Constitution of Keweenaw Pride
Article I – Name
The Name of this organization shall be “Keweenaw Pride”.
Article II – Objectives
Section 1. To provide a safe and supportive atmosphere for people who are coming to terms
with their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Section 2. To create, organize, and execute programming and events with the purpose of
promoting an accepting and supportive environment for people of all sexual orientations and
gender identities in the Michigan Tech Community.
Section 3. Serve as a campus and community educational resource by providing information on
issues related to sexual orientation and gender identify. Topics including but not limited to;
harassment, support, equal rights, self-esteem, relationships, depression/suicide prevention, safe
sex, and HIV/AIDS.
Section 4. To create a social environment for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and
Questioning (GLBTQ) people to meet and socialize with other GLBTQ individuals and
supporters. Keweenaw Pride will occasionally hold social events (parties, trips, dinners, etc.)
which all members are encouraged to attend. Events and meetings shall foster a safe, friendly,
and supportive atmosphere.
Section 5. To create a safe and educational environment for straight identified allies to come to
learn and support their GLBTQ friends, family, co-workers and others in their lives.
Section 6. Keweenaw Pride will hold regularly scheduled meetings that are publicly
announced, and open to all members of MTU, and the surrounding community who are willing
to provide a safe and supportive atmosphere.
Section 7. Such other objectives as are consistent with Keweenaw Pride’s role as a support and
education organization.
Article III – Membership
Section 1. Keweenaw Pride is an organization for MTU students, faculty, staff and surrounding
community members.
Section 2. Voting membership shall consist of those people who attend two regularly
scheduled meetings or official group events in a four meeting or event period.
Section 3. With the exception of the officers and advisors, an attempt will be made to keep the
identity of all people who attend the group meetings confidential. Attempts will be made to keep
contacts made to Keweenaw Pride’s P.O. Box or email address in strict confidence.
Section 4. Keweenaw Pride shall not deny membership to anyone for the reason of age,
ethnicity, gender, ability, marital status, national origin, physical attribute (such as height,
weight, etc.), political or organizational affiliation, race, religion, creed, sexual orientation, or
veteran status.
Section 5. Keweenaw Pride reserves the right to deny membership to any person(s) who after
given due process through the stated bylaws, are found to be discriminatory and/or hostile
toward the members of Keweenaw Pride.
Article IV – Officers
Section 1. All Keweenaw Pride officers must be registered Michigan Technological University
students at the time of their election and must have a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA.
Section 2. Election of officers shall be the first order of business at the meeting during the
seventh week of each Spring Semester. Newly elected officers will take their positions the tenth
week of Spring Semester.
Section 3. An officer may be removed from office on the grounds of malfeasance, misfeasance,
or nonfeasance of their duties by a two-thirds majority vote at a meeting where a quorum is
present.
Section 4. When a change in officers occurs, all current officers are responsible for the smooth
transition of their positions including but not limited to all records, paperwork, files and list of
responsibilities.
Section 5. All officers are shall serve as an example of the behavior expected from members of
Keweenaw Pride.
Section 6. An officer may be called upon to be a guest speakers, panelists or presenter for
meetings, classes or events at MTU or in the community to discuss issues of sexual orientation or
gender identity.
Section 7. The following are the officers of Keweenaw Pride and their duties:
A. President
1. The president will be responsible for presiding over meetings.
2. The President shall be the chair of the Executive Committee.
3. The president shall be the official representative of Keweenaw Pride at University or related
community function.
B. Vice President
1. The Vice President shall preside at all meetings at which the President is absent.
2. The President shall oversee all committees.
3. The Vice President shall assist all other officers as needed.
C. Treasurer
1. The Treasurer shall personally direct all the financial transactions of Keweenaw Pride.
2. The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping a running account of all financial records in an
accounting format and shall be prepared to give a report of the financial status of Keweenaw
Pride at each regularly scheduled meeting.
3. The Treasurer will attend all student government budget hearings, and present Keweenaw
Pride’s budget at all mandatory meetings.
D. Secretary
1. The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping records at meetings.
2. The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining an attendance log and record of the voting
membership as well as ensuring the confidentiality of membership as described in Article III,
Section 3 of this Constitution.
3. It shall be the responsibility of the Secretary to obtain a meeting place for any meeting with
the President calls and to notify each member of the time and place of the meeting.
4. The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining the Keweenaw Pride office and shall
establish office rules as deemed necessary.
Section 8. In the case that the President is unable to attend a meeting, the order of ascension shall
be:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Public Relations Chair
Section 9. Should an officer choose to step down from their office, a replacement must be
found and approved by a majority vote within three meetings of the resignation. The resigning
officer is responsible for a smooth transition.
Article V. Committees
Section 1. The power to create and abolish all committees shall rest with the President.
