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CONSTITUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION OF RESIDENCE HALL STUDENTS
(last amended 11/08)
We the residence hall students of Slippery Rock University (SRU), in order to provide a representative government, to advance the welfare and common interests of the residence hall community and the university, and to preserve, protect and defend the rights of the student members of the residence hall community, do hereby establish this Constitution and democratic government.
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Association of Residence Hall Students, hereafter referred to as ARHS.
ARTICLE II - DUTIES AND POWERS
SECTION 1 All powers of ARHS and the ARHS Delegate Council (Delegation) shall be derived from this document and the official recognition of Slippery Rock University (SRU).
SECTION 2 It shall be the duty of ARHS to preserve, protect and defend the rights of its constituents to the best of its ability and to work for the good of the Residence Hall communities as well as the University community as a whole.
SECTION 3 ARHS shall provide for:
1. The governance of the residential student population of SRU.
2. Social and educational programming opportunities, policy development, leadership opportunities, and services within the residence halls.
SECTION 4 ARHS shall have the power to collect allocate funds and revenues gained from washer/dryer fees, copiers, fund-raisers, refrigerator/micro-fridge rentals, and miscellaneous income.
SECTION 5 ARHS shall have the duty to:
1. Act as an advocacy group for students living in the residence halls,
2. Provide services to the on-campus student body as stated here or deemed necessary by the Delegation, and
3. To work with the Office of Residence Life; and other outside organizations that provide for ARHS’ constituents.
SECTION 6 The Delegation shall have the power to create and publish any other by-laws and/or standing responsibilities of its committees, officers, and members.
SECTION 7 The Delegation shall have final decision making authority for ARHS unless otherwise stipulated in the by-laws, standing rules, or by the Delegation.
SECTION 8 A. ARHS, through its officers or the Delegation, shall forward, the University President and Vice President of Student Affairs, or their designee for final approval of recommendations for:
1. Policy/rule changes and
2. Changes to services offered in the residence halls.
B. It is requested that any disapproval by SRU of the above mentioned items shall include an explanation and possible solution(s) to ARHS.
SECTION 9 ARHS may request of SRU the authority to engage in specific businesses and concessions for service to the residence halls. In granting such authority, SRU will specify in writing the policies and conditions of such authorization.
SECTION 10 ARHS reserves the right to have two advisors per elected ARHS official’s term. The first advisor must be the Director of Residence Life or his/her appointed designee. The second advisor shall be a co-advisor, who will be selected and appointed by the Director of Residence Life who will seek input by the ARHS Executive Board. The terms of these advisors shall coincide with the term of the elected ARHS official’s.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1 ARHS is a representative body of a truly diverse population in which individuality is expected and encouraged, and individual differences are welcomed and recognized as a part of each person’s unique personality. In light of this, these differences will not be used or permitted as an avenue for discrimination or harassment.
SECTION 2 All students living in the residence halls of SRU are to be considered members of ARHS.
SECTION 3 The total number of voting delegates shall be 58.
SECTION 4 The students of the ten residence halls shall be represented by the Delegation
A. The Following residence communities shall make up the Delegation:
1.) Kraus Hall
2.) North Hall
3.) Rhoads Hall
4.) Residential Complex Building A (until otherwise named)
5.) Residential Complex Building B (until otherwise named)
6.) Residential Complex Building D (until otherwise named)
7.) Residential Complex Building E (until otherwise named)
8.) Residential Complex Building F (until otherwise named)
9.) Robert J. Watson Hall
10.) Resident on Campus complex (ROCK) Apartments
B. In addition, there shall be a voting representative for the following organizations:
1. Student Government Association (SGA)
A.SGA may only keep the right to vote if and only if the building senators are regularly attending and give reports to house councils
2. National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH)
3. Freshman Leadership Scholarship Program (FLSP)
4. Living learning communities (LLC)
C. In addition, there may be a non-voting representative for the following organizations:
1. University Programming Board (UPB)
2. Black Action Society (BAS)
3. Student Health Advisory Board (SHAB)
4. Rock Out (LGBTA) (LGBTA)
5. WSRU
SECTION 5 A. Each of the residence halls listed in Section 4 shall have five voting delegates. Those five votes shall be distributed as follows:
1. Residence Hall President, or his/her appointed designee
from the remaining members of the House Council
Executive Board.
2. Three elected representatives from the hall, and Community Assistant (CA).
3. The ROCK Apartments will have a Desk Assistant (DA) and four representatives
B. Each hall is also responsible for selecting one elected alternate delegate. These representatives are considered voting delegates in the absence of one of the representatives specified in Section 5 Paragraph A.
C. In addition, the following Executive Board members of ARHS hold voting privileges:
1. Vice-President of Education
2. Vice-President of Finance
3. Vice-President of Administration
4. National Communications Coordinator
D. In the event of a tie, to create a tie, or for selection of awards the President has one vote.
E. A veto may be called by the President immediately after a motion is passed, with reasonable cause.
F. A veto may be overridden by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the delegation.
G. Should a vacancy occur, the hall for which the representative is from is expected to elect a new representative within two weeks.
