Constitution or Articles of Association: 

We, the members of the Bahá'í Club of Columbia University having formed a voluntary club, do hereby make and establish this constitution in order to serve the school and campus community and to promulgate and further the ideals of the Bahá'í Faith, as proclaimed by its Prophet-Founder, Baha'u'llah.  The Bahá'í Faith upholds the unity of God, recognizes the unity of His Prophets, and inculcates the principle of the oneness and wholeness of the entire human race.  It proclaims the necessity and the inevitability of the unification of mankind, asserts that it is gradually approaching, and claims that nothing short of the transmuting spirit of God, working through His Mouthpiece in this day, can ultimately succeed in bringing it about.  It moreover enjoins upon its followers the primary duty of an unfettered search after truth, condemns all manner of prejudice and superstition, declares the purpose of religion to be the promotion of amity and concord, proclaims its essential harmony with science, and recognizes it as the foremost agency for the pacification and orderly progress of human society.  It unequivocally maintains the principle of equal rights, opportunities and priveleges for men and women, insists on compulsory education, eliminates extremes of poverty and wealth, abolishes the institution of priesthood, prohibits slavery, asceticism, mendicancy and monasticism, prescribes monogamy, discourages divorce, emphasizes the necessity of strict obedience to one's government, exalts any work performed in the spirit of service to the level of worship, urges either the creation or the selection of an auxiliary international language, and delineates the outlines of those institutions that must establish and perpetuate the general peace of mankind.

The association shall be known as the Bahá'í Club of Columbia University.

The purpose of this association shall be to further the tenets of the Bahá'í Faith, to invite those interested to investigate the Faith for themselves; to promote the unity of mankind; and to foster understanding, love and fellowship on this campus by sponsoring such things as lectures, information tables, service projects, discussions, informal gatherings, social activities and public meetings.  This association shall not endorse any partisan or political group on a campus level or otherwise.

This association, once formed, shall exist as long as two or more Bahá'ís officially recognized as such by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States shall be members thereof and as long as it shall comply with all rules and regulations of Columbia University and the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States.

Membership in this association is open to all Columbia University students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of their families, irrespective of race, color, gender, class, nationality, disability or religion.  Any such person may join and remain a member of this association by assenting to its principles and purposes as stated within this constitution.  If the Bahá'í membership drops below two, the club is suspended.

Officers of this association will be elected by the Bahá'í electoral process consisting of a majority vote of a quorum of the voting members, and by secret ballot with no campaigning.  Officers will include a Secretary, Chair and Treasurer.  Officers must be members of the Bahá'í Faith, recognized as such by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States.  The duties of the Secretary include scheduling club meetings and planning the agenda in consultation with the Chair and members, keeping and reporting minutes of meetings, club correspondence and records.  The duties of the Chair include presiding at meetings, ensuring that there is free and open discussion during the meetings, that discussion is kept to the point, that all members are given the opportunity to contribute to the discussion, to clarify decisions so that they are fully understood and can be accurately recorded in the minutes, call for a vote when appropriate, and plan the agenda with the Secretary.  The duties of the Treasurer are to receive, account for and disburse club funds in accordance with club decisions.  The club may assign other duties to officers, appoint officer assistants, task forces and committees as needed.  Decisions concerning activities, finances or affairs of the club will be made using the process of Bahá'í consultation at regular or special meetings at which a quorum of the voting members of the club is present.

There shall be no dues payable by or assessments levied against this association.  Bahá'í clubs may sponsor events which result in financial gain, or accept any funds from the School or University, or non-Bahá'í members, or any other voluntary source.  These monies, however, may in no way be contributed to Bahá'í Funds, either local, national, or international, and are for the promotion of Club activities only.

This constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the members of this association, provided that the amendment shall be approved by the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Bahá'ís of the United States and proper campus authority.

This association is, and shall remain, independent of affiliation with any other entity, provided that this association shall in all respects remain responsible to the administration of this campus and obedient to its regulations.  It is understood that recognition of a person's membership in the Bahá'í community, as apart from membership in this association, is subject to rules promulgated by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States.  It is further understood that the use of the term "Bahá'í" in connection with this association is upon permission granted by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States and subject to withdrawal by that body.

Any faculty sponsor deemed necessary for this association by Columbia University shall be one who, in addition to being on the staff of said institution, has sufficient knowledge of the Bahá'í teachings to give necessary and proper guidance to this association.
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF we have executed together these Articles of Association this the 2nd day of March, 1999.
 

Signed:

A.N. Behrouz, Founding President of Bahá'í Club