Section 2. All committee members may call upon the resources of Keweenaw Pride in the
execution of their duties. They may also request the aid of any and all members of Keweenaw
Pride.
Section 3. Standing Committees
A. Executive Committee: The Executive Committee of Keweenaw Pride shall consist of the
President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer as well as the heads of all other committees. The
advisors of Keweenaw Pride may also be called upon to act as part of the Executive Committee
at the discretion of the President.
B. Public Relations Committee: The Public Relations Committee shall be responsible for the
creation and distribution of any and all posters, public service announcements, press releases,
and other media that is directly related to Keweenaw Pride.
C. Pride Week Committee: The Pride Week Committee shall be responsible for the planning,
organization, and execution of Pride Week as well as determining when Pride Week will be held.
Pride Week shall be held no later than 4 weeks before the end of each Spring Semester.
Article VI: Meetings
Section 1. Meetings shall take place no less than once a month during the normal academic year.
The preferred frequency shall be once per week.
Section 2. Special meetings can be called by the president or at the request of at least ten percent
(but no less than three) members.
Section 3. A quorum of members shall be defined as 50% of the membership.
Section 4. Anyone acting in an unsupportive or unaccepting manner may be asked to leave a
Keweenaw Pride meeting. Keweenaw Pride reserves the right to take judicial action against
people who attend meetings for hurtful or unsupportive purposes as outlined in the attached
bylaws.
Article VII: Advisor(s)
The advisor is a member of the MTU faculty or staff who helps maintains continuity, offers
guidance, helps eliminate administrative red tape, serves as a sounding board, assists officers,
and serves as an all-around resource person. The advisor is expected to demonstrate exemplary
behavior for members of Keweenaw Pride.
Article VIII: Finances
Keweenaw Pride shall generate such monies as are deemed necessary for its functioning through
legal means, which meet with the approval of the officers, advisor, and a quorum of members.
Article IX: Ratification
This constitution must be approved and ratified by a two-thirds majority of the membership. It
will take effect when approved by the Office of Student Affairs.
Article X: Amendments to the Constitution
Section 1. The Constitution of Keweenaw Pride may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of
all members with voting privileges.
Section 2. The Office of Student Affairs must approve all Constitution amendments before they
may be implemented.
Section 3. All amendments made to the Constitution will be recorded in a log to include the
date, change made by, and purpose of the amendment. This log of amendments will be attached
as an appendix to the Constitution.
Keweenaw Pride Bylaws
Removal of Harassing Individual(s) from a meeting.
1. At the receipt of a complaint against a individual or individuals, the Executive Committee
will immediately confer and reach a majority decision to either eject from the meeting the
individual(s) or not.
a. If an individual(s) is asked to leave it is the responsibility of the Executive Committee to
explain to that individual why they were asked to leave and offer to mediate the situation to
possibly resolve the situation after the meeting.
2. If the Harassing Individual(s) resist leaving, a member of the Executive Committee will
contact an Officer from MTU’s public safety office and that Officer will escort the individual(s)
from the meeting.
3. Documentation of the events leading up to ejection shall be presented to the Office of
Student Activities with any complaints that may constitute harassment under the Student Rights
and Responsibilities Handbook. This documentation shall also include the vote to eject as based
on these bylaws.
4. Any appeal to the removal from membership can be made to the Office of Student
Activities, where appropriate actions for an appeal hearing will be made.
Removal of Harassing Individuals from membership.
1. At the receipt of a complaint against an individual, mediation will occur between the person
filing the complaint and whom the complaint is filed against. The mediation will occur at the
two parties’ earliest convenience.
2. In the event that mediation fails the person claiming harassment can, in a full quorum
meeting and with the individual present, make the motion that the person be excused from
membership. The person who the complaint is filed against may speak on their behalf before the
motion is put to a vote. If two-thirds of the members present vote to remove membership, the
person shall be removed. Voting will be conducted by written, private ballot.
3. If the decision is to remove a individual from membership, these procedures will be
followed:
a. Documentation of the events leading up to dismissal shall be presented to the Office of
Student Affairs with any complaints that may constitute harassment under the Student Rights and
Responsibilities Handbook. This documentation shall also include the vote to dismiss as based
on these bylaws.
b. Any appeal to the removal from membership can be made to the Office of Student Affairs,
where appropriate actions for an appeal hearing will be made.
Mediation
1. In the event that mediation between two parties is needed. The mediation will be performed
by the President or Vice-President of Keweenaw Pride along with an Advisor.
2. If the President, Vice President or Advisor has a conflict of interest in the subject of
mediation they can request that another member of the Executive Committee replace them as
mediator.
3. Documentation of the mediation will be recorded by a member of the Executive Committee
involved and given to the Secretary of Keweenaw Pride to be recorded with the groups’
permanent records to be available to the Office of Student Affairs upon request.