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Pitzer Uncovered blog by Amy Jasper is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
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According to the meeting minutes recorded by Abi Darin '10, all five Executive Board members were absent from last Sunday's Senate meeting. Only Communications Secretary Leah Kahn gave notice that she wouldn't be attending. Abi's minutes [blogger's emphasis supplied]:
From Secretary Buddy Bennett:
The simple fact is this: Most Pitzer students do not have the desire to get involved in Student Senate. Never have, never will. We should not be afraid of this. We should not get mad at them. They are not bad people. (I, for one, find many of them likable and fascinating.) Most Pitzer students (maybe even you, reader!) want to: make friends and learn cool stuff and go to parties and do community service and study abroad and go to the movies and do an independent study and have lunch for 2 hours and learn a foreign language and join a club or two and get a job. While a lot of people like to get involved in student organizations, Hall Councils, PACT, and SAC, it is a rare person who wants to get involved in the nitty gritty of college governance. (If you do want to get involved into Student Senate, email me! I can help you figure out how to get involved.) We need a system that accepts this fact and is ready for when that 95% comes calling. If I have a good idea, I don't want to have to launch a popularity campaign in order corral the votes of 300 people. I want to be able to present it for 5 minutes to the 45 kids that care most about college policy. If I have a problem, I don't want to yell it to a "Facilitator" in front of 10 of my friends on the top of a Mound. I want to be able to go to a website and see the name, picture, and email address of the person who can help me solve it. Vote NO on the constitutional proposal.At this Sunday's Senate meeting, Senate Chair Brian Orser opened the discussion on the constitutional proposal that we're all talking about. I was the only one to raise my hand. I asked in plain terms:
What are the main objectives of the document? Who wrote it?
In what specific ways is it superior to the operative Constitution? What does it try to achieve?
(These were my honest questions. Every time I have had a conversation about this document, with Senator Buddy Bennett, Senator Liz Lipschultz, with authors Jerzy Kaufman and Jasper Kosokoff, I end up with more questions than I began with. I have NEVER heard a convincing argument for this constitution that made any sense to me.)
Senator Nick Tagliarino spoke up and "objected" to my questions on the grounds that they had already been answered during the first meeting in which it was proposed, back in November.
Official document author Lianna Schechter '10 said, essentially, that we had already discussed those things.
And with that, discussion ended.
So here we are, on the internet. Here are my concerns. TransitionThe current Constitution is the result of 16 years of trial, error, and improvement. It was just approved in April 2009 by a ballot vote of the entire student body. There has NEVER been public discussion on what would actually happen if this proposal is approved by the student body. There is no set meeting time for the first meeting. There are no student leaders to facilitate the first meeting. If it were approved, there would be a bitter struggle for legitimacy: different groups of students could say "The first meeting will be on Tuesday morning at 10 am at the Grove House!" "The first meeting will be on the Mounds on Friday afternoon!" It will require people to create something out of nothingness, and the loudest voices will rule the day. I think it is entirely possible that if this proposal were to be enacted, a first meeting might never even happen. The document is just that messy and incomplete. GovernanceThe current Constitution is written in good plain English. If the entire Pitzer College student body were abducted by aliens and suffered from mass amnesia, our Student Senate would still survive: the Constitution lays out in simple terms how everything works. It is a simple and stable framework that specifies where to go, what to do, and how to function, while leaving very broad leeway for what we can actually accomplish. This proposal is a mess. Its table of contents is fully half the length of the content itself. It is incredibly difficult to understand, and gives no guidance on how any body will actually function. It uses language like this:
The question is HOW DO WE CONDUCT OURSELVES? How can I get involved? Where do I sign up? Who can I talk to if I want to get something done? Whose job is it to help me with this issue? This document completely ignores these central questions. ExclusionThere is a reality that proponents of the proposal (whoever they may be) are unwilling to face: There are students who can never, will never, and don't want to, come to Student Senate meetings. This includes student athletes, pre-med students, students with full-time jobs, students taking 5 or 6 classes, New Resource students, off-campus students, Residence Assistants on duty, students with children, whose schedules simply don't allow it. It may include you, a first-time reader of this blog, who doesn't give a shit about Student Government. Maybe you never have and you never will, and you're annoyed that this keeps taking up your time and attention. (It may be hard to believe, but I personally didn't attend a Senate meeting until my second year at Pitzer, and I lived a very full life before I did.) Under the current system, there are representatives who are accountable to EVERYONE-- who work hard on behalf of the students who aren't there. Under the new system, the people who show up and shout will get to cast their vote. For the people who don't, can't, or won't show up, it's like they don't even exist. Mob RuleContrary to its stated objective, this proposal would allow single students to become disproportionately influential. Students that are very popular, very well-connected, very wealthy, very involved, very opinionated, very outspoken, will effectively rule the Assembly. Take me, for example. I'm a senior. This is my 7th semester living at Pitzer College. I've introduced speakers for Dining with Democracy in front of audiences of 200 people. 150 people read this blog yesterday. I have a voice that is FAR louder than the average student. I am not against this proposal because I'm afraid that my own voice will be drowned out. I am concerned for the first-year students who will be thrown into a hot mess of a governance system. I fear for the person who has a good idea but can't articulate it by yelling it out on the spot in front of a 150 people. But when everybody shouts at once, nobody's voice is heard. And the quiet opinions will be silenced. The current system of student governance protects minority opinions. It takes 2/3 of students to end a discussion about something, which protects that one third from being silenced. Under the new system, 51 people could vote to quiet the voices of 49 students who disagree with them, and win every time. Vote NO.The Constitution of Pitzer College Student Government PreambleWhile we recognize that in the life of the College, We the students of Pitzer College are but passing through, we assert that from the moment we arrive, this academy and its campus become our home, our community, and the foundation of our relationship with the world. We, the student-people of Pitzer College, establish a new Student Government, founded upon the principles of direct democracy, the collective process of creation, freedom and autonomy, and the continuation of a dynamic student history which creatively joins Pitzer's past and future. Because the decisions of the College will proceed with or without us, we must organize ourselves into a collective body in order to work alongside faculty and staff in actively creating and directing the future of the College and our community.
We are not a collection of atomized individuals. Rather, we are an ecological student community, exemplifying mutualism, deep inter-relationality, multiplicity and complementarity. Recognizing this reality, that the development of one of us depends upon the development of all, we find it necessary to construct a space for the collective process of this communal development.
Statement of Summary and IntentionArticle 1. Statement of Relationship of Pitzer Student Government to Pitzer College Governance and to Other Student GovernmentsThe students of Pitzer College recognize the Pitzer College Student Government as the official body responsible for the formation, protection and implementation of the rights, decisions, and interests of the student body. Pitzer College Student Government is the student aspect of Pitzer College Governance. The Pitzer Student Government will collaborate with other student governments to advance the interests of the Pitzer College student body.
Article 2. Bill of Student RightsThe Bill of Student Rights is an articulation of the rights of Pitzer College students as individuals and as a community, and of the rights of student organizations and Student Government. The Student Government will protect and uphold these rights against any encroachments.
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Structures of Government
Article 3. The Office of Student GovernmentThe Office of Student Government serves to coordinate, preserve and support Student Government, to support and unite student organizations, and to ensure and protect student participation in College Governance. The Officers will advocate for the rights, will, and decisions of the student body and Student Government, and will manage the Archives and Website of Student Government. The Officers will also support students and student groups in their interactions with the College Administration, and will facilitate the realization of students' demands. The Officers will be five: the Convener, the Provost, the Archivist, the Web-Master, and the Financier. As a sub-office, the Purse Strings is the primary resource for students seeking funding from institutional sources at Pitzer College.
Article 4. The Assembly of StudentsOne student, one vote. Once a month, students will assemble at large, in order to discuss and address issues of the community and to steer the Student Government. The Assembly of Students will serve as the highest authority within Student Government and the heart of student action in College Governance. Relevant proposals which are approved by the Assembly will be placed on the College Council agenda. The Assembly of Students will choose two facilitators whose sole job is to ensure focus and fairness, and to draw out marginalized student voices. The Assembly of Students will reserve the right to recall and replace any elected student representation in Student Government.
Article 5. Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community EngagementThe Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement serves to encourage and fund community initiatives and critical community engagement projects, and to foster art, music and creative free expression. The Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement will protect free expression and diverse community control of space on campus. The Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement will ensure that the policies and actions of the College support, encourage and allow for the free and full expression of a multiplicity of students.
Article 6. Academic Affairs CouncilThe Academic Affairs Council is charged with the development, articulation and coordination of a student agenda for the academy. The Council will be responsible for implementing this agenda through concerted cross-Committee action and for advocating for student interests in the academy. This Council will discuss the ongoing considerations and decisions of College Governance and respond accordingly.
