The University of Pittsburgh

Autism Speaks U University of Pittsburgh Constitution

Article I NAME & PURPOSE
Section 1. The official name of this organization shall be the Autism Speaks U
University of Pittsburgh.
Section 2. The Autism Speaks U University of Pittsburgh student group and its
members accept and will fully comply with the requirements and limitations of
certification.
Section 3. The purpose of the Autism Speaks U University of Pittsburgh student
group shall be to assemble University of Pittsburgh students to raise awareness for
Autism. This group shall be conducted to provide factual information to University
students, reach out to people with Autism both on campus and in the community,
and to raise money for existing national organizations that promote Autism
awareness and Autism research.
Section 4. The Autism Speaks U University of Pittsburgh student group will adhere
to all rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the University of Pittsburgh.
Article II MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership shall be open to all students of the University of
Pittsburgh.
Section 2. All students must be in good academic standing as defined by
university regulations shall be eligible for membership.
Section 3. All members must accept and comply with all of the requirements and
limitations of certification as a condition of membership.
Section 4. Membership in the Autism Speaks U University of Pittsburgh group is
voluntary and all risk of personal injury, property damage or other losses that occur
incidental to membership or participation in activities are assumed solely by the
student organization and/or individual member(s) or non-member participant(s).
Accordingly, the University of Pittsburgh, its officers and agents shall not be
responsible nor liable for any claims or causes of action for damage or loss of
property or personal injury of any kind or nature which may arise out of or are
incidental to the conduct of any organization's activities or that of any individual's
participation in any group-related activity. It is further understood and agreed that it
is the responsibility of the officers of the organization to assure that all of the
organization's members and non-member participants in all activities sponsored by
the Autism Speaks U University of Pittsburgh organization are fully informed and
advised of this assumption of risk, and in the event any individual member or

participant should express or indicate non-acceptance, the organization's officer

shall forbid participation and/or membership of such individual. In regard to the
organization member and non-member participant Assumption of Risk, the Autism
Speaks U University of Pittsburgh organization acknowledges that the University
recommends that the organization members and non-member participants make
every effort to arrange for the acquisition of liability insurance sufficient to protect
all participants against those risks being assumed. For sport-related organizations
the University recommends that each individual have insurance sufficient to allow
for any risks by participation, accident or by deficiencies in physical health.
Section 5. All active members shall have the right to vote and hold office. An
active member must attend two-thirds of all group meetings with the exception of
those excused by a majority vote by the executive board and pay the set group
dues price of $10 per semester.
Section 6. Associate membership shall be granted to any student of the university
regardless of whether or not they pay dues provided that they meet all university
regulations for eligible membership. Associate members may not vote, hold office
nor serve in a formal leadership role. They may participate in organization meetings
and activities.
Section 7. Members shall not haze any prospective member for the purpose of
admission into the group. Members are free to leave or dissociate without fear of
retribution or harassment. This group does not discriminate against any student,
faculty, or staff based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or
sexual orientation.
Article III OFFICERS & DUTIES
Section 1. The Autism Speaks U University of Pittsburgh organization shall include
the officer positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, Public Relations
Coordinator, Business Manager, Parliamentarian, and Advisor. These officers
comprise the Executive Board.
Section 2. All officers must be currently enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh
with the exception of the Advisor who must be a faculty member of the University of
Pittsburgh.
Section 3. Officers will hold office from January 1st to January 1st of the following
year. There is no limit as to the number of terms for which any single person may
be re-elected.
Section 4. Election of officers shall be held annually at the third to last meeting of
the fall semester. Nominations shall be taken at the meeting prior to elections and
will be received in form of written submission. Nominees with prepare a speech for
the meeting in which elections will occur with elections being done by written ballot.

The person receiving majority vote will be elected with the exception of the office of
Parliamentarian.
Section 5. Any officer failing to assume his or her duties may be removed from
office. A written account of such charges must be made to the executive board in
which an investigation shall then be conducted. Charges will be presented to the
membership. A two-thirds quorum vote will result in the removal of the officer from
his or her position.
Section 6. Any vacancy which may occur in an office shall be filled by
appointment by the president pending ratification at the next executive board
meeting.
Section 7. Powers and Duties of the Officers
All officers shall be required to attend each executive board and group meeting with
the exception of an excused absence which may be granted by a majority vote of all
other executive board members.
President. The President shall preside over all group and executive board
meetings, coordinate all club activities, fill vacancies in office through appointment,
and prepare the next President to assume their duties upon the end of his or her
term.
Vice President. The Vice President shall assist in the duties of the President,
assume the duties of the President should the President be absent or upon the
event that the office should become vacant, and maintain contact with all
organizations that the group conducts its business with.
Secretary. The Secretary shall keep members informed of meeting occurrences,
keep record of attendance to all meetings and events, keep record of all excuses of
members and present them to the rest of the executive board for a majority vote,
keep minutes of all meetings, provide minutes to members upon request, keep a
master file of all meeting minutes, and assist in other duties appointed by the
President.
Public Relations Coordinator. The Public Relations Coordinator shall maintain a
history of all group events, promote the organization and events through the use of
social media and other advertisement, and assist in other duties as appointed by
the President.
Business Manager. The Business Manager shall keep a record of all financial
transactions, oversee all receipts and disbursements of group funds, create biannual reports containing a list of all receipts and disbursements, and assist in other
duties appointed by the President.

Parliamentarian. The Parliamentarian shall be responsible for providing members

access to the Constitution, be the sole officer to make amendments to the
Constitution upon a two-thirds vote to amend it, advise on all parliamentary issues
at meetings and as arise, and assist in other duties appointed by the President. The
Parliamentarian shall be the only position that is appointed by the President rather
than by a majority vote of members.
Advisor. The Advisor shall assist the group in the execution of roles and
responsibilities and to provide feedback on the running and functioning of the
group.
Article IV COMMITTEES
Section 1. The creation of committees shall be up to the discretion of the President
and shall be formed to help facilitate group activities.
Section 2. Committee Chairs shall be appointed by a majority vote of the executive
board.
Section 3. All subsequent committee members shall be appointed by the
Committee Chair.
Article V MEETINGS
Section 1. Regular meeting shall be held on a weekly basis on the same day which
will be determined by a two-thirds quorum vote.
Section 2. Executive board meetings shall be held on a bi-weekly basis and as
needed by the discretion on the President. No members other than the executive
board shall be in attendance.
Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the President or Executive Board in
which the reason shall be stated and a one-week notice given except for in
emergency cases.
Section 4. A majority of all active members shall constitute a quorum.
Section 5. Attendance shall be taken at all meetings, including those where
quorum is not met.
Section 6. The president shall preside over all meetings.
Article VI Publications
In compliance with the Publications Code for Student Organizations, all the
publications of the organization will comply with current copyright laws, be
distributed according to policies and procedures, refrain for expressions that are
considered obscene or libelous according to current statute, advocate or insight the

material interference or physical disruption of the educational process or the peace,

order and decorum of the campus, or that advocate or insight imminent, lawless
action or the violent overthrow of the government and identify the organization as
publisher and specify that the group is a certified student organization at the
University of Pittsburgh.
Article VII VOTING
Section 1. A quorum will be two-thirds of the current membership.
Section 2. Each active member may vote.
Section 3. Members of the executive board will refrain from voting with the general
quorum except in the instance of a tie.
Article VIII AMENDMENTS
All amendments to the Constitution shall be by a two-thirds vote of a quorum of the
membership. The amendments shall be proposed in writing by members to the
executive board and voted on at the following meeting.