Section 6.01 Amendments

(a)       Any amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by any GSA general or associate member in writing to the GSA Executive Board.

(b)       Any proposed amendment to this Constitution must be approved by a majority vote of those present, excluding abstention votes, of the GSA Executive Board [presuming a quorum is present].

(c)        Upon approval by a majority vote of the GSA Executive Board, the proposed amendment shall be ratified by at least a two-thirds majority vote of those present, excluding abstention votes, of the general and associate membership of GSA.

(d)       The Gay Straight Alliance President, or duly appointed representative, shall announce proposed amendments to this Constitution, to the GSA Executive Board and the GSA general and associate membership at least 10 days in advance of voting, conditions permitting.

 Section 6.02 Ratification

This Constitution shall be valid upon ratification by a three-fourths majority vote of those present, excluding abstention votes, of the GSA general and associate membership.