Article 7. Summit for Social JusticeThe Summit for Social Justice is a body which will facilitate collaboration between student groups engaged in a common struggle against interlocking systems of domination. The Summit recognizes that their respective social and political struggles are intimately intertwined and advocates for the active solidarity which emerges from this understanding. The Summit will be a place for these organizations to recognize shared values and goals, take advantage of shared resources, collaborate, and acknowledge and discuss ideological consistencies and differences. The Summit will engage in the construction of a statement of shared purpose, organize and collaborate in action, and empower and impassion each other. The Summit will utilize funds for collaborative efforts between organizations. The Summit will not necessarily be representative of the majority.
Article 8. Student Activities CommitteeThe Student Activities Committee is charged with the health and wealth of campus social life. The Committee will fund both Five College and Pitzer social events.
Article 9. Hall CouncilsThe Hall Councils are the autonomous student governance bodies which aim to construct an ideal dorm life for the student residents. The Hall Council is a space in which the residents of a dormitory will govern residence life by protecting students' rights, administering dorm art policy, overseeing Residence Life policy and its implementation, and encouraging community through art, music and happenings. The Hall Council will work with staff of the college to ensure the health and saftey of their community. The Hall Council will defend the freedom of the students to decide how they will conduct their lives and use the Residence Hall and their individual residences as their own homes.
Article 10. Student OrganizationsStudent organizations are recognized student groups which have coalesced around a particular statement of intention. These organizations will be responsible to fulfill the missions laid out in their charters and will participate variously in the Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement, the Academic Affairs Council, and the Summit for Social Justice .
Article 11. College GovernmentPitzer College has a unique governance structure which integrates Students, Faculty, and Staff into a collective college governance process. Pitzer Student Government is an autonomous body which fulfills the student aspect of College Governance. The chief deliberative governance body of the college community is College Council. Pitzer students are full and equal participants in College Council and College Committees.
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Operations of Student Government
Article 12. Rules and Responsibilities of MembershipMembers of the bodies of Student Government will advocate for the rights, needs and decisions of the student body, within and without the structures of College Governance and with the Administration of the College. While an individual cannot and should not attempt to objectively represent the views of the student body at large, the member should attempt to engage the student community on every issue. Members will fully participate in College Governance toward the same end.
Article 13. Community RepresentationCommunity Representatives will be elected by and for particular constituencies within the student body.
Article 14. Elections, Appointments & RecallAll elected members of student government will be nominated within the Assembly of Students. Positions of special interest will be elected through a ballot. All elected members of Student Government may be recalled by the Assembly of Students. Special elections will be held for Officer and Committee positions if vacated and in the case of recall.
Article 15. BudgetingThe Student Government will budget the Student Activities Fees. At the end of the Spring semester, the Assembly of Students will construct the following year’s annual budget, allocating funds to student organizations, the Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement, the Summit for Social Justice , Student Activities Committee and the Office of Student Government. Funding will be allocated according to the priorities and values of the student body, considering the ways in which funds have been best used to enrich the community in the past.
Article 16. Amending the ConstitutionThe community’s relationship to Student Government will necessarily change over time. As such, a continual reexamination of the Constitution of Pitzer College Student Government will allow for the continued health and relevance of the Student Government. All amendments to the Constitution will be discussed and voted on by the Assembly of Students; amendments will also be put to a student-wide vote.
The Constitution of Pitzer College Student GovernmentArticle 1. Statement of Relationship of Pitzer College Student Government to Pitzer College Governance and to the Community1.1 The students of Pitzer College recognize the Pitzer College Student Government as the official body responsible to construct full and meaningful student participation in all college governance decisions; to actively ensure that these college governance decisions are open, democratic, and transparent; to advocate for the full implementation and protection of the Bill of Student Rights and the rights and interests of the student as a full and autonomous member of the College community; to facilitate and create discourse on college governance and pressing community issues; to provide services to students; and to fund, support and create student organizations and initiatives.
Article 2. Bill of Student Rights2.1 The Bill of Student Rights will be written and established at the first meeting of the Assembly of Students.
2.2 Additional amendments to the Bill of Student Rights will be established in the same manner as other constitutional amendments.
2.3 Upon approval of the Bill, this Article will be replaced with the Bill of Student Rights.
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Structures of Student Government
Article 3. The Office of Student Government3.1 From the Void sprang the Office of Student Government.
3.2 The Office of Student Government shall be the administrative and coordinative body within the Student Government.
3.3 Five Officers of Student Government will serve: Convener, Provost, Archivist, Web-Master, and Financier.
3.4 The duties of the Office of Student Government shall be:
a) To coordinate the structures of Student Government.
b) To ensure the integration of the Student Government into College Governance.
c) To maintain the membership, history, records and website of Student Government.
d) To coordinate and facilitate the elections and appointments of student representation in College Governance.
e) To report to the Assembly regarding the Officers' activities, the specifics and significance of their actions.
f) To hold weekly office hours for the student body.
g) To appoint eligible students to College Ad Hoc Committees.
h) To administer, to all of these ends, the Administrative Fund monies (See Article X, Budget).
3.5 The duties of each Officer of Student Government are as follows:
a) Convener (President): To coordinate communication between the various bodies of Student and College Government; to serve as the Student Government liaison to the College Council agenda planning meeting (Bylaws Article 2, Section 2.5) and other bodies of College Governance; to meet weekly with the President of the College (in conjunction with the Provost);, to actively pursue the implementation of all Student Government decisions; to attend the Assembly of Students; and to attend Student Government meetings.
b) Provost (President): To serve on the Budgetary Implementation Committee and the Trustee Budget Committee as an advocate in budgetary decisions which are in accordance with Pitzer's Core Values of Social Responsibility, Community, and Action, and which meet the needs of the student body; to advocate for the interests and decisions of the student body; to meet weekly with the President of the College (in conjunction with the Convener); to defend the rights of the Pitzer student, as defined in the Bill of Student Rights, the Faculty Handbook, and the Student Handbook; to advocate for the continued equal and directive participation of the student body in all decisions of the College; and to attend Student Government meetings.
c) Archivist (Secretary): To actively update and maintain the Archives of Student Government; and to ensure, in conjunction with the Web-Master, that the Archives will be hosted in full on the Student Government website.
d) Web-Master (Communications Director): To maintain and update the Student Government website; to announce in a 'College Committee Digest' email each weekend the meeting times and locations of all College Committees for the following week; to announce, via e-mail, at least two days prior, the meetings of the Academic Affairs Council, the Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement, Summit for Social Justice , Town Hall meetings, Assembly of Students, College Council, and special College Governance meetings.
e) Financier : To coordinate the Student Government monies, budgetary processes and Budgetary Bylaws; to process budgetary documents and compile information on the state of the budget.
3.6 The Office of Student Government shall have a dedicated office space, where the Officers of Student Government will hold their office hours and where the Archives of Student Government will be stored.
3.7 The Officers will meet at least weekly in order to effectively carry out their duties.
3.8 The Archives of Student Government will be managed by the Archivist, and each year will be continuously updated with: College Council Committee minutes, bylaws, reports, and supporting documents; College Council minutes, agenda, supporting documents; Strategic Planning documents; Master Plan and Residential Planning documents; Faculty Handbook; Student Handbook; the annual Budget of the College; the annual Budget of the Student Government; minutes from all Student Government Councils; minutes from every Pitzer student club and organization; documentation of every Student Government Forum; and a running list of every decision made by every College Governance body, with summary.
3.9 The Purse-Strings shall be the guiding and coordinating body for facilitating student access to the Student Government monies.
a) Six members will serve on the Purse-Strings: the Financier, the Class Representatives, and the New Resources Representative.
b) The Purse-Strings shall collaboratively guide any student seeking funds on campus. The members of the Purse-Strings shall make constructive recommendations to the funding seeker for the improvement of the request and direct the seeker to the appropriate bodies from which to seek money.
c) All funding proposals directed towards the Assembly of Students or Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement must be created in consulataion with the Purse-Strings.
d) The Purse-Strings shall hold accessible office hours in the office of the Student Government during which time the Purse-Strings shall meet with all seekers.
e) The processes and policies of the Purse-Strings shall be set out and determined by the Budgetary Bylaws.
3.10 Ambassadors of the Student Government of Pitzer College may be appointed by the Office of Student Government to serve at any school as liasons.
a) The Office has the right to appoint an ambassador from within the student body of Pitzer College to the student governments of the other members of the Claremont Consortium.
b) The role of the ambassadors will be to facilitate dialogue on issues of shared concern; to convey the messages, actions and requests of the Student Government; and to spread the spirit and values of the Pitzer College student body. All ambassadors will report to the Convenor and may be called to report to the Assembly upon the request of the Assembly.
Article 4. The Assembly of Students4.1 Once a month, students will assemble at large, in order to discuss and address issues of the community and to steer the Student Government. The Assembly of Students will serve as the highest authority within Student Government. The Assembly of Students will reserve the right to recall any person elected by that body throughout the year as detailed in the Process of Assembly.
4.2 Stewards: The Stewards of the Assembly will be charged with the health and continuation of the Assembly of Students, each with the responsibility of encouraging the greatest possible participation of the student body. The Stewards will consist of: two Facilitators, two Historians, one Legislator, and one Town-Crier.