SECTION 6 All residence hall executive board representatives and officers shall meet the following qualifications before taking and during tenure in office:
1. Have and maintain a Q.P.A. of 2.0 on a 4 point scale,
2. Attend the ARHS leadership retreat, or conference.
3. Representatives must be residents of the residence halls.
SECTION 7 The term of office of all representatives shall be a period of one year and these terms shall be as follows:
1. The term of office for all elected representatives shall begin at the first meeting of ARHS and end at the last meeting of the spring semester.
2. The terms of office for representatives of organizations shall run concurrently with the terms of office which they hold in their organizations.
SECTION 8 Representatives are expected to serve on at least one standing committee and at least one other committee during the year.
SECTION 9 All voting and non-voting organizations of ARHS, as mentioned under Article III, subsection, 4A, and 4B shall lose membership in ARHS upon that organizations written, verbal or implied intent to have their membership terminated.
1. Implied intent is defined as three (3) unexcused absences during the course of a semester.
2. In order to regain voting privileges an organization must appeal to the Delegation for a probationary period.
a. The probationary period shall be no more than one-half semester; to be determined by the Delegation.
b. During the period, the organization shall have non-voting status.
c. The organization during the appeal must show substantial relationship between it and the residence halls.
3. Upon receiving the delegation’s approval for non-voting status, it will be the duty of the V.P. of Administration to track the attendance of the organization.
a. At the end of the suspension should that organization still desire voting privileges.
b. have maintained good standing [attendance], it shall be the duty of the Rules, Policy, and Elections (RPE) Committee to review the organization’s relationship to the halls and its role in helping ARHS to fulfill its mission.
c. At the end of this review, not to exceed the constitutional guidelines for constitutional amendments -Art. VII subsection 2A- the RPE has the duty of making a recommendation based on their findings.
ARTICLE IV - ELECTION OF ARHS OFFICERS
SECTION 1
A. Prior to each election it shall be the duty of the RPE committee to publish all rules and dates relating to the election of the ARHS Officers
B. Elections for Officers shall be held by the last week in February, or the first week in March, unless extenuating circumstances dictate otherwise. Elections shall be held Monday and Tuesday of that week.
C. The term of office for the Executive Board of ARHS, with the exception of the NCC, shall be for one year, unless elected to additional terms.
SECTION 2 A. The elected Executive Officers of ARHS shall be:
1. President
2. Vice President of Education
3. Vice President of Finance
4. Vice President of Administration
B. There shall be two ex-officico Executive Officers of ARHS those being:
1. National Communications Coordinator
2. Parliamentarian
C. The above mentioned Executive Officers shall comprise the Executive Board and thereby take necessary steps to conduct the business of ARHS, as well as ensure the proper functioning of the organization.
D. The Executive Board shall take no final action, except were it is deemed differently in this Constitution or the By-laws, without the Delegation’s approval.
E. The Delegation shall have final approval concerning ARHS matters and all Executive Board actions, except where it is deemed differently in this Constitution or the By-Laws.
F. The Executive Board shall have authority to allocate funds for office necessities and in order to fulfill all previously outlined duties.
G. The Executive Board shall have the power to appoint chairpersons of various committees and to delegate work as necessary to execute the duties and powers of ARHS.
H. In order that the operations of ARHS may run smoothly during the summer recess of SRU, the delegation shall make recommendations to executive board members for a Student Secretary.
1. The Student Secretary shall be delegated with the responsibility for all summer transactions of ARHS. These include:
a. supplying washer and dryer refunds
b. paying bills that the organization has incurred
c. depositing all revenues to the ARHS account in the co-op office
d. making all necessary communications to organizations, individuals, or institutions - both on and off campus
e. in the event of an emergency, contacting the President.
1. The President, in such situations, has the duty of contacting all the other Executive Board members for their input.
2. After contacting the other Executive Board members, it is the President’s duty to contact the Summer Secretary with instructions on handling the situation.
3. At the first meeting of the fall semester, it is the duty of the President to inform the entire Delegation of the emergency and how it was dealt with.
SECTION 3 No individual shall qualify for Executive Office unless they have or are:
1. Completed 12 credit hours at SRU, earned and maintained a QPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, and
2. Not involved in student teaching or an internship during either semester of office.
3. Met the requirements outlined in Art. III Sec. 6 subsections 1 and 2.
SECTION 4 No Executive Board member of ARHS shall be permitted to hold concurrent Executive Board positions in any of the organizations listed in Art. III Sec. 4 Paragraphs A and B without prior approval from the delegation.
SECTION 5 The NCC shall be selected via vote by the entire Executive Board and all other processes deemed necessary by the outgoing NCC. NCC after the NCC in training has been suggested by the current NCC.
