Definitions

The following are definitions for terms used in the following document:

General Body, or "groups" are student organizations at Columbia University that directly receive funding from USO and are not recognized as a Governing Board. See below.

Governing Boards are organizations that USO Board perceives to do all of the below: 1) allocate funds to its member groups, 2) allocate spaces for events of its member groups, and 3) determines policy for the governance of these groups.

Executive Board, often referred to as "USO Board" is the legislative and governing body of the USO, consisting of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, the CCSC Treasurer, the ESC Treasurer, and Representatives at Large (including Governing Board Liaisons). All members of the Executive Board have a single vote in determining policy and passing motions, except the President of the USO, who shall only have a vote in the case of a tie, unless otherwise mentioned below.

Representatives at Large may refer to the position elected by the General Body and to the two appointed representatives from the student councils, (one from CCSC, the other from ESC) that sit on the USO Board in addition to the councils' treasurers, or the Liaison from a USO-recognized Governing Board Recognition means that a group has access to various resources that USO has available. There are two levels of recognition available to General Body groups, as follows:

Budget Package refers to a set of two papers: an overall budget summary and a detailed, event budget summary. The overall budget summary will have categories of expenditures in rows and columns for each event. The detailed event summary will have the same rows but with spaces for explanation. A filled-out Budget Package listing the organizations' desired funding is a Initial Budget Request Package, whereas a Budget Package with net expeditures totalling the group's allocation is a Budge' Summary Form (detailing the events they intend to hold now that the group knows their allocation).

Budget Proposal or Budget Request refers to the completed Initial Budget Request Package along with an lucid explanation, preferably on paper, as to why the group feels that the level of funding that it is requesting is a reasonable figure.

Initial Allocation is the allocation given to a group after the submission of all groups' Budget Proposals in the spring. This Initial Allocation may be appealed through the Initial Budget Appeals process in the fall semester of the following school year.

Section I

The name this organization shall be the Union of Student Organization, hereafter referred to as the "USO."

Section 2

The officers of USO shall make up the Executive Board of the USO, hereafter referred to as the "USO Board."

Statement of Purpose

The USO is the organization for all student activities in Columbia University that either draw funds from the student activities fee or use Columbia University campus space that do not include activities for classwide and some schoolwide programming, or space under the jurisdiction of a Governing Board. The USO serves two main purposes; ( I ) to allocate funds for all student activities receiving Student Activities Fee monies, (2) and for the General Body groups housed under Ferris Booth Hall to determine guidelines for behavior in both funding and policy issues.

Section I

To be a Non-Funded Recognized group of the Union of Student Organizations, a General Body group must:

To receive Funded recognition, a General Body group, in addition to the above, must also:

To receive Governing Board status, an organization must fulfill the requirements to receive Non-funded recognition, and must consist of an executive board and groups:

Section 2

To be recognized by USO, both for Non-funded and Funded recognition, an organization must submit to the USO Board by a date set by the USO Board (at the beginning of the school year):

To receive Funded recognition by USO, the additional papers below must be submitted to the USO Board, at the same time:

To receive or to be recognized as having Governing Board status, must submit the following paper in substitution to the above sections:

Section 3

If the new student organization fulfills all the criteria set forth in this Article, Section l and 2 to the satisfaction of the USO Board, that group is to be confirmed as a member organization by a majority vote of the USO Board at the next regular Board meeting. In the case of a Governing Board recognition, the vote must be passed by a 3/4 vote.

Section 4

Any group denied membership by the USO Board may appeal to the General Body by the following process:

Section 5

Each organization receiving Funded recognition from the USO must continue to meet the following standards:

Section 1

All meetings shall be run in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order.

Section 2

The President shall preside over all meetings. In the President's absence, the Vice President shall preside over the meeting.

Section 3

All meetings shall be open to the public unless closed by a 2/3 vote by the Board

Section 4

Meetings shall be held weekly, as determined by the USO Board. The President of the USO shall also have the authority to call other meetings.

Section I

The USO Board shall have the following officers:

Section 1

All USO Board elections shall be organized and executed by the President of the USO.

Section 2

Executive Board positions are only open to any continuing undergraduate student in the School of Engineering and Applied Science or Columbia College.