4.3 The duties of each Steward are as follows:
a) Facilitators: To run the Assembly according to the Process of Assembly; to facilitate a democratic and consensus-oriented process of community dialogue and decision-making; and to publicize the Assembly widely and thoroughly at least a week in advance of its meeting. No more than one facilitator may be a man.
b) Historians: Each to record a complete narrative of the Assembly meeting, summarizing and attributing points articulated, capturing the flow of the meeting, noting decisions made and controversies, and to give these narratives to the Web-Master.
c) Legislator: To act in the Assembly as the authority on the Process of Assembly and on Student and College Governance; to solicit proposals for the Agenda via email; to assemble the Agenda of the Assembly prior to its meeting; and to record the official decisions of the assembly.
d) Town-Crier: To creatively and prominently announce the coming of the Assembly in the days prior to its meeting; to loudly announce the coming of the Assembly while ringing the Bell of Assembly through all campus residence halls and common space in the hour before the Assembly meeting;
4.4 A special Assembly of Students may be called by the Office of Student Government, the Stewards of the Assembly, or the Assembly of Students. A special Assembly may not be called less than 36 hours in advance.
4.5 College Council: Every decision of the Assembly which concerns the community as a whole, or which is dependent upon the cooperation of the Administration of the College, will be placed on the upcoming College Council agenda by the Student Government Convener. The Convener of the Student Government will relay these agenda items to the College Council Planning Committee.
4.6 Proposals: A proposal will be considered by the Assembly only once the proponent has discussed the issue with enough students to gather six signatures of support. The proponent will then bring the proposal to the relevant Student Government Council for discussion, advice and support. The proponent will submit the proposal to the Legislator of the Assembly at least two days prior to the Assembly. Email notification will be sent, by the proponent, to the student body about the proposal prior to the Assembly.
4.7 Student Assembly Report: The Student Government Archivist will collate a document, the Student Assembly Report, which will contain: a report from the student members of each College Committee (Standing and Ad Hoc), a report from each Officer of Student Government, a report from each Hall Council, a report from each Council of Student Government, the proposed Agenda of the Assembly, the text of the proposals to be considered, and any relevant documents. Before the Assembly the Student Assembly Report will be sent to the student body. At the beginning of the Assembly, the Student Assembly Report will be available in paper format. At any time during the Assembly, an oral presentation of any of the reports in the Assembly Report can be requested.
4.8 Club Charters: The Assembly will consider for approval the charters of Pitzer clubs seeking official recognition.
4.9 Voting: Every Pitzer College student has a vote on the Assembly. The voting will take place as outlined in the Process of the Assembly.
4.10 The student governments of Claremont Graduate University, Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, Pomona College and Scripps College may select a student of their respective schools to be a voting ambassador to the Assembly of Students.
Article 5. Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement5.1 The Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement is charged with protecting, facilitating and invigorating the life of the student community.
5.2 The Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement will meet at least weekly.
a) The weekly meeting will provide a space in which students can report on and coordinate the activities, project, and agenda of their respective groups, committees, and organizations.
5.3 The composition of the Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement is as follows:
a) The following students are voting members of the Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement: members of Campus Life Committee, all but one member of Campus Aesthetics Committee, one member of Diversity Committee, the 5 College Social Chair, the Student Activities Committee Representative, each Class Representative, the New Resources Representative, the Transfer Representative, the Off-Campus Representative and the International Representative. The one member of Campus Aesthetics Committee who is not a voting member of the Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement will be a voting member of the Academic Affairs Council. This member will be chosen from among the student members of the Campus Aesthetics Committee by the student members of the Campus Aesthetics Committee.
b) All students are invited and encouraged to attend as full participants, but are non-voting members in the Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement.
c) Non-students may attend as non-voting members whose participation is contigent upon the will of the student members of the Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement.
d) The Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement shall have the option, to be decided by majority vote, to hold a 'special meeting' in which only students or only Pitzer students may attend.
5.4 The student members will elect the officers of the Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement.
a) One student member will be elected by the other members to act as facilitator and convener of each meeting of the Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement. This student will ensure that meetings of the Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement are open, accessible, and well-publicized to the student body. As convener and facilitator this student will ensure the meeting of the Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement and the faithful attendance of all members to its mission.
b) One student member will be elected by the other members to act as secretary at each meeting of the Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement. The secretary will render complete minutes of the Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement to the Archivist of the Offices of Student Government.
5.5 The Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement will administer the monies of the discretionary fund of Student Government. Five College funding is to be administered solely through Student Activities Committee (Art. 8).
5.6 The Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement will create a full voting representative member for each organization they have identified to be central to life of the community.
5.7 The Bylaws of the Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement: The Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement will establish its own bylaws. The bylaws of the Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement will concern but not be limited to: elections, quorum, establishment of regular meeting time and place, special meetings, membership, eligibility of membership, responsibilities, powers and duties of membership, attendance, recall for removal in the Assembly of Students, budgetary bylaws, voting and rules of order.
Article 6. Academic Affairs Council6.1 The Academic Affairs Council is charged with coordinating a student agenda on academic issues, and advocating for student interests in the academy.
6.2 The Council will meet at least once every two weeks.
6.3 The composition of the Council is as follows:
a) Student members on the following committees are full-time voting members whose attendance is necessary for the proper functioning of the Council: Diversity, Academic Planning Committee, Appointments, Promotions, and Tenure, Faculty Executive Committee, Academic Standards Committee, Trustee Investment Representative, Teaching and Learning Committee, Curriculum Committee, and External Studies Committee.
b) All students are invited and encouraged to attend as full participants, but non-voting members in the Council.
c) Non-student members of the Pitzer community may attend as non-voting members whose participation is contigent upon the will of the student members of the Council.
d) The Council shall have the option, to be decided by majority vote, to hold a 'special meeting' in which only students or only Pitzer students may attend.
6.4 The student members will elect the officers of the Council.
a) One student member will be elected by the other members to act as facilitator and convener of each meeting of the Council. This student will ensure that meetings of the Council are open, accessible, and well-publicized to the student body. As convener and facilitator this student will ensure the meeting of the Council and the faithful attendance of all members to its mission.
b) One student member will be elected by the other members to act as secretary at each meeting of the Council. The secretary will render complete minutes of the Council to the Archivist of the Offices of Student Government.
6.5 The Bylaws of the Academic Affairs Council: The Council will establish its own bylaws. The bylaws of the Council will concern but not be limited to: elections, quorum, establishment of regular meeting time and place, special meetings, membership, eligibility of membership, responsibilities powers and duties of membership, attendance, recall for removal in the Assembly of Students, budgetary bylaws, and rules of order.
Article 7. Summit for Social Justice7.1 The Summit for Social Justice will be an autonomous body with a large degree of self-determination.
7.2 The Summit for Social Justice will consist of representation from political and activist oriented organizations on campus.
7.3 The Summit for Social Justice will meet at least monthly.
7.4 The budget of the Summit will be utilized solely for collaborative efforts between member organizations.
7.5 The Summit will elect a Convener and a Secretary at the beginning of each semester.
7.6 The Summit will work together to organize a conference, at least annually, on a specific topic of social, political, economic, or environmental justice and activism. This conference will aim to address the topic from a multitude of perspectives.
7.7 Eligibility will be determined as follows:
a) Any Pitzer or Five College organization may bring an application for admission to the Summit.
b) All applications for admission will be considered and voted on by the Summit.
c) Active Pitzer clubs will have continuous membership into the next year.
d) Five College clubs with a plurality of Pitzer student members will have continuous membership into the next year.
e) Five College clubs without a plurality of Pitzer student members must reapply for membership at the beginning of each school year, with the criterion that these organizations share in the values of the Summit’s mission, that these organizations have an active presence within the Pitzer community and that the Pitzer community has an active presence within the organization.
7.8 Each member organization has one vote.
7.9 All students are welcome to attend Summit meetings as non-voting participants.
7.10 Non-student persons are welcome to attend Summit meetings with the permission of the Summit.
7.11 The Bylaws of the Summit for Social Justice : The Summit will establish its own bylaws. The bylaws of the Summit will concern but not be limited to: elections, quorum, establishment of regular meeting time and place, special meetings, membership, eligibility of membership, responsibilities powers and duties of membership, attendance, recall for removal in the Assembly of Students, budgetary bylaws, voting and rules of order.
Article 8. Student Activities Committe8.1 The Student Activities Committee will administer funds to Five College social events and campus social events and will foster and encourage student art, music, performance, expression, and enjoyment.
8.2 The membership of the Student Activities Committee is as follows: Class Representatives, Student Activities Committee Chair, Five College Social Chair, Student Activities Committee Representative, and any student who attends two meetings of Student Activities Committee.
8.3 The Student Activities Committee will establish its own bylaws. The bylaws of the Committee will concern but not be limited to: elections, quorum, establishment of regular meeting time and place, special meetings, membership, eligibility of membership, responsibilities powers and duties of membership, attendance, recall for removal by the Assembly of Students, budgetary bylaws and rules of order.
