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Asian American Students Alliance Constitution

1. Name
1. The name of the organization is the Asian American Students Alliance.
2. Purpose
1. The purpose of the organization is to provide a forum for communication and action for the Asian American community at Yale.
3. Members
1. Inclusion
1. Prospective groups shall nominate themselves to the AASA moderator(s) for inclusion. The Executive Board shall decide whether to admit the group by a unanimous vote.
2. Membership
1. Membership shall be renewed yearly. Renewal shall be achieved automatically if the member group fulfills the requirements for member groups.
3. Commitments and Entitlements
1. Member groups must have representation at every AASA Executive Board meeting and every Political Action and Education Committee meeting.
2. Each member group shall be entitled one vote in all Executive Board decisions.
3. Member groups shall be entitled every semester to AASA seed funding, the amount of which will be determined by the Executive Board.
4. Member groups shall be entitled to submit proposals for the AASA discretionary fund.
4. Exclusion
1. Grounds for a vote of removal from AASA membership are when a group misses more than a total of 3 executive board or PAEC meetings per semester or clearly demonstrates a lack of commitment, as determined by any member of the executive board, either to the AASA membership or to the Asian American community.
2. Exclusion shall be formally determined by a majority vote by the Executive Board, effective upon voting.
4. Structure
1. Executive Board
1. The Executive Board shall consist of the president(s) or moderator(s) of each member group and the moderator(s) of AASA.
2. When voting, each member group shall have one vote and the AASA moderator(s) shall have one vote.
3. When making decisions regarding constitution issues, a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote is required by AASA board members. Executive Board has ultimate approval of measures passed by the AASA board by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote.
4. Executive Board has sole voting privileges on budget issues.
2. AASA Board
1. The AASA Board will consist of one or two moderators, a secretary, a treasurer, a community development coordinator, one or two political action committee chairs, an Asian Pacific American heritage series chair, an Asian American Studies Task Force chair, a webmaster, an operations manager, an Asian Pacific American blog editor and up to three freshman liaisons.
2. The main duties of the AASA board will be to support and strengthen the Asian American community through the efficient coordination and administration of the Asian American community. The AASA board will also contribute by planning pan-Asian American events.
3. Committees
1. The organization shall have the political action and education committee (PAEC). PAEC is responsible for directing the political vision for AASA, and does so in conjunction with the AASA Board and the Executive Board through political events and activities on campus.
1. The responsibilities of the political action committee shall include but shall not be limited to:
1. Encouraging Asian American political recognition and action at Yale;
2. Initiating action and engaging students over Asian American issues at Yale and beyond;
3. Keeping the Asian American student community informed of current events;
4. Advocating for the representation of Asian American experiences in the Yale curriculum.
2. All member groups must designate a representative to serve on the political action committee. In the event that the PAEC chair(s) is/are also sitting political chair(s) of a member group, the PAEC chair(s) may also serve as PAEC representative(s) of the member group. If a member group does not have a Political Chair, the member group must nonetheless send a representative to the committee.
2. The organization shall have an Asian Pacific American (APA) blog committee. The APA Blog Committee shall be responsible for aiding the APA Blog Editor in updating and maintaining the AASA blog and posting new entries in a timely manner.
1. The decision to have an APA blog committee is up to the discretion of the APA Blog Editor.
2. The APA Blog Editor will be responsible for choosing members of the committee.
3. Any AASA committee will be open to members of the general Yale community. Members of the committee need not be representatives of a particular group and will receive equal status with members who represent member and affiliate groups.
5. AASA Board
1. Moderators (up to 2)
1. The moderators are responsible for leading the meetings for AASA Board. They are also responsible for running meetings of the Executive Board, which consists of the senior leadership in our member groups.
2. The moderators will convene and set the agenda for all Executive Board and AASA Board meetings.
3. The moderators will represent AASA at all Yale meetings and will serve as administrative liaison to the Asian American student community for the Director of the Asian American Cultural Center.
4. The moderators will serve a term of two semesters.
2. Political Education and Action Committee Chair (2)
1. The political education and action committee chair will convene, set the agenda for, and run meetings of the political education and action committee. The committee chair will be responsible for holding member and affiliate group representatives accountable for active involvement.
2. The political education and action committee chair will relay information to the AASA and Executives Boards.
3. The PAEC chair(s) will serve a term of two semesters.
3. Asian Pacific American Heritage Series Chair (1)
