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Constitution

Constitution of Sociology & Anthropology Student Association (SASA)

 

Article I 

Name of the Organization

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The organization shall be known as “Sociology & Anthropology Student Association”, and herein be referred to as “SASA.” No other name shall be used in the advertisement or representation of the association.

 

Article II

Purpose of the Organization

 

We want to facilitate student engagement with the Sociology and Anthropology Department at Carleton, providing undergraduate students with a space where they feel recognized.

 

The association shall work towards the following goals:

  1. To amplify the voices of undergraduate students interested in Sociology and Anthropology Department (SOAN), and advocate for their needs.

  2. To create a thriving community where SOAN students and enthusiasts feel welcome and less alone.

  3. To run events throughout the fall and winter semesters that bring together students and faculty, provide opportunities to develop academic skills, and allow for casual socialization across the department.

 

Article III

Structure

 

  1. The General Membership shall be the legislative body of the association and shall be composed of all members.

  2. The Executive Membership shall be the administrative body of the association and shall be composed of members elected by the General Membership.

 

Article IV

Membership

 

  1. Membership is open to all undergraduate students in the department and those who have an interest for the topics of sociology and anthropology.

  2. Membership is free.

  3. Members must be undergraduate students at Carleton.

  4. Membership is valid from May - April of each academic year.

  5. Only members who are registered with the SOAN Department may run for executive positions—meaning a student registered in any of the programs below:

    1. Sociology Bachelor of Arts

    2. Sociology Bachelor of Arts Honours

    3. Sociology Bachelor of Arts Combined Honours

    4. Social Justice Stream in Sociology

    5. Minor in Sociology

    6. B.G.In.S. Honours: Specialization in Global Inequalities and Social Change

    7. B.G.In.S.: Stream in Global Inequalities and Social Change

    8. Anthropology Bachelor of Arts

    9. Anthropology Bachelor of Arts Honours

    10. Anthropology Bachelor of Arts Combined Honours

    11. Minor in Anthropology

    12. B.G.In.S. Honours: Specialization in Globalization, Culture and Power

    13. B.G.In.S.: Stream in Globalization, Culture and Power

 

Article V

Executive

 

  1. The Co-Chair(s) shall:

    1. Oversee the other executives in the performance of their duties.

    2. Provide updates to executive members and general members about the state of the association, and recommend measures they shall judge necessary and expedient to facilitate SASA operations.

    3. Represent SASA in dealings with other organizations, including, but not limited to: other clubs, Carleton University, CUSA, and outside entities.

  2. The Vice-President Finance shall:

    1. Manage the finances and assets of the association.

    2. Prepare a budget for SASA each year, or more frequently as events require, and keep records of the financial transactions of the association.

    3. Arrange the funding of social events of the association.

    4. Have signing authority for the association.

  3. The Vice-President Events shall: 

    1. Ensure that the association’s events align with SASA’s values and mandate.

    2. Coordinating administrative tasks relating to events, including: risk assessment form, room booking, and physical advertising.

    3. Record attendance, engagement, actual vs planned funding put into the event, and any important notes in a tracker. 

    4. Support set-up for events whenever available.

  4. The Events Coordinator shall:

    1. Assist in the setup and teardown of SASA events.

    2. Assist in event preparation activities as needed/delegated by the VP Events.

    3. Liase with the Communications team to coordinate event advertising.

  5. The Vice-President Communications shall:

    1. Collaborate management of social medias (Instagram, Discord, email announcements) with the Communications Coordinator.

    2. Manage brand assets and communication guidelines.

    3. Manage external association communications.

    4. Send out newsletter/email callouts.

    5. Manage advertising through the department website and the SASA website.

  6. The Communication Coordinator shall:

    1. Assist in communication activities as needed/delegated by the VP Communications.

    2. Liase with the Events team to coordinate event advertising.

    3. Support the management of SASA social media forums.

  7. The Vice-President Internal shall:

    1. Be responsible for all internal affairs and documents of the association at the executive level.

    2. Manage election processes.

    3. Help foster a smooth transition from former and subsequent executive leaders.

    4. Develop a ‘post-mortem’ report at the end of the academic year to note any challenges and future guidance.

    5. Support executive committee with tasks where needed.

    6. Manage email inbox.

  8. The Vice-President Student Advocacy shall:

    1. Be easily accessible to the student body to answer and address their concerns to the best of their knowledge and suggest relevant campus resources.

    2. Coordinate the activities of the 1st Year Representative and 2nd+ Year Representative. 

    3. Suggest ways the association can better attend to the needs of the undergraduate student body.

    4. Be informed on school and department-specific policy relating to students' rights and privileges.

  9. 1st Year Representative shall:

    1. Be a 1st year student.

    2. Represent and promote SASA in 1st year SOCI and ANTH courses.

    3. Be knowledgeable about SASA services and upcoming events in order to effectively answer student questions.

  10. 2nd+ Year Representative shall:

    1. Be a 2nd+ year student or above.

    2. Represent and promote SASA in 2nd+ year SOCI and ANTH courses.

    3. Be knowledgeable about SASA services and upcoming events in order to effectively answer student questions.

 

Article VI

Meetings
 

Meetings of the General Membership 

  1. Meetings of the General Membership can be called:

    1. At the request of the President, for a meeting to be held no less than one week from the date of publication of the notice;

    2. At the request of the Executive, for a meeting to be held no less than one week from the date of publication of the notice; or

    3. At the request of any five members of the association.

  2. A minimum of one meeting of the General Membership must occur per year in the spring for the purpose of elections.

  3. Quorum of the General Membership

  1. The presence of at least five members or the majority of members, whichever is less, shall be necessary to constitute a meeting of General Membership for the exercise of its powers.