Article 9. Hall Councils9.1 Hall Councils serve to maintain, build and enliven the life of the residence halls and to discuss Residence Life policy and to oversee its implementation.
9.2 The Hall Councils administer their budgeted funds to this end.
9.3 The Hall Council is responsible to facilitate and advocate for artistic engagement with the built environment (e.g. painting, sculpture, installations, etc.). To this end, the Hall Council will write and maintain its own policies and procedures for art, interior and exterior, and display these prominently in the community (See the Pitzer College Outdoor Art Policy).
9.4 The Hall Council will oversee and maintain the common areas of the residence hall (e.g. kitchen, living rooms, rooftop patios, courtyards, etc).
9.5 The Hall Council will write and maintain a constitution which will govern its operations, and which will be published each semester.
9.6 Membership: All student residents of a residence hall are voting members of the Hall Council.
Article 10. Student Organizations10.1 Student organized and managed groups may come to the Assembly of Students to present their charter and intention, and gain the approval of the Student Government as a recognized student organization.
10.2 Recognized student organizations may seek one-time funding through all available Student Government funding sources and annual funding within the budget of Student Government.
10.3 Recognized organizations will hold open, democratic meetings, and will send meeting minutes to the Archivist.
10.4 Student Cooperatives: Student Cooperatives are vital to the life of the community and the health of the College. A Student Cooperative is a democratic, student-run enterprise, providing a function or service which addresses a need of the community. The Student Government shall be committed to advocating for and supporting the creation of student-run cooperatives. The Assembly of Students will hear proposals for new student cooperatives, offering comment, support, advocacy, and initial funding.
10.4 Student organizations have certain entitlements.
a) Student organizations have access to assistance from the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Public Relations.
b) Student organizations have official and public association with Pitzer College.
Article 11. College Governance11.1 College Council Meeting: College Council is the deliberative governance body of the college community.
a) Students will constitute no less than one third of the votes in a College Council meeting.
b) The Convener of the Student Government will relay to the College Council Agenda Planning Meeting every decision of Student Government which concerns the community as a whole, or which is dependent on the cooperation of the Administration of the College.
c) The Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement, the Academic Affairs Council, and the Summit for an Egalatarian Society may also independently resolve to place an item on the College Council agenda.
11.2 Standing Committees of College Council and Other College Standing Committees:
a) The student members of standing College Council committees are elected by the Assembly.
11.3 Ad Hoc Committees: The student members of Ad Hoc Committees of College Council will be nominated by the Officers of Student Government and approved by a majority vote of either the Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement or the Academic Affairs Council according to relevance.
11.4 Trustee Committees:
a) The Convener will sit on the Trustee Student Life Committee and the Trustee Education Committee.
b) The Provost will sit on the Trustee Budget Committee and the Trustee Audit Committee.
c) A student will serve as representative to the Trustee Investment Committee.
11.5 Judicial Council representatives will be nominated in the Assembly of Students and elected by the entire student body as defined by the Election Bylaws.
__________________
Operations of Student Government
Article 12. Membership and Its Responsibilities12.1 No student may serve on more than one College Standing Committee at a time.
12.2 Students may serve on College Ad Hoc and College Standing Committees simultaneously.
12.3 Students may serve in multiple Student and College Government positions, unless specifically prohibited.
12.4 The Officers of Student Government may not simultaneously serve as Stewards of the Assembly of Students.
12.5 The Convener, Provost, and Financier may not be elected or appointed to any other position in Student Government.
12.6 Any member of Student Government wishing to resign from their position must tender their resignation to the Assembly of Students for its acceptance. The resignation will be an item on the agenda. The Assembly must seek a replacement for the post immediately upon the acceptance of resignation.
Article 13. Community Representation13.1 Community Representatives will be nominated in the Assembly of Students and elected as defined by the Election Bylaws.
13.2 The Community Representatives shall be: Transfer Representative, International Representative, Environmental Representative, New Resources Representative, First Year Representative, Sophomore Representative, Junior Representative and Senior Representative.
13.3 The Community Representatives will be voting members of Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement.
Article 14. Elections, Appointments & Recall14.1 Student members of standing Committees of College Council, the 5-C Social Chair will be nominated and elected in the Election Assembly. One third of the body may vote to send the election of a particular committee representative position to a campus-wide election.
14.2 Student members of ad hoc Committees of College Council will be nominated by the Officers of Student Government, and these nominations will be sent for a vote of confirmation in the relevant Council.
14.3 Facilitators and secretaries of the Council, Pitzer Endowment for the Arts and Community Engagement, and Summit will be chosen internally.
14.4 Recall: Any person elected by the Assembly may be recalled and replaced by the Assembly. The replacement will be made in an election in the Assembly, except in the case of the Officers, who must be replaced by Assembly nomination and campus-wide election.
14.5 Recall due to lack of attendance: The Chairs of College Council Standing Committees shall notify the Legislator and the Office of Student Government of significant lack of attendance by a student representative. The Legislator will place an item of recall and replacement on the agenda of the Assembly of Students, and will publicize the need for replacement. The recalled representative may address the Assembly in his or her own defense, and may run in the election to fill the position thus vacated.
14.6 Election Assembly: The March and December Assemblies of Students will be split between regular business and a special Election Assembly. The March Election Assembly will nominate and elect students to fill all positions in Student Government for the coming year. The December Assembly will nominate and elect students to fill positions to be vacated by students not returning for Spring semester. Students will nominate candidates for representation to Standing Committees of College Council and the Officers of Student Government. Elections for the representation to Standing Committees of College Council will be held in the Election Assembly. Elections for the Officers will be held in campus-wide ballot. Both elections and nominations are governed by the Election Guidelines and the Process of Assembly.
Article 15. Budgeting15.1 The Annual Budget of Student Government will be decided in a special budget assembly which will occur as one section of the April Assembly of Students. Budgeting will be conducted as described in the Process of Assembly.
15.2 Funding will be distributed according to the Budgetary Bylaws.
a) Funding will be allocated according to the priorities and values of the student body, considering past ways in which funds have best been used to enrich the community.
Article 16. Amending the Constitution
16.1 An amendment will be brought to two meetings of the Assembly of Students, first for a discussion and alteration, and again for discussion, alteration, and submission for a two thirds vote. A student-wide ballot must approve the amendment by simple majority.
This is a partial transcript from the final Senate meeting of the year on Sunday December 6, 2009. My emphasis is supplied throughout the transcript, and my commentary is interspersed.
I found this inaccurate and unnecessarily dramatic. Senate has been terrible for the past semester, but to characterize it as illegitimate because Jim Marchant said so is ridiculous.
I also found this annoying: Orser essentially admits that he consults with certain Senators ahead of time, but not others. Further evidence of this comes later.
Charles points out that Dean of Students Jim Marchant was sitting in the room at the time, and I agreed with Charles: Jim Marchant would be the best person to explain the letter that he wrote and submitted.
(I don't know what "legal reasons" means in this context.)
The position of Sports Representative was added to Senate's composition two years ago, as an attempt to increase school spirit. When we were revising the Senate Constitution last year, I don't recall anybody bringing it up. Personally, I think Hale is a very smart and dedicated Senator and I value his input. I think his talent is being wasted. But when push comes to shove, his position doesn't exist, and Hale hasn't acted as a representative would be expected to. He hasn't, to my knowledge, publicly solicited the input of Pitzer athletes, held athlete meetings, or brought sports-related issues to Student Senate. If Brian is using this example as one of the terrible things that the existing Constitution has done, I think he should keep searching.
This is exactly what should be happening all across Senate: we should elect students to every single position, even if it says in the Constitution that they should be appointed. If there is anything positive that has come out of the larger debate about the new Constitutional proposal, it is that students want every position to be elected.
And elections were never held, except for the First-Year Representative position, during the Fall semester. I'll get into the judicial council debacle in another post.
Here is where I believe Brian is dramatically overstating the conflict. Student autonomy is often stated as a core value of the college- the administrators and faculty don't care how we conduct ourselves as a body except when it interferes with larger processes of College governance. The only reason Jim Marchant sent his letter to Student Senate asking it to comply with its own rulebook is when Executive Board illegally appointed several people to positions that are required to be elected.
Around the time Senate stuff really hit the fan, I frankly stopped being useful to readers because I prioritized my personal involvement in Senate dealings over reporting those dealings. But Winter Break is providing an opportunity to backtrack and piece together the chain of events. My interpretation is this: In the wake of the proposal of the new Constitution, debates among many students in many different fora were getting intense. What put those debates on hold was an email sent to Student Senators by Dean Marchant, which asserted that Student Senate wasn't following its own guidelines in the makeup of its representatives. His reasoning was that because those representatives interact with larger College Governance structures, they have to be put in place through the methods prescribed in the Student Senate Constitution. In other words, students were appointed by the Executive Board to fill positions that must be elected and Senate has to correct that. Senate Chair Brian Orser appeared to freak out about that, and attempted to call a College Council meeting. Because he didn't go through the proper channels, and because he wanted to hold it late on a Friday night, nobody took it seriously. He then postponed his call for the meeting until Thursday, December 10th. Nobody took that seriously, either. No one cancelled the meeting, but to my knowledge nobody showed up to it. The primary sources are in chronological order below (I've highlighted the most essential parts of each document): December 2, 2009: Dean of Students Jim Marchant sends the following email:
December 2, 2009: Senate Chair Brian Orser attempts to call a College Council meeting for Friday December 4 at 9:15 pm.