Section 3

Each General Body group shall have two votes in all USO Executive Board elections. Governing Boards and their member groups shall not have votes, as Governing Board Liaisons shall be their representation.

Section 4

All USO Board elections shall take place at either a regular General Body meeting or a specially designated meeting of the general body of the USO. This meeting shall be open to all members of the Columbia Community.

Section 5

The procedure for each election shall be as follows:

Section 6

Students shall have three working days to file an appeal.

Section 7

The USO Board shall hear, consider, and decide all appeals.

Section 8

The USO Board can overturn the election or the results of a contested position by a 3/4 vote.

Section 9

In the event of an overturned election, a special meeting of the General Body will be called within two weeks to elect the contested position.

1. The Semester Break Steering Committee

Section I

All members of the USO Executive Board who are available to meet when school is not in session for more than I 1/2 weeks shall make up the steering committee for that break.

Section 2

The summer steering committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the USO during the semester break.

Section 3

All major decisions considering membership and finances made by the summer steering committee must be formally approved by the entire Executive Board upon the first regularly scheduled meeting of USO by a 2/3 vote.

2. Judicial Committee

Section 1 - Membership

The Judicial Board (J-Board) will be comprised of two USO members and three group officers. The permanent member of the J-Board shall be the USO Vice-President, who shall chair the board. Another USO member on the J-Board shall be selected from the USO board. The only member of the USO Board that may not be considered for the J-Board position is the USO President. The three (3) group officers that will comprise the remainder of the J-Board will be selected from the pool of presidents, vice-presidents, and treasurers of the USO student groups. Only CC/SEAS undergraduate officers are eligible.

Section 2 - Conflict of Interest

Umbrella groups cannot present a case before any constituent member, or vice versa.

Individuals on the J-Board cannot be a member of a group presenting a case. If USO Vice-President has a conflict of interest, USO President will preside over J-Board. If there is still a conflict of interest, then the other USO member will preside.

Final review can be made by the USO president, with veto option.

Section 3 - Scope, When the J-Board Can Convene

1. Elections

The J-Board can either uphold the result of the elections or hold re-elections with specific guidelines. If re-election is decided upon, all terms of the new election will be set forth by the J-Board. If at all possible, the new election should take place one week after decision of J-Board is reached. The previous candidates will run again unless new/additional members are warranted in the J-Board's opinion. The reasons for re-elections will be made public. Thus, the re-election will take place with this consideration.

2. Decision by officers or board

The J-Board may either uphold a decision of group officers/board or nullify a decision.

3. Actions against specific board members or the board's actions as a whole

The J-Board may review complaints against specific board members' or actions done by a board as a whole.

Complaints may be made against a group by someone who is not a member of that group. The specific complaint should be stated in writing (as in all cases), and investigatory sessions will be held.

These issues may involve one group making a complaint against another group, or individuals making a complaint against a group.

Section 4 - USO Review

Because of the direct contact with groups that the USO Board has, an issue may be seen by the USO Board. If the Board feels this issue warrants review, the USO Board may call a group before the J-Board.

Section 5 - Procedure

A letter detailing the charges/complaint should be submitted to the USO. This letter will be reviewed by USO President, Vice-President, and a third USO member. If complaint is too frivolous, the party will be informed. If complaint is too extreme (including, but not limited to violation of law), the Director of the Office of Student Activities will be informed. If the complaint merits action, it will be turned over to the J-Board. The USO president will submit the complaint to the J-Board, and this will be entered into the minutes by the USO Secretary.

Three officers must be found to serve on the J-Board. The USO member and Vice-President will pick three members, and submit them to the USO President. The process that the member and Vice-President of USO will use will be to eliminate any obvious conflicts to create a narrowed selection pool of group officers.. Then, selection will be at random from the narrowed pool. Once the names of the three additional members are submitted to the USO President, he or she can veto any or all of them. If any of the names submitted are vetoed, the USO member and vice-president must submit other names until approved by the president. The time span for this selection process is not to exceed one week.

The first step after the five members of the J-Board have been selected is review of the constitution of the group(s) involved. This should be the initial process in all cases, unless the J-Board finds that this review is clearly not necessary for the particular case. The only constitution that will be considered is the one on file with USO Board.

