WPI Improv Comedy Constitution

 

Article I. Name

Section 1: The name of the organization governed by this constitution shall be Worcester Polytechnic Institute Improvisational Comedy, or WPI Improv Comedy.

Article II. Purpose

Section 1: The purpose of WPI Improv Comedy is to provide entertainment and programming to the WPI community, while providing an outlet for performers to showcase their talents on a regular basis.

Section 2: This mission and the actions of WPI Improv Comedy shall be consistent with the mission of WPI through the practice of teamwork, advancement of knowledge, and the provision of experience through action.

Article III. Membership

Section 1: WPI Improv Comedy auditions are open to all members of the WPI community.

Section 2: Members of WPI Improv Comedy will be selected upon the successful completion of an audition and the approval of the Audition Committee (defined below).

Section 3: WPI Improv Comedy will not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, age, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status or national origin.

Section 4: All members of WPI Improv Comedy are welcome to return each academic year.

Section 5: A member if WPI Improv Comedy may be removed with a motion to remove, by any member, and the approval of two of the officers.

Section 6: All members of WPI Improv Comedy have the freedom to discontinue membership at any time.

Section 7: WPI Improv Comedy will ensure that its membership will not practice any physically or psychologically abusive hazing behaviors either intentionally or unintentionally.

Article IV. Officers, Duties and Requirements

Section 1: All officers of WPI Improv Comedy must be full-time WPI students in good academic standing.

Section 2: Duties and responsibilities of the officers, subject to modification as deemed appropriate by the officers and the advisor, shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

Section 3: The Audition Committee shall be comprised of all WPI Improv Comedy members who wish to participate in the selection of new members. This committee shall be strictly voluntary.

Article V. Meetings

Section 1: Meetings (rehearsals) of the group shall be held at the discretion of the group and its officers. Meeting times shall be outlined at the beginning of each term, and confirmed by majority vote of all full members of the organization.

Section 2: All Officers may call a mandatory meeting of the group. Any member of the group has the ability to call a non-mandatory meeting of the group.

Section 3: Meetings shall be run at the discretion of the officers.

Article IV. Elections & Officer Replacement/Removal

Section 1: Any WPI Improv Comedy member, who is a full-time WPI student in good academic standing may stand for office simply by announcing the intention.

Section 2: At the annual election meeting, held before the conclusion of C-Term, elections for director, producer, and treasurer shall be held, in that order. All candidates for a particular position shall leave the room in which voting is determined. Each candidate for a particular office shall enter the room one by one, and be given a reasonable time to address the membership. After all candidates for a position have spoken, there will be a sufficiently short time period in which those present may comment on the candidates' ability to hold office. The voting will then take place by secret ballot of the members. Votes shall be counted by the current WPI Improv Comedy officers not running for re-election. In the event that all current officer choose to run for re-election, the votes will be tallied by a WPI Improv Comedy member who is selected by those officers. Vote counts will be announced to the membership and recorded by the producer. If no candidate achieves a simple majority of valid votes cast, the candidate(s) receiving the fewest votes shall be eliminated and another vote taken, with this procedure repeated until one candidate receives a simple majority of valid votes cast; this individual shall then be deemed elected. If more than four candidates stand for election to any office, all but the top four candidates shall be eliminated after the first round of votes. Ties and exceptional cases shall be resolved by decision of the advisor.

Section 3: A vote to remove an officer may be called by any member at any time, by submitting a petition calling for the vote, signed by at least five members or twenty percent of membership, whichever is least, to the advisor. For a petition to be valid, it must include a stipulation that the officer in question has acted in violation of the constitution or against the best interests of WPI Improv Comedy, and state clearly why. A meeting must be called within six school weeks (terms A-D) of the receipt of a valid petition. The vote shall then be held, by secret ballot, at the next meeting of WPI Improv Comedy, following usual voting procedures, except that provision will be made so that the officer affected by the vote and the petitioner will not be involved in counting the ballots, and that three-fourths of all valid votes cast must be in favor of removal to remove the officer.

Section 4: Officer positions which become vacant due to special circumstances may be filled by an appointee of the current officers, or at the request of the officers, by vote of the membership at a special election.

Article VII. Judicial Action

Section 1: WPI Improv Comedy shall abide by the decisions of the Campus Hearing Board in dealing with charges brought against the organization.

Article VIII. Finances

Section 1: No dues will be imposed on members. Regular funding for WPI Improv Comedy will be via voluntary donations, fund-raising, and a budget made available through WPI Student Government. Special funding for particular events, activities, or purchases may from time to time be sought through suggested donations, fund-raising events, or by petition to appropriate WPI or external funding sources.

Article IX. Advisor

Section 1: The advisor shall be a full-time WPI faculty or professional staff member willing to serve. The advisor shall be selected by the officers. Any member of WPI Improv Comedy may call a vote for formal approval of the advisor, in which case the advisor would then require support of a simple majority of all valid votes cast. In the event that the advisor or advisor candidate does not achieve a simple majority, the officers shall select another advisor.

Section 2: The Advisor of WPI Improv Comedy will be a non-voting member of the group.

Article X. Amendments/Revisions

Section 1: Amendment to or revision of this constitution ("amendment") may be proposed by any WPI Improv Comedy member, but must gain the endorsement of at least one officer to be considered by WPI Improv Comedy membership for approval. The endorsing member shall then bring the amendment to a vote at a meeting of WPI Improv Comedy members. The vote shall ordinarily be by open ballot, but shall be by secret ballot if such a ballot is requested by any WPI Improv Comedy member present. The proposed amendment shall pass and be incorporated if and only if two-thirds of all valid votes are in favor.

Article XI. SOC Enabling Clause

Section 1: WPI Improv Comedy agrees to abide by the policies of Worcester Polytechnic Institute as well as all federal, state and local laws. Any changes to this constitution and/or bylaws will follow, in word and spirit, all WPI policies and all federal, state and local laws.