Constitution

Miami University Asian American Association Constitution

Revised 11/03/04

This Constitution governs the Student Organization, its officers, its members, and its relationship
with Miami University and the City of Oxford.

Article 1 Name

The name of the student organization shall be the Asian American Association (hereinafter
referred to as “AAA”).

Article 2 Mission and Purpose

The Asian American Association is a Student Organization, recognized and registered with
Miami University and the Miami University Associated Student Government, and shall run as a
Student Organization, governed by the rules and regulations stated in the Miami University
Handbook.

Section 1 Mission Statement:

To promote and provide opportunities to the communities of Miami University and Oxford, OH
for education and discussion regarding Asian and Asian-American history, culture and issues.

Section 2 Purpose:

The purpose of the Asian American Association is (a) to create an organization of students
interested in Asian and Asian-American society and culture; (b) to promote the study of Asian
and Asian-American history and culture at and beyond Miami University; (c) to raise and
promote issues important to Asian and Asian-American culture; (d) to create programs to
promote awareness of the Asian-American culture; (e) to instill friendships and relationships
among those who are interested in Asian and Asian-American issues.

Article 3 Membership

Section 1 Eligibility of Members:

Membership into the AAA shall be open to all individuals regardless of age, gender, religion,
sexual orientation or ethnicity with an interest and respect for Asian culture.

Section 2 Collegiate Members:

Collegiate members shall be undergraduate and graduate students of Miami University with an
expressed interest in Asian or Asian-American culture.
Section 3 Alumni Members:

Alumni members shall be former Collegiate members of the AAA who have graduated from
Miami University and still wish to be affiliated with the AAA.

Section 4 Professional Members:

Professional members shall be persons of the community who have provided support, physically,
financially or promotionally, toward the purpose of the AAA. Alumni members are encouraged
to also serve as Professional Members.

Section 5 Associate Members:

Associate members shall be persons who cannot fit the categories of Collegiate, Alumni or
Professional members but have an expressed interest in Asian and Asian-American issues and
joining the AAA.

Article 4 Executive Board Officers

Section 1 Positions:

The officers of the Asian American Association shall be the President, the Vice President, the
Treasurer, the Social Chair and the Webmaster.

Section 2 Nominations and Elections:

1. Nominations:

In order to run for a position on the Executive Board Officer position, the prospective
candidate:

1. Must be nominated by two members of the AAA on or before the selected day of
the election.
1. Current Executive Board Officers are not allowed to nominate candidates.
The nominations must come from collegiate members of the organization.
2. Must be a Collegiate Member in good standing.
1. The entire outgoing executive board must unanimously agree if a member
is not in good standing.
2. A nominated member deemed to not be in good standing will be notified
prior to the election whether they can run for their desired position.
3. Must be able to serve for the entire year of their term.
4. Must have participated in Asian Fest as a performer, manager or crew member.
5. Must have met with the current office holder once regarding their position, prior
to their nomination.
2. Election Day:
 Executive Board Officers shall be elected during the school year prior to the beginning
their terms. Choosing the date of the election shall be made at the discretion of the
outgoing Executive Board Officers. The only requirements are that the election date shall
be during the month of April.

3. Campaigning:

Each candidate, or a representative of the candidate, shall be given a timed period to give
a speech regarding their campaign for office during the Executive Board Election Day.
The Presidential nominees shall each be given four minutes for their speeches; the other
officer nominees shall each be given two minutes for their speeches. Any further
campaigning rules must be decided and voted upon by the body of the Asian American
Association through a majority vote. If a candidate breaches the rules created by the
body, they shall forfeit their nomination for office.

4. Election Procedure:

On the chosen Executive Board Election Day, the following procedure will be followed:

1. The positions for the new Executive Board will be chosen in the given order:
President, Treasurer, Vice President, Social Chairperson, and Webmaster.
1. Although all Executive Officer positions are expected to be filled, the
President and Treasurer positions are the only required positions to be
filled, by the Miami University requirements for student organizations.
Thus, no other position can be elected upon until those two positions have
been voted upon.
2. If agreed upon by both parties, two candidates can agree to serve together
as Co-Officers as long as there is no additional competition from another
candidate. A tied result in voting can also set grounds for a Co-Officer
election.
2. Each candidate, or a representative of the candidate, shall be given their allotted
time to speak about their plans.
1. If a nominee for a position cannot attend the Executive Board election day
meeting, he/she shall have two options:
1. He/she may call upon another member of the AAA to represent
him/her.
2. He/she may send in a video or audio recording regarding his/her
plans for office. This recording must be no more than two minutes
long. It shall be turned off after two minutes have passed.
3. The attending Collegiate Members of the AAA shall vote on the candidate of their
choosing.
1. All voting members must stay during the entire meeting. If a member
leaves the meeting before all the votes for every position are collected,
his/her votes shall be forfeited.
4. The Faculty Advisor shall be responsible for tabulating the results of each of the
elections and presenting them to the Executive Board.
 5. The candidates to progress to their intended officer positions shall be the ones
who receive the majority vote from the Collegiate Members of the AAA who
attend the election meeting.
6. The results shall be presented to the members by the outgoing Executive Board
during the final AAA social gathering of the school year.

Section 3 Terms of Office:

The newly-elected Executive Board Officers shall assume their office immediately following the
last day of final exams for the Spring Semester at Miami University and serve until the last day
of final exams for the Spring Semester of the next year.