The J-Board will hear the sides of the parties involved individually, and then with all parties present. The number of sessions may vary depending on the particular case. The hearings will be open, unless either party requests that hearings be closed. During the session, questions may be asked by any J-Board member at any time. The J-Board chair will control this questioning as necessary.

Section 6 - Support Testimony

The number of individuals who may address the J-Board is at the board's discretion for individuals who are directly involved in the matter.

Either side involved in the complaint may call on two people, who are not directly involved, for support testimony that is relevant to the complaint.

Additional support may be submitted in writing by other individuals. Consideration of such material is at the discretion of the J-Board.

Section 7 - Voting Procedure

Once the investigatory hearings are over, the J-Board will deliberate and vote on the necessary action that is needed. The deliberations will be closed except to the J-Board members. A tentative time schedule for the length of deliberations will be established by the chair in conjunction with the other J-Board members. This time schedule is flexible.

Once deliberations are over, there will be a closed vote. The votes will be counted by the chair. No abstentions are permitted in the vote.

In the cases of elections, the vote is a predetermined vote (i.e., whether or not to hold new elections). In other cases, the specific action to be taken must be decided upon. Once a consensus is reached on what action is to be taken, the J-Board will vote.

In the event of a tie, the chair will vote to break the tie.

Section 8 - Announcing the Decision

The number of the vote will not be announced. The decision that is reached will be announced.

The parties involved will be contacted, and asked to come together. The decision of the J-Board will be announced to all parties involved. The reasons for the decision must be stated clearly at time of announcement.

If a new election is called for, all specific terms and restrictions must be set forth.

If specific action is called for, the full scope of the action must be explained.

If any action is reversed, this should be made clear, and the full scope of the reversal must be explained.

The outcome of the J-Board hearings will be made known to the Director of the Office of Student Activities and the adviser of the student group.

If a group's constitution is found to need updating, the USO member of the J-Board will assist in any necessary constitutional revision/amendment.

Section 1

The By-laws shall be contained in a separate document, entitled "USO By-Laws".

Section 2

Any changes to the By-Laws must be passed by the USO with a 2/3 majority vote.

Amendments to the USO Constitution must be passed by a 2/3 majority vote.

This document must be ratified by the USO by a 3/4 majority vote.

Definitions

The following are definitions for terms used in the following document:

General Body, or "groups" are student organizations at Columbia University that directly receive funding from USO and are not recognized as a Governing Board. See below.

Governing Boards are organizations that USO Board perceives to do all of the below: 1) allocate funds to its member groups, 2) allocate spaces for events of its member groups, and 3) determines policy for the governance of these groups.

Executive Board, often referred to as "USO Board" is the legislative and governing body of the USO, consisting of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, the CCSC Treasurer, the ESC Treasurer, and Representatives at Large (including Governing Board Liaisons). All members of the Executive Board have a single vote in determining policy and passing motions, except the President of the USO, who shall only have a vote in the case of a tie, unless otherwise mentioned below.

Representatives at Large may refer to the position elected by the General Body and to the two appointed representatives from the student councils, (one from CCSC, the other from ESC) that sit on the USO Board in addition to the councils' treasurers, or the Liaison from a USO-recognized Governing Board Recognition means that a group has access to various resources that USO has available. There are two levels of recognition available to General Body groups, as follows:

Budget Package refers to a set of two papers: an overall budget summary and a detailed, event budget summary. The overall budget summary will have categories of expenditures in rows and columns for each event. The detailed event summary will have the same rows but with spaces for explanation. A filled-out Budget Package listing the organizations' desired funding is a Initial Budget Request Package, whereas a Budget Package with net expeditures totalling the group's allocation is a Budge' Summary Form (detailing the events they intend to hold now that the group knows their allocation).

Budget Proposal or Budget Request refers to the completed Initial Budget Request Package along with an lucid explanation, preferably on paper, as to why the group feels that the level of funding that it is requesting is a reasonable figure.

Initial Allocation is the allocation given to a group after the submission of all groups' Budget Proposals in the spring. This Initial Allocation may be appealed through the Initial Budget Appeals process in the fall semester of the following school year.

Section I

The name this organization shall be the Union of Student Organization, hereafter referred to as the "USO."

Section 2

The officers of USO shall make up the Executive Board of the USO, hereafter referred to as the "USO Board."