SECTION 6 The Parliamentarian shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the other Executive officers.
1. Necessity for a parliamentarian is to the discretion of the President.
SECTION 7 Executive vacancy:
A. The President: should a vacancy occur in the office of President, the Vice President of Education shall assume the duties of the President and that Vice President’s position shall be filled
B. Other Executives: Vacancies in all other executive positions shall be opened to the residence hall population and filled by election within the delegation by the second meeting after the vacancy occurs.
C. Should there, at any time, be a simultaneous vacancy in the office of the President and the Vice President of Education, the Delegation shall elect a President Pro-Tempore from amongst the remaining Executive Board members.
1. The RPE committee shall convene to conduct a residence hall wide election.
2. This election shall be held within thirty days to fill the positions unless the vacancy occurs within forty-five calendar days of a scheduled election- in which case the President Pro-Tempore shall become President for the duration of the unexpired term.
SECTION 8 Before taking office, each officer must be duly sworn in with the following oath of office by a member of the Rules/Policy/Elections committee:
“I, (name), do solemnly swear that I will execute the duties and responsibilities of the office to which I was elected and will, to the best of my ability, uphold the Constitution and By-Laws of ARHS.”
ARTICLE V - MEETINGS
SECTION 1 ARHS shall meet at least once every week during each academic semester.
SECTION 2 Special meetings of ARHS may be called by the ARHS President, the ARHS Executive Board, or by petition of fifty percent plus 1or more of the Delegation.
SECTION 3 A quorum shall be fifty percent (50%) of the voting members of the delegation plus one (+1)
SECTION 4 The parliamentary authority for all meetings of ARHS shall be the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order unless otherwise stated herein or by act of the Delegation.
ARTICLE VI - RESIGNATION, REMOVAL, IMPEACHMENT
SECTION 1 Resignations
1. Any member of ARHS may resign from his/her position as long as a formal resignation stating reason for resignation is presented to the Executive Board.
2. Should a delegate resign or be removed from ARHS, it is the responsibility of the residence hall in which they reside to acquire a new delegate.
3. Should an Executive Officer resign, the filling of that position shall take place outlined in Art. IV Sec. 7.
SECTION 2 Impeachment
A. Any Executive Officer may be impeached for failure to fulfill his/her duties and responsibilities or for infringing upon the rights of others through the abuse of office.
1. Any member of the residence hall population, with a petition of fifteen percent or more of the entire residence hall population, may initiate proceedings for recall against any Executive Board member at any ARHS meeting.
2. Any member of a Delegate’s constituent group with a petition of fifteen percent or more of that Delegates residence hall population may initiate proceedings for recall, at any ARHS meeting.
B. A recall vote shall be taken as follows:
1. The entire residence hall population is eligible to vote in a recall referendum against an Executive Board member.
a. A majority of the ballots cast shall be the deciding factor on whether or not the Executive Board member is removed from his/her position.
2. The entire constituent group of a Delegate shall be eligible to vote in a recall referendum against that Delegate. In this referendum said member may have a chance to plead their case.
a. A majority of the ballots cast shall be the deciding factor on whether or not the Delegate is removed from his/her position.
ARTICLE VII – DUTIES AND POWERS, STIPENDS, STANDING COMMITTEES
SECTION 1 Duties and Powers of elected and appointed officers
A. The duties and powers of elected and appointed officers shall be governed by the by-laws of ARHS, unless otherwise stated in this constitution.
SECTION 2 Duties of appointed and selected advisors
A. The duties of appointed and selected advisors shall be governed by the by-laws of ARHS, unless otherwise stated in this constitution.
SECTION 3 Duties of standing committees
A. The duties of the standing committees shall be governed by the by-laws of ARHS, unless otherwise stated in this constitution.
SECTION 4 Stipends
A. Stipends of the executive board of ARHS shall be governed by the by-laws of ARHS, unless otherwise stated in this constitution.
ARTICLE VIII - CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW, AMENDMENTS, AND RATIFICATION
SECTION 1 Review
A. This Constitution will be reviewed every two years by the Rules/Policy/Elections committee. At this time, they can submit it for re-acceptance or correct any problems found.
B. The Delegation can ask for a constitutional review with a 2/3 vote.
SECTION 2 Amendment
A. Having been moved and seconded, the amendment shall be automatically tabled until which time the Rules/Policy/Elections Committee can review it.
1. The Rules/Policy/Elections Committee shall have no more than 2 (two) weeks to review and make recommendations.
B. After the committee reviews the amendment, they will be obligated to come before the Delegation with recommendations concerning the said amendment’s validity and constitutionality.
C. The Delegation must then approve the amendment by 2/3’s vote .
D. All proposed amendments should be in writing.
SECTION 3 RATIFICATION
A. This Constitution may be ratified by a 2/3 majority of the Delegation.
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