1. The Asian Pacific American heritage series chair will plan and coordinate social, cultural, and political events throughout the academic year to celebrate and commemorate the heritage and history of Asian Americans.
2. The Asian Pacific American heritage series chair will plan and coordinate a concentrated series of events for the month of April, which will be celebrated as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
3. The Asian Pacific American heritage series chair will work closely with the cultural chairs from AASA member groups to plan and coordinate events that promote Asian Pacific American cultural, social, and political awareness.
4. The Asian Pacific American heritage series chair will serve a term of two semesters.
4. Community Development Coordinator (1)
1. The community development coordinator will organize efforts to foster a sense of community among Asian Americans at Yale.
2. The community development coordinator will organize efforts to reach out to and collaborate with other groups on campus.
3. The Community Development Coordinator will also lead AASA’s New Haven community efforts, which include but are not limited to AASA’s Dwight Hall community service group.
4. The community development coordinator will serve a term of two semesters.
5. Asian American Studies Task Force Chair
1. The Asian American Studies Task Force chair will seek to promote Asian American Studies and educate students on its importance.
2. The Asian American Studies Task Force chair will plan and coordinate initiatives, speeches, discussions, and related events open to the entire Yale community.
3. The Asian American Studies Task Force chair will serve a term of two semesters.
6. Secretary
1. The secretary will record minutes at all Executive Board and AASA Board meetings.
2. The secretary will also serve to assist in providing information to the Yale community of AASA and AASA-related events through the use of newsletters or announcements.
3. The secretary will serve a term of two semesters.
7. Treasurer
1. The treasurer will keep accounts for AASA and distribute money to its member and affiliate groups.
2. The treasurer will serve a term of two semesters.
8. Webmaster
1. The webmaster is responsible for maintaining the AASA website and for posting new items of interest in a timely manner.
2. The webmaster will serve a term of two semesters.
9. Operations Manager
1. The operations manager is responsible for the historical records of AASA.
2. He/she is also responsible for coordinating all of the marketing (posters, etc) for AASA events.
3. The operations manager will serve a term of two semesters.
10. Freshman Liaison (3)
1. The freshman liaisons are responsible for planning events for the Asian American freshman class, as well as planning Fusion for pre-frosh during the spring semester.
2. The freshman liaisons will serve a term of two semesters.
11. Asian Pacific American Blog Editor (1)
1. The APA Blog Editor is responsible for updating and maintaining the AASA blog and posting new entries in a timely manner.
2. The APA Blog Editor may elect to form a separate committee to aid his/her duties.
3. The APA Blog Editor will serve a term of two semesters.
6. Meetings
1. Executive Board
1. The Executive Board shall meet at least every other week.
2. AASA moderator(s) and AASA member group representatives are required to attend.
3. The moderator(s) shall convene and set the agenda for meetings. Proposals for the agenda will be submitted to the moderator(s).
2. AASA Board
1. The AASA Board shall meet every week. All board members are required to attend.
1. Absence from 3 board meetings in one semester is grounds for dismissal at the discretion of the AASA moderator(s).
2. Board members shall relay information about events to be discussed and placed on the agenda for an Executive Board meeting
3. Committees
1. The committees shall decide how often to meet.
2. The chair(s) will convene and set the agenda for meetings. Proposals for the agenda will be submitted to the chair(s).
3. Attendance at PAEC meetings is required for all member groups.
7. Elections
1. Moderator(s)
1. The position of moderator(s) will be open to any undergraduate student who has at least one semester’s experience working on the AASA Board, on the Executive Board, or on one of the committees.
2. Only the Executive Board can vote in the election of the moderator(s).
3. A candidate requires a majority vote to be elected.
2. AASA Board Members
1. Positions other than AASA moderator(s) on the AASA board will be open to any Yale undergraduate. The positions of freshman liaisons will be open to freshmen only. All individuals who have attended at least one AASA-sponsored meeting or event, which includes events held by our member groups, may vote in the elections.
3. Format
1. Candidates are allowed to run for more than one position, but no more than three positions. Candidates must submit a 250 word statement before elections, and they shall have a chance to speak during the elections.
8. Amendments
1. When making decisions regarding constitution issues, a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote is required by AASA board members. Executive Board has ultimate approval of measures passed by the AASA board by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote.
9. Dissolution Clause:
1. Should the Asian American Students Alliance dissolve, all assets acquired by the Asian American Students Alliance shall be used to fund and support events previously held by the Asian American Students Alliance, Asian Pacific American Heritage Series, and the member and affiliate groups, and/or allocated to the Asian American Cultural Center, subject to the discretion of the Executive Board of the Asian American Students Alliance.

Modified: Spring, 2010

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