ARTICLE I - Organization Name The name of the organization is "Global Media Student Association" (GMSA). ARTICLE II - Affiliations This organization is officially recognized by The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It follows the general rules for student organizations laid down by The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. ARTICLE III - Purpose and Objectives As an internationally recognized leader in the field, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill must strive for continued excellence in the teaching and research of global communication. An official organization for students interested in global media can foster an environment in which the school can more effectively meet this objective. Thus, the Global Media Student Association seeks to fill this important role. The Global Media Student Association aims to enhance the connection among both incoming and present international students as well as between international and U.S. students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. This includes giving incoming international students help settling in, facilitating interaction among international students, and raising the level of interest and awareness of international issues within our School. GMSA will also reach out to faculty and visiting scholars in this pursuit. At its highest level of function, this organization will strive to play a direct role in encouraging and assisting with international media research at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. ARTICLE IV - Membership and Participation
- Membership in the group and access to full participation (which includes the right to be an officer in the group and the right to not be excluded from any group activity) is open to all current students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication who are interested in issues of global media without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender.
- Request for membership must be made directly to the president. Candidates become full members only once their information is registered with The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student organizations office.
- Alumni are encouraged to participate in organization activities, but are ineligible to vote on official matters. Alumni may, however, advise students regarding both official and unofficial organization matters.
- Violations of organization rules or ethical standards may result in expulsion from the group. It is the duty of each member of the organization with knowledge of rules or ethics violations to report the information to the president or the faculty supervisor.
ARTICLE V - Faculty Sponsor (advisor)
- The advisor for the organization should be a full-time faculty member at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication with demonstrated international interest indicated by prior research, professional background, service activities, or other functions related to internationalism.
- The advisor will guide and inform the organization in matters related to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as well as the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The advisor will also serve as an advocate of the organization within the School and beyond.
- If the advisor vacates this role, it is the responsibility of the president to immediately find a new advisor for this organization and document the change with the office of student organizations and activities at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
ARTICLE VI - Meetings
- Excluding the summer months, official meetings will be held at least once per month, with additional meetings called by the president as deemed necessary. The time and location of the meetings will be determined and announced by the president.
- The quorum for any official meeting in which voting is required is a majority of all registered members, but no quorum is required for non-voting activities.
ARTICLE VII - Executive Board The organization has the following positions for officers, who together form the executive board:
- President. The president represents the organization, organizes all activities, oversees the meetings of all members of the executive board, and maintains contact with the University and the faculty advisor. It is the president's responsibility to be aware of all institutional rules that apply to this organization as well as the rules set forth by this constitution and to remain in compliance with such rules. The presidency may only be occupied by students in the graduate program. This restriction is essential for the preservation of the organization's full vision, which emphasizes research as a fundamental component. If the position of the president is vacant, the vice president must take over this position until the next election.
- Vice President. The vice president participates in decisions made by this board and assists the president in organization functions. Because the vice president may be required to take over the presidency, this position, as with the position of president, may only be occupied by students in the graduate program. If the position of vice president is vacant, a special election must be held within 30 days.
- Treasurer. The treasurer is responsible for the finances of the organization, including tasks related to fundraising. The treasurer must be included in all decisions that affect the finances of the organization. If the position of treasurer is vacant, a special election must be held in order to select a new treasurer within 30 days. In the interim, the president must take over this office, but cannot make decisions on expenses without the approval of the majority of all current members. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to occupy the position of treasurer.
- It is possible for the president or vice president to simultaneously
hold the office of treasurer if necessary, but not for president and
vice president to be the same individual.
- Additional offices, along with eligibility requirements for those offices, may be formed or terminated by amendment, but the positions of president, vice-president, and treasurer are permanent.
ARTICLE VIII - Elections
- Officers are elected by current members of the organization for the term of twelve months beginning on January 1 st . Elections are held in November prior to the 20th of the month. An individual will be eligible to hold the same office for multiple terms as long as he or she remains a full-time student in the School.
- Candidates must formally state their intent to run for office to the
sitting president by November 1st . Thereupon, they will have the right to present their qualifications to organization members at an official meeting. The election may take place anytime after all candidates have presented their case.
- Elections will be conducted by secret ballot, and votes will be counted by the sitting president in the presence of the faculty advisor. Unopposed candidates must
simply be approved by a majority vote. Secret ballot is not
required for this approval.
- In the event of a tie, the candidate with the longest term of service within the organization receives the position. However, if the candidates' terms of service began in the same semester, the sitting president must break the tie.
ARTICLE IX - Committees/Division Committees may be formed and terminated by request of the president in conjunction with a majority vote of approval by organization members. ARTICLE X - Funds The treasurer, with oversight from the president, shall prepare allocation proposals which will require approval by a majority of all members. ARTICLE XI - Parliamentary Procedures The president has the authority to call to order and recognize specific individuals as deemed appropriate. Egregious failure to respect the rules of order will result in removal from the meeting and an ethics violation. ARTICLE XII - Amendments This constitution is an evolving document and may be altered after its initial ratification. Amendments may be proposed by individual or multiple members, but require two-thirds majority vote to take effect. ARTICLE XIII - By-laws Additional guidelines, if any, that are not included in this constitution must be maintained in writing and made accessible to all members of the organization. These rules, proposed and implemented by the president, are non-binding and may be changed at the discretion of the president. All by-laws must conform to the rules set forth in this constitution. ARTICLE XIV - Ratification Presentation to the organization members, opportunity for collective revision, and approval by three-fourths majority vote are the standards for ratification of this document. |