 

Meetings of the Executive Committee

  1. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall

    1. Be held at regular intervals and are for the purpose of running the association.

    2. Votes by the Executive Committee on association business shall be declared by a simple majority.

 

Article VII

Leadership Succession

 

Elections

The association has chosen to run elections for its Leadership Succession. The following are the necessary steps to be taken to run elections.

  1. The association executives will appoint a Succession Officer to run elections for the association.

    1. A Succession Officer may be any one (1) of the following individuals:

      1. A neutral party to all elections being held within the association.

      2. A member of the associations Oversight Committee.

      3. A member of the CUSA associations Office.

      4. An association member or an external student non-member.

    2. All efforts should be made for a Succession Officer to be appointed on a consensus basis in the Executive Committee. When that is not possible, a recorded vote in a first-past-the-post majority or plurality vote winner will be appointed Succession Officer.

    3. The association will work with the Succession Officer to set the date of final voting membership purchase, campaign start, campaign end, voting start, and voting end.

    4. Students-at-large will have the opportunity to join the association before the start of voting.

    5. Every voter has the right to cast their ballot in private.

    6. During counting, candidates may select an individual who is not a candidate to be present for counting and scrutinizing.

    7. Appeals, complaints, or conflict may be made to the associations Oversight Committee by way of emailing the Student Groups Administrator.

    8. Timeline:

      1. Day 1 - Announcement of campaign, voting, and results announcement dates

      2. Day 7 - Start of campaign

      3. Day 10 - last day to buy voting memberships for the association

      4. Day 14 - end of campaign

      5. Day 15 - start of voting

      6. Day 16 - end of voting

      7. Day 17 - Results announced

  2. The association will run a first past the post-style election to elect the executive positions of [Sociology Co-Chair, Anthropology Co-Chair, VP Internal, VP Finance, VP Events, VP Communications, VP Student Advocacy, Communications Coordinator, Events Coordinator, 1st Year Representative, 2nd+ Year Representative].

    1. Candidates on the ballot shall be organized alphabetically by last name, with a box to be filled, marked, or checked for a single option/candidate.

    2. A final “no-confidence” option will be offered at the bottom of the ballot.

    3. Any ballot with multiple boxes clearly marked will be discarded as “spoiled.”

    4. Upon counting of the vote, the candidate with the most votes will be considered elected to the position.

 

Consensus Based

In the case of unfilled executive positions at the beginning of the fall term, a consensus-based approach to succession will be implemented.

  1. All club members will be informed more than a week in advance of a meeting to attempt to decide the future leadership of the club in a consensus-fashion and of a meeting location, with virtual options available for those unable to attend in person. 

  2. SASA will elect or appoint an individual to keep track of meeting minutes and to compile a report of this process.

  3. The SASA membership may work towards consensus across multiple meetings.

  4. If successful, the members shall also designate a member to email the Student Groups Administrator with the report and meeting minutes.

  5. If unsuccessful, the outgoing club Co-Chair(s) shall inform the Student Groups Administrator that the group will either pursue an election or ask for permission to have an application and interview process.

 

Article VIII

Impeachment

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  1. To remove a member, our association will first consult the CUSA Club Membership Removal Committee (MRC)

  2. The CUSA Club MRC will advise on the next steps for the association

  3. Should the CUSA Club MRC advise that the association proceed with membership removal, the following steps will take place:

Impeachment for Removing an Executive Role:

  1. Grounds for impeachment of an association member include any violation of the constitution, the governing documents of CUSA, committing an act (or acts) which negatively affects and/or harms the interests of the association and its members, and/or failure to fulfill executive duties.

  2. Any member can bring forward a request for impeachment to any executive. Within 10 days of receiving this request, the executive will host a meeting with the general membership. At this meeting, the complaint will be reviewed. The member bringing forward the complaint and the accused executive shall be given time to speak.

  3. A vote for impeachment with the general membership will be conducted. The accused executive shall not be permitted to vote. A simple majority will be needed to impeach the executive. Impeachment of an executive results in their removal from office and as a member of the association.

Membership Impeachment:

  1. Grounds for impeachment of an association member include any violation of the constitution, the governing documents of CUSA, and committing an act (or acts) which negatively affects and/or harms the interests of the association and its members.

  2. Any member can bring forward a request for impeachment to any executive. Within 10 days of receiving this request, the executive will host a meeting. At this meeting, the complaint will be reviewed. The individual bringing forward the complaint and the person accused shall be given time to speak.

  3. A vote for impeachment within the executive will be conducted. A simple majority of executives will be needed to impeach the member. Impeachment of a member results in their removal as a member of the association.

 

Article IX

Amendments

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  1. Any member can propose an amendment to the Constitution. This amendment will be presented at the annual general meeting, and a vote will take place with the general membership to adopt the new amendment. 

  2. A simple majority will be required to adopt the new amendment.

 

Article X

Dissolution


Upon dissolution of the association, all assets gained through CUSA shall be returned to CUSA, and all other assets shall be given to the Ottawa Food Bank.

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