December 3, 2009: President Laura Trombley politely rejects Brian's unilateral authority to call a Council meeting.Dear Pitzer Community,
December 4, 2009: Brian Orser moves his call for a College Council meeting to December 10, 2009.
December 5, 2009: FEC Chair Ethel Jorge rejects call for College Council meeting.
Jonathan Hirsch of The Port Side gives me a sense of what this whole Senate debacle looks like to an outside observer [blogger's emphasis supplied]:
To be honest, there are a lot of "shenanigans" that I haven't yet (un?)covered in this space. It became very difficult when I was often personally involved in dealing with Senate stuff while being a first-year mentor, studying for the LSAT, and trying not to fail out of school. Topics include:
I hope to have these episodes detailed before the start of the spring semester. Thanks for reading, Jonathan, but it's only going to get weirder. Stay tuned. This morning First-Year Representative Arthur Levine '13 sent the following email to student-talk, announcing his resignation from his position. You may remember September's botched election and Arthur's victory in the re-do election. [Author's hyperlinks have been omitted; blogger's emphasis supplied]:
This has been a busy and difficult week for me and I haven't written anything in this space since the Sunday night Senate meeting; apologies to those who were depending on PUnc for breaking news. This debate has many different primary and secondary issues, so I am going way back to the beginning. Since the new proposal, assertions have been made and questions have been asked about both the existing and proposed Constitutions. Here is my account of the most recent amendment Last fall, I served on Senate Executive Board. During the course of the year, I noticed that during meetings and other discussions, the Constitution was hindering progress rather than guiding it. It was confusingly written and included structures that we didn't use anymore. In my capacity as Communications Secretary, I wanted to improve communication about the functions of our government. So when somebody stood me up for a meeting at the Motley, I ordered a cup of something hot, opened up my laptop, and settled in for the evening. The first thing I did was add a table of contents. Then I fixed the typos. But in the course of reading through the whole thing, I realized that it would need a more serious revision.At 2:38 pm on November 22, 2008, I sent out an email to all Senators with my working draft. In that email I described it as "My own little ongoing project of getting our Constitution to actually describe how Senate works." During the next days and weeks, I solicited input from every senator via email. 5 new senators had just been appointed and elected, and I made sure to email them too. I held meetings anyone who asked to meet with me, and solicited the input of people directly involved with sections of the Constitution that I felt required expansion: I asked sitting Senate Chair Shatara Ford '09 for her input on the Teaching and Learning Committee. I met with Asia Bennett '11 over lunch in McConnell. I met with Daniela Kronenberg '11 to improve the section on the Student Activities Committee. I met with Nicole Scheunemann '10 to codify the Environmental Senator position. Jesse Meisler-Abramson '11 pointed out several typos that I subsequently fixed. Sitting Treasurer Carter Rubin '09 walked me through the budgetary processes he had become expert at, and we worked together to improve the Budget and Finance Article. Sean Sullivan '10 and I met at least 3 times to discuss the best mechanisms for increasing senator accountability. I also wanted to give Student Senate a clearer purpose. So I set about writing a preamble that I hoped would clarify our goals as an assembly of students. On December 1, 2008, I distributed an early draft of the following paragraph to all senators and asked for help with it [current emphasis supplied]:
On December 7, 2008, I got on the meeting agenda and opened up the draft to the Senate floor. I explained my original intentions and invited input from everyone who was there. On the same day, I sent the proposal to student-talk and asked for comments or input. I got a lot of positive responses from students who weren't on Senate but appreciated an improved student government. On December 14, 2008, Senate had what would prove to be its final discussion of the document. I elaborated on the sections that were more significantly expanded upon, and answered all questions asked. During the meeting there was a thorough discussion. A few senators voiced their concerns about one aspect of the proposal, which were incorporated into the terminal version. It was approved with overwhelming support. A few months later, the Constitution was approved by the Student Body via ballot. Why should you care about any of this?There are two things that I want you to take away from this post: 1. I'm proud of the work I did last fall, but it's not "Amy Jasper's Constitution". I don't think of it that way and you shouldn't, either. The Constitution I revised had been continuously adapting and changing for 15 years ((according to Senate Chair Brian Orser, who seemed to have special knowledge of it at last Sunday's Senate meeting)). Every single senator and student had the opportunity to contribute to the discussion. Many people did contribute and I incorporated their changes. 2. The changes I made were not controversial: the structure and operating procedures of our governance system were barely tweaked. Yet it still took weeks of collaboration, and months until the Student Body approved the update. I didn't impose a deadline on the project because I felt that these things deserve time and careful consideration. After Thanksgiving break I look forward to engaging with the text of the new proposal, but right now the number one thing I worry about is this proposal getting pushed through prematurely, with disastrous results. The proposal on the table entails TOTAL demolition of current governance structures. That's cool with me- I think it's clear to everyone that Student Governance needs reform. But-- There is a lot at stake: Let's go slowly, and let's go together.From the existing Constitution (the one we took months to vet and that was approved by the student body). My emphasis supplied:
Communications Secretary Leah Kahn released the Senate agenda email to the list-serv at 7:18 am on Saturday morning. She then sent the email distributing the actual amendment at 8:19 am. [quote] Its subject line was "oops!" and it contained the message "Oops! I forgot to attach this." I don't believe for one damn second that Leah actually forgot to include the attachment of the biggest change to Pitzer student governance structure in 25 years. (Does anybody?) The only conclusion we can come to is that the authors of the amendment weren't ready to send it on time. If the group of people who wrote this amendment didn't even finish writing it until after 6:30 am on Saturday, how can we be expected to read it, process it, analyze it, discuss it, debate it, and improve it? Now that we are faced with a new Constitutional proposal, one with almost 6,000 words, 35 different sections, and little resemblance to existing structures at Pitzer or any other liberal arts college of which I'm aware, my only hope that we can give it the consideration it requires. If the Amendment is pushed through before Winter Break: IT. WILL. FAIL.Big news: According to Exec Board Secretary Leah Kahn's email, during the upcoming Senate meeting Lianna Schechter '10, Jerzy Kaufmann '11, and Jasper Kosokoff '10 will be proposing a Constitutional amendment that will, in practice, replace the existing Constitution. The Amendment follows here; I haven't modified it except to bold Section and Article titles: The Constitution of Pitzer College Student GovernmentPreambleWhile we recognize that in the life of the College, We the students of Pitzer College are but passing through, we assert that from the moment we arrive, this academy and its campus become our home, our community, and the foundation of our relationship with the world. We, the student-people of Pitzer College, establish a new Student Government, founded upon the principles of direct democracy, the collective process of creation, freedom and autonomy, and the continuation of a dynamic student history which creatively joins Pitzer's past and future. Because the decisions of the College will proceed with or without us, we must organize ourselves into a collective body in order to work alongside faculty and staff in actively creating and directing the future of the College and our community. We are not a collection of atomized individuals. Rather, we are an ecological student community, exemplifying mutualism, deep inter-relationality, multiplicity and complementarity. Recognizing this reality, that the development of one of us depends upon the development of all, we find it necessary to construct a space for the collective process of this communal development. Statement of Summary and IntentionArticle 1. Statement of Relationship of Pitzer Student Government to Pitzer College Governance and to Other Student GovernmentsThe students of Pitzer College recognize the Pitzer College Student Government as the official body responsible for the formation, protection and implementation of the rights, decisions, and interests of the student body. Pitzer College Student Government is the student aspect of Pitzer College Governance. The Pitzer Student Government will collaborate with other student governments to advance the interests of the Pitzer College student body. Article 2. Bill of Student RightsThe Bill of Student Rights is an articulation of the rights of Pitzer College students as individuals and as a community, and of the rights of student organizations and Student Government. The Student Government will protect and uphold these rights against any encroachments. ____________________ Structures of GovernmentArticle 3. The Office of Student GovernmentThe Office of Student Government serves to coordinate, preserve and support Student Government, to support and unite student organizations, and to ensure and protect student participation in College Governance. The Officers will advocate for the rights, will, and decisions of the student body and Student Government, and will manage the Archives and Website of Student Government. The Officers will also support students and student groups in their interactions with the College Administration, and will facilitate the realization of students' demands. The Officers will be five: the Convener, the Provost, the Archivist, the Web-Mage, and the Treasurer. As a sub-office, the Purse Strings is a primary resource for students seeking funding from institutional sources at Pitzer College Article 4. The Assembly of StudentsOne student, one vote. Once a month, students will assemble at large, in order to discuss and address issues of the community and to steer the Student Government. The Assembly of Students will serve as the highest authority within Student Government. The Assembly of Students will serve as the heart of student action in College Governance. Relevant proposals which are approved by the Assembly will be placed on the College Council agenda. The Assembly of Students will choose two facilitators whose sole job is to ensure focus and fairness, and to draw out marginalized student voices. The Assembly of Students will reserve the right to recall and replace any elected student representation in Student Government. Article 5. Society of Friends and Lovers (Student Life Council)The Society