Statement of Purpose

The USO is the organization for all student activities in Columbia University that either draw funds from the student activities fee or use Columbia University campus space that do not include activities for classwide and some schoolwide programming, or space under the jurisdiction of a Governing Board. The USO serves two main purposes; ( I ) to allocate funds for all student activities receiving Student Activities Fee monies, (2) and for the General Body groups housed under Ferris Booth Hall to determine guidelines for behavior in both funding and policy issues.

Section I

To be a Non-Funded Recognized group of the Union of Student Organizations, a General Body group must:

To receive Funded recognition, a General Body group, in addition to the above, must also:

To receive Governing Board status, an organization must fulfill the requirements to receive Non-funded recognition, and must consist of an executive board and groups:

Section 2

To be recognized by USO, both for Non-funded and Funded recognition, an organization must submit to the USO Board by a date set by the USO Board (at the beginning of the school year):

To receive Funded recognition by USO, the additional papers below must be submitted to the USO Board, at the same time:

To receive or to be recognized as having Governing Board status, must submit the following paper in substitution to the above sections:

Section 3

If the new student organization fulfills all the criteria set forth in this Article, Section l and 2 to the satisfaction of the USO Board, that group is to be confirmed as a member organization by a majority vote of the USO Board at the next regular Board meeting. In the case of a Governing Board recognition, the vote must be passed by a 3/4 vote.

Section 4

Any group denied membership by the USO Board may appeal to the General Body by the following process:

Section 5

Each organization receiving Funded recognition from the USO must continue to meet the following standards:

Section 1

All meetings shall be run in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order.

Section 2

The President shall preside over all meetings. In the President's absence, the Vice President shall preside over the meeting.

Section 3

All meetings shall be open to the public unless closed by a 2/3 vote by the Board

Section 4

Meetings shall be held weekly, as determined by the USO Board. The President of the USO shall also have the authority to call other meetings.

Section I

The USO Board shall have the following officers:

Section 1

All USO Board elections shall be organized and executed by the President of the USO.

Section 2

Executive Board positions are only open to any continuing undergraduate student in the School of Engineering and Applied Science or Columbia College.

Section 3

Each General Body group shall have two votes in all USO Executive Board elections. Governing Boards and their member groups shall not have votes, as Governing Board Liaisons shall be their representation.

Section 4

All USO Board elections shall take place at either a regular General Body meeting or a specially designated meeting of the general body of the USO. This meeting shall be open to all members of the Columbia Community.

Section 5

The procedure for each election shall be as follows:

Section 6

Students shall have three working days to file an appeal.

Section 7

The USO Board shall hear, consider, and decide all appeals.

Section 8

The USO Board can overturn the election or the results of a contested position by a 3/4 vote.

Section 9

In the event of an overturned election, a special meeting of the General Body will be called within two weeks to elect the contested position.

1. The Semester Break Steering Committee

Section I

All members of the USO Executive Board who are available to meet when school is not in session for more than I 1/2 weeks shall make up the steering committee for that break.

Section 2

The summer steering committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the USO during the semester break.

Section 3

All major decisions considering membership and finances made by the summer steering committee must be formally approved by the entire Executive Board upon the first regularly scheduled meeting of USO by a 2/3 vote.

2. Judicial Committee

Section 1 - Membership

The Judicial Board (J-Board) will be comprised of two USO members and three group officers. The permanent member of the J-Board shall be the USO Vice-President, who shall chair the board. Another USO member on the J-Board shall be selected from the USO board. The only member of the USO Board that may not be considered for the J-Board position is the USO President. The three (3) group officers that will comprise the remainder of the J-Board will be selected from the pool of presidents, vice-presidents, and treasurers of the USO student groups. Only CC/SEAS undergraduate officers are eligible.

Section 2 - Conflict of Interest

Umbrella groups cannot present a case before any constituent member, or vice versa.

Individuals on the J-Board cannot be a member of a group presenting a case. If USO Vice-President has a conflict of interest, USO President will preside over J-Board. If there is still a conflict of interest, then the other USO member will preside.

Final review can be made by the USO president, with veto option.

Section 3 - Scope, When the J-Board Can Convene

1. Elections

The J-Board can either uphold the result of the elections or hold re-elections with specific guidelines. If re-election is decided upon, all terms of the new election will be set forth by the J-Board. If at all possible, the new election should take place one week after decision of J-Board is reached. The previous candidates will run again unless new/additional members are warranted in the J-Board's opinion. The reasons for re-elections will be made public. Thus, the re-election will take place with this consideration.

