Constitution of the Indiana University Linguistics Club (IULC)
Adopted: February 28, 1980
Amended: September 5, 1984
April 30, 1992
October 1993
February 2, 2002
February 2009
October 2011
April 2012
Preamble
The name of this organization shall be the Indiana University Linguistics Club.
The purpose of the Indiana University Linguistics Club is to promote interest and communication in linguistics and related fields. It aims to foster cohesiveness in the greater IU linguistics community by providing opportunities for academic, social, and professional development and interaction. The purpose of this organization is exclusively educational within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
Article I: Membership
Membership is free and open to the public (i.e., there are no dues). Every graduate student enrolled in the Linguistics Department is automatically considered a member of the Club. If such a person does not want to be a member, s/he must register a statement to this effect with the Secretary. Any other interested party may also become a member by registering his/her interest with the secretary. All members shall have voting rights within the Club and shall receive notification of all of the Club’s activities. They shall also be eligible to receive reduced rates on any of the Club’s publications, where such rates are available, and any other such benefits as the Club is able to provide.
Participation in the organization must be without regard to arbitrary consideration of such characteristics as age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. [section I.D.3(c).]
Article II: University Compliance
This organization shall comply with all Indiana University regulations, and local, state and federal laws.
Article III: Executive Officers
The Officers of the Club shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Colloquium Coordinator, a Business Manager, and an Undergraduate representative chosen from among the members of the Board elected in the annual elections. They shall serve for a period of twelve months, which shall begin immediately following the regular annual election, except for officers whose terms begin in Spring 2008 who shall serve for a period of three semesters ending in Spring 2009. Provisions for the election are set forth in article VII. Only members enrolled as students at IU are eligible to serve as officers. No elected officer shall receive remuneration for their duties as officer, nor shall officers be available for any benefits or grants offered by the Club. No individual may hold more than one officer position. Officers are responsible for all Club operations.
Specific duties for the Officers shall be described in the Officer Job Description document. This document shall be publicized to the membership prior to elections. This document may be revised as needed by the Board, but shall supplement these bylaws by delimiting the specific duties of individual offices.
The President shall:
· head all Club meetings
· organize the Club’s yearly colloquium series
· maintain lines of communication between the Club and: the linguistics department faculty, the GPSO, and the undergraduate linguistics organization, as well as any organization inside or outside of Indiana University
The Vice President shall:
· run the orientation for new students
· coordinate regular social events throughout the year
· set up LingLunches and the annual graduate student conference
In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall temporarily assume the responsibilities of the President (e.g. heading a meeting of the Club).
The Secretary shall:
· record, distribute, and archive minutes from Club meetings
· work with the department office staff to maintain the graduate student listserv
· handle inquiries related to the IULC's library collection
The Treasurer shall:
· manage Club funds according to the regulations of Student Organization Accounts
· handle the advertisement, processing, and questions related to the annual IULC travel grant
· pass on information about potential funding sources
The Communications Coordinator shall:
· handle all incoming inquiries regarding the Club and its publications (i.e., responding to e-mail, etc.)
· upload linguistics-related events to the Club's online calendar
· update the IULC website as needed
Also, all officers are jointly responsible for managing and overseeing the production and distribution of IULC's publications.
Duties of these positions are flexible and may be redistributed as seen fit by the officer board.
Article IV: Advisor
The membership shall be consulted at an open meeting when it becomes necessary to choose a new advisor for the Club.
Article V: Meetings
Section 1: Meetings of the Board
The Board shall hold regular meetings to conduct the Club’s business (no fewer than 3 meetings per Fall or Spring semester). Meetings may be task-directed in which case only responsible Board members are required to attend. At meetings of the Board, only members of the Board shall have voting rights. In case of questions concerning the proper conduct of meetings, Robert's Rules of Order (revised) shall be adhered to.
Section 2: Open Meetings
Regular open meetings of the Club may be scheduled by the Board as they see fit. Announcement of these meetings shall be made by mail (physical or virtual) to all Club Members in a reasonable amount of time before the time of the meeting.
Special meetings shall be scheduled by the Board under the following conditions:
1. Petition by a number of Club Members no fewer than the number of Board members.
2. Need (see preamble) recognized by the Board.
3. As specified by Article XI, section 6.
At all open meetings a quorum shall be a number equal to twice the number of members of the Board. In case of question concerning the proper conduct of meetings, Roberts Rules of Order (revised) shall be adhered to. Questions at meetings shall be decided by a simple majority except in the case of Constitutional Amendments.
Article VI: Elections
The election of the Board of Directors (hereafter named 'the Board') shall be held at the beginning of the spring semester. Nominations shall be made at an open meeting and/or by anonymous ballot (physical or virtual) available to all members. Ballots shall be collected, and counted by individuals designated by the Board who are not themselves on the Ballot. Any vacancy on the Board shall be filled as soon as possible by a method deemed appropriate by the Board.
Hazing is strictly prohibited. Hazing shall be defined as any conduct which subjects another person, whether physically, mentally, emotionally, or psychologically, to anything that may endanger, abuse, degrade, or intimidate the person as a condition of association with a group or organization, regardless of the person's consent or lack of consent.
Article VIII: Dues and Budgets
Decisions on major expenditures shall originate in the Board.
Article IX: Finances
Financial aid and discounts shall be granted to Club members for such purposes and according to such policies as shall be laid down from time to time by the Board, depending on the availability of funds. Only enrolled IU students will be eligible for financial aid; however, members of the Board are not eligible to receive financial aid.
Article X: Personal Gain
This organization shall ethically raise and distribute profits from organizational functions to either the organization or to members who provide a service that directly benefits the organization. Individual members may not receive compensation directly from for-profit companies if acting as a representative of a student organization.
Article XI: Amendments
Amendment to the Constitution may take place only at meetings for which there has been prior announcement concerning the proposed amendment, or by anonymous ballot (physical or virtual) sent to all members.
Article XII: Ratification
Adoption of an amendment shall be by unanimous vote of Officers or a 2/3 affirmative vote of those members present and voting at an open meeting or ballot.
Article XIII: Grievance Procedure
1. Any member of the IULC may request the formation of a committee to review a decision of the Board by submitting a letter stating their grievance to the Board within a reasonable amount of time after the decision in question is made.
2. Upon receipt of such a letter, the Board shall initiate the formation of a review committee.
3. The review committee will have three members, selected from the voting membership of the IULC. One member shall be chosen by the Board, by unanimous vote with no abstentions. One member shall be chosen by the person or persons filing the grievance. The two people thus chosen shall choose the third member of the review committee.
4. The review committee shall decide whether the complaint has substance and whether further action is required.
5. If the review committee decides that no further action is required, then the decision of the Board stands.
6. If the review committee decides that further action is required, it shall recommend to the Board that it revise its decision. If such revision is not forthcoming, it shall call a meeting of the full voting membership.
7. At the open meeting the parties shall explain and justify their positions and members present shall vote on what action to take.
Article XIV: Dissolution
Upon the dissolution of the Club, the Members shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the Club, dispose of all of the assets of the Club to an organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for educational or scientific purposes as shall at the time be qualified as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the members shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall, upon final dissolution, escheat to the State of Indiana, for exclusively public purposes.