of Friends and Lovers serves to encourage and fund community initiatives, critical community engagement projects, and to foster art, music and creative free expression. The Society will protect free expression and diverse community control of space on campus. The Society will ensure that the policies and actions of the College support, encourage and allow for the free and full expression of a multiplicity of students. Article 6. Council for the Co-Construction of Knowledge (Academic Affairs Council)The Council for the Co-Construction of Knowledge is charged with the development, articulation and coordination of a student agenda for the academy. The Council will be responsible to implement this agenda through concerted cross-Committee action and to advocate for student interests in the academy. This Council will discuss the ongoing considerations and decisions of College Governance and respond accordingly. Article 7. Summit for an Egalitarian SocietyThe Summit for an Egalitarian Society is a body which will facilitate collaboration between student groups engaged in a common struggle against interlocking systems of domination. The Summit recognizes that their respective struggles are intimately intertwined and advocates for the active solidarity which emerges from this understanding. The Summit will be a place for these organizations to recognize shared values and goals, take advantage of shared resources, collaborate, and to acknowledge and discuss ideological consistencies and differences. The Summit will engage in the construction of a statement of shared purpose, organize and collaborate in action and empower and impassion each other. The Summit will utilize funds for collaborative efforts between organizations, with a particular emphasis on inviting people to speak. The Summit will not necessarily be representative of the majority. Article 8. Student Activities CommitteeThe Student Activities Committee is charged with the health and wealth of campus social life. The Committee will fund both Five College and Pitzer social events. Article 9. Hall CouncilsThe Hall Councils are the autonomous student governance bodies which aim to construct an ideal dorm life for the student residents. The Hall Council is a space in which the residents of a dormitory will govern residence life by protecting students' rights, administering dorm art policy, overseeing Residence Life policy and its implementation, and encouraging community through art, music and happenings. The Hall Council will defend the freedom of the students to decide how they will conduct their lives and use the Residence Hall and their individual residences as their own homes. Article 10. Student OrganizationsStudent organizations are recognized student groups which have coalesced around a particular statement of intention. These organizations will be responsible to fulfill the missions laid out in their charters and will participate variously in the Society of Friends and Lovers, the Council for the Co-Construction of Knowledge, and the Summit for an Egalitarian Society. Article 11. College GovernmentPitzer College has a unique governance structure which integrates Students, Faculty, and Staff into a collective college governance process. Pitzer Student Government is an autonomous body which fulfills the student aspect of College Governance. The chief deliberative governance body of the college community is College Council. Pitzer students are full and equal participants in College Council and College Committees. __________________ Operations of Student GovernmentArticle 12. Rules and Responsibilities of MembershipMembers of the bodies of Student Government will advocate for the rights, needs and decisions of the student body, within and without the structures of College Governance and with the Administration of the College. While an individual cannot and should not attempt objectively to represent the views of the student body at large, the member should attempt to engage the student community on every issue. Members will fully participate in College Governance toward the same end. Article 13. Community RepresentationCommunity Representatives will be elected by and for particular constituencies within the student body. Article 14. Elections, Appointments & RecallAll elected members of student government will be nominated within the Assembly of Students. Positions of special interest will be elected through a ballot. All elected members of Student Government may be recalled by the Assembly of Students. Special elections will be held for Officer and Committee positions if vacated and in the case of recall. Article 15. BudgetingThe Student Government will budget the Student Activities Fees. At the end of the Spring semester, the Assembly of Students will construct the following year’s annual budget, allocating funds to student organizations, the Society of Friends and Lovers, the Summit for an Egalitarian Society, Student Activities Committee and the Office of Student Government. Funding will be allocated according to the priorities and values of the student body, considering the ways in which funds have been best used to enrich the community in the past. Article 16. Amending the ConstitutionThe community’s relationship to Student Government will necessarily change over time. As such, a continual reexamination of the Constitution of Pitzer College Student Government will allow for the continued health and relevance of the Student Government. All amendments to the Constitution will be discussed and voted on by the Assembly of Students; amendments will also be put to a student-wide vote. __________________ The Student Government of Pitzer College recognizes several manifestations of the essence of the Pitzer College student body. These symbols carry the full weight and respect of our collective adoration. The Constitution of Pitzer College Student GovernmentArticle 1. Statement of Relationship of Pitzer College Student Government to Pitzer College Governance and to the Community1.1 The students of Pitzer College recognize the Pitzer College Student Government as the official body responsible to construct full and meaningful student participation in all college governance decisions; to actively ensure that these college governance decisions are open, democratic, and transparent; to advocate for the full implementation and protection of the Bill of Student Rights and the rights and interests of the student as a full and autonomous member of the College community; to facilitate and create discourse on college governance and pressing community issues; to provide services to students; and to fund, support and create student organizations and initiatives. Article 2. Bill of Student Rights2.1 The Bill of Student Rights will be written and established at the first meeting of the Assembly of Students. 2.2 Additional amendments to the Bill of Student Rights will be established in the same manner as other constitutional amendments. 2.3 Upon approval of the Bill, this Article will be summarily replaced with the Bill of Student Rights. __________________ Structures of Student GovernmentArticle 3. The Office of Student Government3.1 From the Void sprang the Office of Student Government. 3.2 The Office of Student Government shall be the administrative and coordinative body within the Student Government. 3.3 Five Officers of Student Government will serve: Convener, Provost, Archivist, Web-Mage, and Councilor of the Exchequer. 3.4 The duties of the Office of Student Government shall be: a) To coordinate the structures of Student Government. b) To ensure the integration of the Student Government into College Governance. c) To maintain the membership, history, records and website of Student Government. d) To coordinate and facilitate the elections and appointments of student representation in College Governance. e) To report to the Assembly regarding the Officers' activities, the specifics and significance of their actions. f) To hold weekly office hours for the student body. g) To appoint eligible students to College Ad Hoc Committees. h) To administer, to to all of these ends, the Administrative Fund moneys (See Article X, Budget). 3.5 The duties of each Officer of Student Government are as follows: a) Convener (President): To coordinate communication between the various bodies of Student and College Government, to serve as the Student Government liaison to the College Council agenda planning meeting (Bylaws Article 2, Section 2.5) and other bodies of College Governance, to meet weekly with the President of the College (in conjunction with the Provost), to actively pursue the implementation of all Student Government decisions, to attend the Assembly of Students, to be attendant at Student Government meetings. b) Provost (President): To serve on the Budgetary Implementation Committee and the Trustee Budget Committee, advocating for budgetary decisions which are in accordance with Pitzer's Core Values of Social Responsibility, Community, and Action, and which meet the needs of the student body; to advocate for the interests and decisions of the student body; to meet weekly with the President of the College (in conjunction with the Convener); to defend the rights of the Pitzer student, as defined in the Bill of Student Rights, the Faculty Handbook, and the Student Handbook; to advocate for the continued equal and directive participation of the student body in all decisions of the College, to be attendant at every Student Government meeting. c) Archivist (Secretary): To actively update and maintain the Archives of Student Government; and to ensure, in conjunction with the Web-Mage, that the Archives will be hosted in full on the Student Government website. d) Web-Mage (Communications Director): To maintain and update the Student Government website; to announce in a 'College Committee Digest' email each weekend the meeting times and locations of all College Committees for the following week; to announce, via e-mail, at least two days prior to the meeting of the Council for the Co-Construction of Knowledge, the Society of Friends and Lovers, and the Summit for an Egalitarian Society, Town Hall meeting, Assembly of Students, College Council, and special College Governance meeting. e) Councilor of the Exchequer (Treasurer): To coordinate the Student Government moneys, budgetary processes and budgetary by-laws. To process budgetary documents and compile information on the state of the budget. 3.6 The Office of Student Government shall have a dedicated office space, where the Officers of Student Government will hold their office hours and where the Archives of Student Government will be stored. 3.7 The Officers will meet at least weekly in order to effectively carry out their duties. 3.8 The Archives of Student Government will be managed by the Archivist, and each year will be continuously updated with: College Committee minutes, by-laws, reports etc.; College Council minutes, agenda, supporting documents; Strategic Planning documents; Master Plan and Residential Planning documents; Faculty Handbook; Student Handbook; the annual Budget of the College; the annual Budget of the Student Government; minutes from all Student Government Councils; minutes from every Pitzer student club and organization; documentation of every Student Government Forum; and a running list of every decision made by every College Governance body, with summary. 