Section 4 Duties of the Executive Board Officers:

1. President
1. To serve as Chairperson of the Executive Board of the AAA.
2. To serve as Chairperson of the Recruitment Committee of the AAA.
3. To facilitate the meetings of the Executive Board of the AAA as well as the
general meetings of the AAA.
4. To facilitate the decision-making process for the Executive Board.
5. To provide support to every other Executive Board Officer in their duties.
2. Vice President
1. To provide direct assistance with the administrative tasks of the President.
2. To be a resource for the general membership of the AAA in regards to the
operations of the Executive Board.
3. To provide support to every other Executive Board Officer in their duties.
3. Treasurer
1. To handle the financial responsibilities stated in Article 8.
2. To provide support to every other Executive Board Officer in their duties.
4. Social Chairperson
1. To provide direct assistance to the President in regards to the recruitment efforts
of the AAA.
2. To coordinate the social activities and functions of the AAA.
3. To coordinate collaborative programs with other organizations on the Miami
University campus.
4. To provide support to every other Executive Board Officer in their duties.
5. Webmaster
1. To manage the website of the AAA.
2. To provide the general membership with important information through the AAA
website.
3. To manage the AAA listserv and email address.
4. To serve as the computer technological advisor of the AAA.
5. To provide support to every other Executive Board Officer in their duties.

Article 5 Advisor

Section 1 Qualification:
The Advisor shall be a current member of Miami University’s administrative or faculty staff with
an expressed interested in the Asian American Association and its purpose.

Section 2 Terms of Office:

The Advisor will serve the AAA until he/she chooses to leave the organization or if he/she is no
longer employed by Miami University.

Section 3 Duties of the Faculty Advisor:

1. To oversee the activities of the Collegiate members of the AAA.

2. To serve as the Miami University Staff representative of the AAA.
3. To provide support to Executive Board Officers in their duties.

Article 6 The AAA Office

Section 1 Location:

The official AAA Office shall be Room 31 of MacMillan Hall.

Section 2 Sharing:

The Room 31 of MacMillan Hall shall be shared with the Miami University Indian Student
Association.

Section 3 Purpose:

The primary purpose of the AAA Office shall be to store documents and information regarding
the management and financial responsibilities of the Executive Board, as well as an area utilized
for storage of items and as a meeting place. Any other uses of the office shall be determined by
the Executive Board and the Indian Student Organization.

Article 7 Meetings

Section 1 General Meetings:

The Collegiate members of the AAA shall meet on basis determined by the Executive Board
Officers.

Section 2 Executive Meetings:

The Executive Board shall meet on an as-needed basis.

Section 3 Asian Fest Practices:

Performance practices for Asian Fest shall be held both in conjunctions with as well as in
addition to general meetings on an as-needed basis.
Section 4 Calling Meetings:

Any Executive Officer can call for the general membership or the Executive Board to hold a
meeting; however, it shall be expected, though not necessary, that all other Executive Board
Officers shall be put into consideration when a meeting is called.

Article 8 Finances

Section 1 Treasurer:

All financial responsibilities regarding the AAA shall be given to the Treasurer.

1. Student Organization Account:

1. The AAA shall only hold an account with the Miami University as a student
organization.
2. The Treasurer shall keep a ledger regarding the financial activities of the student
organization account.
3. The Treasurer shall be responsible for making deposits to the student organization
account from revenue made by the AAA.
4. The Treasurer shall be responsible for making withdrawals from the student
organization account for activities of the AAA.
5. The Treasurer shall collect the monthly reports regarding the student organization
account from General Accounting Office in Roudebush Hall.
6. The Treasurer must approve any decisions that regard the financial status of the
AAA.
2. Fundraisers:
1. The Treasurer shall be responsible to collect money that is generated from a
fundraiser conducted by the AAA.
3. Funding from the Associated Student Government:
1. The Treasurer shall be responsible for learning about and utilizing the funding
procedure for student organizations provided by the Associated Student
Government of Miami University.
2. The Treasurer shall be the primary representative of the AAA during their
meeting of the Associated Student Government Committee on Student
Organization Funding.

Article 9 Removal of Executive Board Officers

Section 1 Impeachment

Any AAA Executive Board Officer may be impeached for just cause by unanimous decision by
the other members of the Executive Board.

Article 10 Vacancy of Office/Replacement of Executive Board Officers

Section 1 Succession of President

If the President is unable to complete his/her term, the line of succession will be:

1. Vice President
2. Treasurer

Section 2 Replacement of Other Officers

If another officer is unable to complete his/her term, such a vacancy will be filled by a Collegiate
member chosen by the remaining Executive Board.

Article 11 Asian Fest

Asian Fest is an annual performance to showcase the talents and abilities of the AAA, as well as
educate its audience about the issues and culture of Asia.

Section 1 Event Date and Time:

The AAA shall hold the performance in Hall Auditorium on a date in February chosen by the
Executive Board.

Section 2 Post-Performance Activities:

The AAA will host a Asian-Themed Dinner for the performers and audience of Asian Fest after
the performance is over.

Article 12 Discrimination

Section 1 Statement of Nondiscrimination:

Regarding discrimination, the Asian American Association does not discriminate on the basis of
sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, or veterans' status in
its social, educational or organizational activities and programs as required by Title IX of the
Education Amendment of 1972, Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Sections 503
and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Executive Order 11246 and all its amendments,
Americans with Disabilities Act, and Ohio Revised Code 4112.02.

Article 13 Amendment Procedures to the Constitution

Section 1 Proposition:

Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by any Executive Board Officer, member, or
the Advisor of the AAA, either verbally or in writing.

Section 2 Enactment:

Proposed amendment to the Constitution may be enacted by a unanimous vote by all Executive
Board Officers during the meeting planned for discussion of the proposition. There must be at
least three Executive represented during the amendment meeting, otherwise the meeting must be
postponed. The decision must then receive final approval by the Faculty Advisor.