Home ARTICLE I
Aims and Purposes
The purpose of the MSA at Winthrop University is to provide a gratifying religious environment on campus for students of the Muslim and non-Muslim faith by trying to meet 3 key points:
1) Help Muslim students on campus not only to adapt to the college life, but also to bring them together with people of their own faith
2) Encourage friendly relations with other religious groups present on campus
3) Introduce Islam, its history, and values to Muslims and non-Muslims in order to clear the many misconceptions that exist about Islam today. Our goal is to enhance the understanding and knowledge of Islam among the Winthrop community through social and academic events that involve all Members of the university and all religious faiths.
Article II
Membership
o Regular Members: Winthrop Students able and willing to pay the yearly fee for the association
o Honorary Members: Non-Winthrop community interested in the activities of the Association.
o Faculty/staff Members: The F/S and the alternate F/S advisors are the interface between the association and Winthrop University.
4. Only regular Members shall have a vote, and each regular Member will have only one vote. The association may also seek the advice of our Honorary Members.
5. Regular and Honorary Members shall pay Membership fee of $10.00 per academic year. The association reserves the right to exempt our Honorary Member(s) of the membership fees.
6. Eligibility for membership may not be limited on the basis of race, sex, color, age, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental handicap, ancestry or medical condition, except as explicitly exempted in federal law.
Article III
OFFICERS & DUTIES
The Committee shall at least consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. To be eligible for certain positions in the Executive Committee there are certain criteria that must be met:
1. The President and Treasurer must be Muslim
2. Candidates must be students enrolled at Winthrop
3. The President will be responsible for the overall efficient operation of the association. The Treasurer will be responsible for the accurate accounting of the association. The Secretary will be responsible for taking notes during the meetings, sending minutes to Members via email, and/or achieving any other tasks assigned by the President, the Vice-President or the Treasurer.
4. Only two Members of the Committee, the President and Treasurer, shall have the right to grant the expenses, sign payment checks, or make cash disbursements on behalf of the association.
5. The President shall also serve as liaison between the association and the MSAs nationwide (US. and Canada).
6. To prevent confusion or misrepresentation, no action shall be taken on behalf of the Association by any office holder and/or Member (Regular, Honorary, F/S advisor) unless resolved and approved by the Executive Committee.
7. Office holder may seek assistance and/or assign tasks to other Members; however, office holders are directly responsible for their duties and the consequences or their actions.
Nominations for office shall occur once in the beginning of a semester. This will be done by 2/3 vote
Elections shall occur: once in the beginning of every academic year. Annual elections will be held the second Monday of the fall semester
The term of office shall be for one academic year and shall begin at the start of the academic year.
Vacancies in the committee shall be filled by the Executive Committee.
Office holders or Members may be removed from office by these terms:
o Office holders may be relieved from their duties by simple majority vote of the Committee.
o A Member of the Executive Committee can be dismissed from his/her duties by a unanimous vote from the Executive Committee if there are:
§ any violations of the Constitution.
§ misappropriation of funds.
§ disorderly misconduct
§ acts of corruption within the MSA.
§ other reasons can be brought up against a Member before the Executive Committee.
Article IV
FUNDING
The organization shall be funded through the yearly Membership fees, allocations from the Student Allocation Committee, and/or fundraisers on campus. Donations may be accepted only if they do not engage the Officers or the Members responsibilities in any illegal way, or compromise MSA’s aims and purposes.
Once again, all money transactions must be approved by the President and the Treasurer.
Article V
MEETINGS
Regular meeting shall be held once a week. Choice on the day, time, and location will be made at the beginning of the semester.
All members are expected to arrive at the appointed time. However, in the event a Member might come late or cannot be present, it is strongly encouraged to call another member, and explain the circumstances. It is understood that things happened.
A “special meeting” (not scheduled in the original agenda) may be called by any Member of the Executive Committee.
Agendas for meetings shall be prepared and distributed by the Secretary through mass email.
A quorum for any regular or special meeting shall be: 2/3 of the total Membership of the association.
Only the President or the Vice President can open, and close a meeting. In the event they will both be absent, the Secretary will assume direction in accordance with the agenda. If all points are not covered that day, they will be reported on the next meeting’s agenda with a top priority.
The meetings will be conducted in the respect of others to express themselves as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Each member will respect the one another’s integrity value individuals for the creations, achievements, and contributions with which each enriches our community.
Each Muslim member is expected to dress in a decent manner. However MSA respects everybody’s freedom and faith.
MSA – Winthrop University Chapter is a religious organization, and therefore apolitical. None political discussion will be held during the meeting.
Article VI
POWERS
The organization shall have the following standing committees: President, Vice-President, and Treasurer.
Additional committees may be created by executive Members and Members to the committees shall be selected by 2/3 vote.
The organization shall operate as a non-profit association, and no profits may accrue to any individual within the organization.
Unless otherwise provided in these bylaws, decisions of the organization shall be made by a simple majority vote of those present and voting, with those abstaining from the vote not figuring into the determination of the majority required.