3.9 The Purse-Strings shall be the guiding and coordinating body for facilitating student access to the Student Government monies. a) Twelve members will serve on the Purse-Strings: the Councilor of the Exchequer; the Class, New Resources, Transfer, International and Off Campus Representatives; and all Hall Council Delegates. b) The Purse-Strings shall collaboratively craft and guide all funding proposals submitted to the body. The members of the Purse-Strings shall make constructive recommendations to the funidng seeker for the improvement of the request and direct the seeker to the appropriate bodies from which to seek money. c) All funding proposals directed towards the Assembly of Students or Society of Friends and Lovers must first be reviewed by the Purse-Strings. d) The Purse-Strings shall hold accessible office hours in the office of the Student Government during which time the Purse-Strings shall meet with all seekers. e) The processes and policies of the Purse-Strings shall be set out and determined by the Budgetary Bylaws. Article 4. The Assembly of Students4.1 Once a month, students will assemble at large, in order to discuss and address issues of the community and to steer the Student Government. The Assembly of Students will serve as the highest authority within Student Government. The Assembly of Students will reserve the right to recall any person elected by that body throughout the year as detailed in the Process of Assembly. 4.2 Stewards: The Stewards of the Assembly will be charged with the health and continuation of the Assembly of Students, each with the responsibility of encouraging the greatest possible participation of the student body. The Stewards will consist of: two facilitators, two Historians, one Legislator, and one Town-Crier. 4.3 The duties of each Steward are as follows: a) Facilitators: To run the Assembly according to the Process of Assembly; to facilitate a democratic and consensus-oriented process of community dialogue and decision-making; and to publicize the Assembly widely and thoroughly at least a week in advance of its meeting. b) Historians: Each to record a complete narrative of the Assembly meeting, summarizing and attributing points articulated, capturing the flow of the meeting, noting decisions made, and controversies and to give these narratives to the Web-Mage. c) Legislator: To act in the Assembly as the authority on the Process of Assembly, and Student and College Governance; to solicit proposals for the Agenda via email; to assemble the Agenda of the Assembly prior to its meeting; and to record the official decisions of the assembly. d) Town-Crier: To loudly announce the coming of the Assembly while ringing the Bell of Assembly through all campus residence halls and common space in the hour before the Assembly meeting; to creatively and prominently announce the coming of the Assembly in the days prior to its meeting. 4.4 College Council: Every decision of the Assembly which concerns the community as a whole, or which is dependent on the cooperation of the Administration of the College, will by default be placed on the upcoming College Council agenda by the Student Government Convener. The Convener of the Student Government will relay these agenda items to the College Council Planning Committee. 4.5 Proposals: A proposal will be considered by the Assembly only once the proponent has discussed the issue with enough students to gather six signatures of support. The proponent will then bring the proposal to the relevant Student Government Council for discussion, advice and support. The proponent will submit the proposal to the Legislator of the Assembly at least two days prior to the Assembly. At least two email notifications will be sent, by the proponent, to the student body about the proposal prior to the Assembly. 4.6 Student Assembly Report: The Student Government Archivist will collate a document, the Student Assembly Report, which will contain: a report from the student members of each College Committee (Standing and Ad Hoc), a report from each Officer of Student Government, a report from each Hall Council, a report from each Council of Student Government, the proposed Agenda of the Assembly, the text of the proposals to be considered, and any relevant documents. Before the Assembly the Student Assembly Report will be sent to the student body. At the beginning of the Assembly, the Student Assembly Report will be distributed in paper format. At any time during the Assembly, an oral presentation of any of the reports in the Assembly Report can be requested. 4.7 Club Charters: The Assembly will consider for approval the charters of Pitzer clubs seeking official recognition. 4.8 Voting: Every Pitzer College student has a vote on the Assembly. The voting will take place as outlined in the Process of the Assembly. Article 5. Society of Friends and Lovers (Student Life Council)5.1 The Society of Friends and Lovers is charged with protecting, facilitating and invigorating the life of the student community. 5.2 The Society will meet at least weekly. a) The weekly meeting will provide a space in which students can report on and coordinate the activities, project, and agenda of their respective groups, committees, and organizations. 5.3 The composition of the Society is as follows: a) The following committees and organizations each have one voting student member; and, listed officers each receive one vote in the Society: members of Campus Life Committee, Aesthetics Committee, Social Chair, each Class Representative, New Resources Representative, Transfer Representative, Off-Campus Representative, International Representative. b) All students are invited and encouraged to attend as full participants, but non-voting members in the Society. All students are invited and encouraged to attend as non-voting members but as full participants in the Society. c) Non-student members of the Pitzer community may attend as non-voting members whose participation is contigent upon the will of the student members of the Society. d) The Society shall have the option, to be decided by majority vote, to hold a 'special meeting' in which only students or only Pitzer students may attend. 5.4 The student members will elect the officers of the Society. a) One student member will be elected by the other members to act as facilitator and convener of each meeting of the Society. This student will ensure that meetings of the Society are open, accessible, and well-publicized to the student body. As convener and facilitator this student will ensure the meeting of the Society and the faithful attendance of all members to its mission. b) One student member will be elected by the other members to act as secretary at each meeting of the Society. The secretary will render complete minutes of the Society to the Archivist of the Offices of Student Government. c) One student member of the Society will be elected by the other members to act as the Five College Social Chair. 5.5 The Society will administer the monies of the discretionary fund of Student Government. Article 6. Council for the Co-Construction of Knowledge (Academic Affairs Council)6.1 The Council for the Co-Construction of Knowledge is charged with coordinating a student agenda on academic issues, and advocating for student interests in the academy. 6.2 The Council will meet at least fortnightly. 6.3 The composition of the Council is as follows: a) Student members on the following committees are full-time voting members whose attendance is necessary for the proper functioning of the Council: Diversity, Academic Planning Committee, Appointments, Promotions, and Tenure, Faculty Executive Committee, Academic Standards Committee, Trustee Investment Representative, Teaching and Learning Committee, Curriculum Committee, and External Studies Committee. b) All students are invited and encouraged to attend as full participants, but non-voting members in the Council. c) Non-student members of the Pitzer community may attend as non-voting members whose participation is contigent upon the will of the student members of the Council. d) The Council shall have the option, to be decided by majority vote, to hold a 'special meeting' in which only students or only Pitzer students may attend. 6.4 The student members will elect the officers of the Council. a) One student member will be elected by the other members to act as facilitator and convener of each meeting of the Council. This student will ensure that meetings of the Council are open, accessible, and well-publicized to the student body. As convener and facilitator this student will ensure the meeting of the Council and the faithful attendance of all members to its mission. b) One student member will be elected by the other members to act as secretary at each meeting of the Council. The secretary will render complete minutes of the Council to the Archivist of the Offices of Student Government. 6.5 The Bylaws of the Council for the Co-Construction of Knowledge: The Council will establish its own bylaws. The bylaws of the Council will concern but not be limited to: elections, quorum, establishment of regular meeting time and place, special meetings, membership, eligibility of membership, responsibilities powers and duties of membership, attendance, recall for removal in the Assembly of Students, budgetary bylaws, and rules of order. Article 7. Summit for an Egalitarian Society7.1 The Summit for an Egalitarian Society will be an autonomous body with a large degree of self-determination. 7.2 The Summit for an Egalitarian Society will consist of representation from political and activist oriented organizations on campus. 7.3 The Summit for an Egalitarian Society will meet at least monthly. 7.4 The budget of the Summit will be utilized solely for collaborative efforts between member organizations. 7.5 The Summit will elect a Convener and a Secretary at the beginning of each semester. 7.6 The Summit will work together to organize a conference, at least annually, on a specific topic of social, political, economic, or environmental justice and activism. This conference will aim to address the topic from a multitude of perspectives. 7.7 Eligibility will be determined as follows: a.) Any Pitzer or Five College organization may bring an application for admission to the Summit. b.) All applications for admission will be considered and voted on by the Summit. c.) Active Pitzer clubs will have continuous membership into the next year. d.) Five College clubs with a plurality of Pitzer student members will have continuous membership into the next year. e.) Five College clubs without a plurality of Pitzer student members must reapply for membership at the beginning of each school year, with the criterion that these organizations share in the values of the Summit’s mission, that these organizations have an active presence within the Pitzer community and that the Pitzer community has an active presence within the organization. 7.8 Each member organization has one vote. 7.9 All students are welcome to attend Summit meetings as non-voting participants. 7.10 Non-student persons are welcome to attend Summit meetings with the permission of the Summit. 7.11 The Bylaws of the Summit for an Egalitarian Society: The Summit will establish its own bylaws. The bylaws of the Summit will concern but not be limited to: elections, quorum, establishment of regular meeting time and place, special meetings, membership, eligibility of membership, responsibilities powers and duties of membership, attendance, recall for removal in the Assembly of Students, budgetary bylaws, voting and rules of order. Article 8. Student Activities Committe8.1 The Student Activities Committee will administer funds to Five College social events and campus social events and will foster and encourage student art, music, performance, expression, and enjoyment. 