Indiana University Indiana University Student Publications Alumni Association CONSTITUTION Article I – Name Section I. The name of this organization shall be the Indiana University Student Publications Alumni Association (IUSPAA). The IUSPAA is sponsored by the Indiana Daily Student and Arbutus publications (collectively IU Student Publications or IUSP) and the Indiana University Alumni Association (IUAA), and is organized as an affiliate group of the IUAA. Article II – Purpose Section I. IUSPAA shall generate and encourage alumni support of student publications through effective communication and programming. Section II. IUSPAA shall maintain a connection with alumni and friends of the Indiana Daily Student and the Arbutus to support current Indiana Daily Student and Arbutus staff members and to diversify the opportunities available to students through the sponsorship of projects and programs that promote and support the activities of the publications and Indiana University. Section III. By joining IUSPAA, each member agrees to act as a resources for both student and professional staff members of IUSP, and current and future members of IUSPAA. Section IV. The principal office of IUSPAA shall be DeVault Alumni Center, Bloomington Indiana, 47408, where the permanent records of IUSPAA shall be kept. The principal IU liaison to the IUSPAA shall be a designated professional staff member of the Indiana Daily Student. Article III – Membership Section I. All IUSP alumni, who have served at least one semester on the staff or either the Arbutus or Indiana Daily Student, shall be eligible for membership. Other alumni and friends of IUSP may participate in certain projects sponsored by the IUSPAA. Section II. Honorary members of IUSPAA may be selected upon recommendation of an Advisory Board member or the IU liaison. Honorary members shall not have voting privileges or hold office unless there are also active members within IUSPAA.
Section III. Membership in the Indiana University Alumni Association, although not a prerequisite for membership in IUSPAA, shall be encouraged for all IUSPAA members. All elected members of the IUSPAA advisory board must be members of the Indiana University Alumni Association. Section IV. There shall be no IUSPAA membership dues. Article IV – Officers Section I. The President is the chief executive officer. He or she shall preside at the annual meeting and at any official meetings of IUSPAA. He or she also shall appoint any committees deemed necessary to transact business effectively on behalf of the IUSPAA. He or she shall be a voting member of the Advisory Board. Section II. They Vice President shall assume the President’s duties in the absence of the President. He or she shall be a voting member of the Advisory Board. Section III. The Immediate Past President shall serve as an advisor to the current President. He or she shall be a voting member of the Board. Section IV. The Secretary-Treasurer shall maintain the minutes and records of the Board meetings and circulate them to the group for comment following any meeting. He or she shall also provide the financial reports of the IUSPAA at regular meetings and work closely with the staff of IU Student Media and the Indiana University Alumni Association to maintain the necessary financial records and reports. He or she shall be a voting member of the Board. Section V. Removal of Office. Any officer may be removed from office for cause or by a vote of three quarters (3/4) of the voting members of the Advisory Board provided that a written notification was received by all parties at least thirty (30) days before the vote for removal. Section VI. Vacancy. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice President shall become President and complete the unexpired portion of the term. In the event of a vacancy in any other officer position, the Advisory Board shall appoint (by majority vote) a successor to fill the position for the unexpired portion of the term. Article V – Board Members Section I. The Board shall consist of a minimum of nine (9) voting members. Nonvoting ex-officio members shall include representatives from IU Student Media, the Indiana
University Alumni Association, and one student representative from the Indiana Daily Student, and one student representative from the Arbutus. The student representatives from the Indiana Daily Student and the Arbutus shall be named by the advisor to student publications. Section II. Terms. Board members and officers shall serve two year terms. Student representatives shall serve one year terms. Terms shall be staggered to avoid turnover of the entire board at the same time. All terms shall follow the Fiscal Year of the Indiana University Alumni Association (traditionally July 1 – June 30). Section III. Each Advisory Board shall be selected by the election processes described herein. The voting members will be selected for staggered terms. Article VI – Meetings Section I. The Advisory Board shall have at least two meetings per year. Meetings may be conducted in person or by electronic conference. Section II. Special meetings of the Advisory Board may be called at the discretion of the President, or upon the written requests of at least three (3) members of the Advisory Board. Section III. Annual meetings of all IUSPAA members will be held for the purposes of considering matters of IUSPAA business. Section IV. At least a twenty-one (21) day written notice shall be given prior to each meeting and at least twenty-four (24) hour written notice shall be given prior to any special meeting. Section V. A majority vote of Advisory Board members shall be sufficient on all matters discussed at any meeting. Article VII – Elections Section I. An annual election shall be held to elect members of the IUSPAA Advisory Board for the ensuing year. Votes may be cast in person or by email or paper ballot. Section II. Advisory Board members shall be elected by a majority of the IUSPAA members in an annual election held prior to the expiration of each term.
Section III. Prior to the annual election, the President will convene a Nominating Committee to determine the slate of Advisory Board candidates. The Nominating Committee shall include three regular IUSPAA members who do not presently sit on the Advisory Board. The Nominating Committee shall establish a deadline for submitting nominations, communicate to members the means by which nominations may be transmitted to the group, receive nominations for all available Advisory Board positions, and present to IUSPAA members the slate of candidates for to be voted upon in that election. Section IV. During the first annual meeting following elections, the IUSPAA Advisory Board shall elect from amongst its ranks a President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer to serve as officers for the ensuing two year term. Section V. The Advisory Board shall be responsible for establishing IUSPAA policies, for filling officer and/or Board vacancies, for interpreting and implementing this Constitution, and for maintaining relations with the IUAA, the IU School of Journalism and other related organizations of Indiana University. Article VIII – Amendments Section I. A two-thirds (2/3) majority of the voting members of the Advisory Board must be present to vote upon amendments to this Constitution. Any amendment must be approved by at least three quarters (3/4) of the voting members present for the vote. Ratified this 14th day of May, 2008, by the following Organizing Committee alumni members listed in alphabetical order: Sara Brazeal Zach Dobson Kathryn Griffin Robyn Holtzman Michael Schaefer Olivia Silver Joe Vince Jamie Wolfe Updated Feb. 26, 2010