2. Decision by officers or board

The J-Board may either uphold a decision of group officers/board or nullify a decision.

3. Actions against specific board members or the board's actions as a whole

The J-Board may review complaints against specific board members' or actions done by a board as a whole.

Complaints may be made against a group by someone who is not a member of that group. The specific complaint should be stated in writing (as in all cases), and investigatory sessions will be held.

These issues may involve one group making a complaint against another group, or individuals making a complaint against a group.

Section 4 - USO Review

Because of the direct contact with groups that the USO Board has, an issue may be seen by the USO Board. If the Board feels this issue warrants review, the USO Board may call a group before the J-Board.

Section 5 - Procedure

A letter detailing the charges/complaint should be submitted to the USO. This letter will be reviewed by USO President, Vice-President, and a third USO member. If complaint is too frivolous, the party will be informed. If complaint is too extreme (including, but not limited to violation of law), the Director of the Office of Student Activities will be informed. If the complaint merits action, it will be turned over to the J-Board. The USO president will submit the complaint to the J-Board, and this will be entered into the minutes by the USO Secretary.

Three officers must be found to serve on the J-Board. The USO member and Vice-President will pick three members, and submit them to the USO President. The process that the member and Vice-President of USO will use will be to eliminate any obvious conflicts to create a narrowed selection pool of group officers.. Then, selection will be at random from the narrowed pool. Once the names of the three additional members are submitted to the USO President, he or she can veto any or all of them. If any of the names submitted are vetoed, the USO member and vice-president must submit other names until approved by the president. The time span for this selection process is not to exceed one week.

The first step after the five members of the J-Board have been selected is review of the constitution of the group(s) involved. This should be the initial process in all cases, unless the J-Board finds that this review is clearly not necessary for the particular case. The only constitution that will be considered is the one on file with USO Board.

The J-Board will hear the sides of the parties involved individually, and then with all parties present. The number of sessions may vary depending on the particular case. The hearings will be open, unless either party requests that hearings be closed. During the session, questions may be asked by any J-Board member at any time. The J-Board chair will control this questioning as necessary.

Section 6 - Support Testimony

The number of individuals who may address the J-Board is at the board's discretion for individuals who are directly involved in the matter.

Either side involved in the complaint may call on two people, who are not directly involved, for support testimony that is relevant to the complaint.

Additional support may be submitted in writing by other individuals. Consideration of such material is at the discretion of the J-Board.

Section 7 - Voting Procedure

Once the investigatory hearings are over, the J-Board will deliberate and vote on the necessary action that is needed. The deliberations will be closed except to the J-Board members. A tentative time schedule for the length of deliberations will be established by the chair in conjunction with the other J-Board members. This time schedule is flexible.

Once deliberations are over, there will be a closed vote. The votes will be counted by the chair. No abstentions are permitted in the vote.

In the cases of elections, the vote is a predetermined vote (i.e., whether or not to hold new elections). In other cases, the specific action to be taken must be decided upon. Once a consensus is reached on what action is to be taken, the J-Board will vote.

In the event of a tie, the chair will vote to break the tie.

Section 8 - Announcing the Decision

The number of the vote will not be announced. The decision that is reached will be announced.

The parties involved will be contacted, and asked to come together. The decision of the J-Board will be announced to all parties involved. The reasons for the decision must be stated clearly at time of announcement.

If a new election is called for, all specific terms and restrictions must be set forth.

If specific action is called for, the full scope of the action must be explained.

If any action is reversed, this should be made clear, and the full scope of the reversal must be explained.

The outcome of the J-Board hearings will be made known to the Director of the Office of Student Activities and the adviser of the student group.

If a group's constitution is found to need updating, the USO member of the J-Board will assist in any necessary constitutional revision/amendment.

Section 1

The By-laws shall be contained in a separate document, entitled "USO By-Laws".

Section 2

Any changes to the By-Laws must be passed by the USO with a 2/3 majority vote.

Amendments to the USO Constitution must be passed by a 2/3 majority vote.

This document must be ratified by the USO by a 3/4 majority vote.