8.2 The membership of the Student Activities Committee is as follows: Class Representatives, Student Activities Committee Chair, Five College Social Chair, Student Activities Committee Representative, and any student who attends two meetings of Student Activities Committee. 8.3 The Student Activities Committee will establish its own bylaws. The bylaws of the Committee will concern but not be limited to: elections, quorum, establishment of regular meeting time and place, special meetings, membership, eligibility of membership, responsibilities powers and duties of membership, attendance, recall for removal by the Assembly of Students, budgetary bylaws and rules of order. Article 9. Hall Councils9.1 Hall Councils serve to maintain, build and enliven the life of the residence halls and to discuss Residence Life policy and to oversee its implementation. 9.2 The Hall Councils administer their budgeted funds to this end. 9.3 The Hall Council is responsible to facilitate and advocate for artistic engagement with the built environment (e.g. painting, sculpture, installations, etc.). To this end, the Hall Council will write and maintain its own policies and procedures for art, interior and exterior, and display these prominently in the community (See the Outdoor Art Policy). 9.4 The Hall Council will oversee and maintain the common areas of the residence hall (e.g. kitchen, living rooms, rooftop patios, courtyards, etc). 9.5 The Hall Council will write and maintain a constitution which will govern its operations, and which will be published each semester. 9.6 Membership: All student residents of a residence hall, excepting Resident Assistants, are voting members of the Hall Council. Article 10. Student Organizations10.1 Student organized and managed groups may come to the Assembly of Students to present their charter and intention, and gain the approval of the Student Government as a recognized student organization. 10.2 Recognized student organizations may seek one-time funding through all available Student Government funding sources and annual funding within the budget of Student Government. 10.3 Recognized organizations will hold open, democratic meetings, and will send meeting minutes to the Archivist. 10.4 Student Cooperatives: Student Cooperatives are vital to the life of the community and the health of the College. A Student Cooperative is a democratic, student-run enterprise, providing a function or service which addresses a need of the community. The Student Government shall be committed to advocating for and supporting the creation of student-run cooperatives. The Assembly of Students will hear proposals for new student cooperatives, offering comment, support, advocacy, and initial funding. 10.4 Student organizations have certain entitlements. a) Student organizations have access to assistance from the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Public Relations. b) Student organizations have official and public association with Pitzer College. Article 11. College Governance11.1 College Council Meeting: College Council is the deliberative governance body of the college community. a) Students will constitute no less than one third of the votes in a College Council meeting. b) The Convener of the Student Government will relay to the College Council Agenda Planning Meeting every decision of Student Government which concerns the community as a whole, or which is dependent on the cooperation of the Administration of the College. c) The Society of Friends and Lovers, the Council for the Co-Construction of Knowledge, and the Council for Social Justice may also independently resolve to place an item on the College Council agenda. 11.2 Standing Committees of College Council and Other College Standing Committees: a) The student members of standing College Council committees are elected by the Assembly. 11.3 Ad Hoc Committees: The student members of Ad Hoc Committees of College Council will be nominated by the Officers of Student Government and approved by a majority vote of either the Society of Friends and Lovers or The Council for the Co-Construction of Knowledge according to relevance. 11.4 Trustee Committees: a) The Convener will sit on the Trustee Student Life Committee and the Trustee Education Committee. b) The Provost will sit on the Trustee Budget Committee and the Trustee Audit Committee. c) A student will serve as representative to the Trustee Investment Committee. 11.5 Judicial Council representatives will be nominated in the Assembly of Students and elected by the entire student body as defined by the Election Bylaws. __________________ Operations of Student GovernmentArticle 12. Membership and Its Responsibilities12.1 No student may serve on more than one College Standing Committee at a time. 12.2 Students may serve on College Ad Hoc and College Standing Committees simultaneously. 12.3 Students may serve in multiple Student and College Government positions, unless specifically prohibited. 12.4 The Officers of Student Government may not simultaneously serve as Stewards of the Assembly of Students. 12.5 The Convener, Provost, and Councilor of the Exchequer may not be elected or appointed to any other position in Student Government. Article 13. Community Representation13.1 Community Representatives will be nominated in the Assembly of Students and elected as defined by the Election Bylaws. 13.2 The Community Representatives shall be: Transfer Representative, International Representative, Environmental Representative, New Resources Representative, First Year Representative, Sophomore Representative, Junior Representative and Senior Representative. 13.3 The Community Representatives will be voting members of the Society of Friends and Lovers. Article 14. Elections, Appointments & Recall14.1 Student members of standing Committees of College Council will be nominated and elected in the Elections Assembly. One third of the body may vote to send the election of a particular committee representative position to a campus-wide election. 14.2 Student Government Officers will be nominated in the Assembly and elected in campus-wide election. 14.3 Student members of ad hoc Committees of College Council will be nominated by the Officers of Student Government, and these nominations will be sent for a vote of confirmation in the relevant Council. 14.4 Facilitators and secretaries of the Council, Society, and Summit will be chosen internally. 14.5 Recall: Any person elected by the Assembly may be recalled and replaced by the Assembly. The replacement will be made in an election in the Assembly, except in the case of the Officers, who must be replaced by Assembly nomination and campus-wide election. 14.6 Recall due to lack of attendance: The Chairs of College Council Standing Committees shall notify the Legislator and the Office of Student Government of significant lack of attendance by a student representative. The Legislator will place an item of recall and replacement on the agenda of the Assembly of Students, and will publicize the need for replacement. The recalled representative may address the Assembly in his or her own defense, and may run in the election to fill the position thus vacated. 14.7 Election Assembly: The March and December Assemblies of Students will be split between regular business and a special Election Assembly. The March Election Assembly will nominate and elect students to fill all positions in Student Government for the coming year. The December Assembly will nominate and elect students to fill positions to be vacated by students not returning for Spring semester. Students will nominate candidates for representation to Standing Committees of College Council and the Officers of Student Government. Elections for the representation to Standing Committees of College Council will be held in the Election Assembly. Elections for the Officers will be held in campus-wide ballot. Both elections and nominations are governed by the Election Guidelines and the Process of Assembly. Article 15. Budgeting15.1 The Annual Budget of Student Government will be decided in a special budget assembly which will occur as one section of the April Assembly of Students. Budgeting will be conducted as described in the Process of Assembly. 15.2 Funding will be distributed according to the Budgetary Bylaws. a) Funding will be allocated according to the priorities and values of the student body, considering past ways in which funds have best been used to enrich the community. Article 16. Amending the Constitution16.1 An amendment will be brought to two meetings of the Assembly of Students, first for a discussion and alteration, and again for discussion, alteration, and submission for a two thirds vote. A student-wide ballot must approve the amendment by simple majority. Article 17. Symbols Embraced by the Student Government of Pitzer CollegeZapata's Moustache as the Revolutionary Facial Hair of Pitzer College The Mounds as the Erogenous Zone of Pitzer College The Prickly Pear as the Fruit of the Student Body The Chickens as the Alarmists of Pitzer College The Bicycle as our Object of Desire #1: 1st Year Election is Unconstitutional. #5: Accountability:From the Constitution:
The Executive Board never defined what counts as an "excused absence", during the first meeting or any other. This is significant because now we have no standard for judging what excuses given for absences are legitimate, and which shouldn't be accepted. (If the Executive Board had said during the first meeting (or any other) that "excused absences" will only be granted in the case of a personal or family emergency, that is a lot different than setting the standard at allowing excused absences for being stressed out or hungover.) As a result, it leaves the door open for Senators to NEVER show up to a Senate meeting. This is exacerbated by the fact that Executive Board Secretary Buddy Bennett admitted at the last Senate meeting that he doesn't do a good job taking attendance. I'm not even advocating that we take a "harsh stance" on absences. I understand that sometimes going to Sunday night meetings is draining. But, as a non-voting regular student, I want someone making sure my representatives SHOW UP or have a good reason why not. It's a discussion we should have had a long time ago. Since the start of the semester I've written a few times on the unconstitutional actions of the Senate Executive Board, and sometimes Senate itself, namely in the #1: first-year rep election, #2: the irrelevant, politically motivated IMF resolution, and #3: the failure of Treasurer Chris Wohlers to maintain and publicize budgetary bylaws. As a result of Exec Board's recent refusal to approve the creation of an ad hoc committee on the Constitution, I took a closer look at the document in question: There are even more violations of the Constitution than I originally thought. I don't know why the Vanguard refuses to adhere to a document that was, I believe, approved by more people than elected any one of them. Laziness? Subterfuge? Incompetence? Disregard for the will of Pitzer students? It's still unclear. Violation #4: No Environmental Senator.Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution states:
Currently there is no Environmental Senator on Student Senate. Aren't we concerned about sustainability? Tonight's Senate Agenda:
As always, see you at 6:30 pm in the Founder's Room up the stairs in McConnell. And it's got an agenda: Grove House Birthday funding request - Jasper Kosokoff - 2nd week of discussion 5C Music Fest funding request - Daniela Kronenberg As always, see you at 6:30 pm in the Founder's Room up the stairs in the McConnell lobby. |
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