Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/a de Aztlán

de UC Santa Barbara

CONSTITUTION

Preamble

Nosotros los Estudiantes Chicanos de la Universidad de California, Santa Barbara, reclamando nuestro pasado, reconociendo nuestra presente lucha, y viendo hacia nuestro futuro, creemos que es nuestro deber y derecho en advansar La Filosofia Nationalista que se encuentra fundada en El Plan de Aztlán, El Plan de Santa Barbara, y La Filosophia de Movimiento Chicano/a de Aztlan para el avance y mejoramiento de La Comunidad Chicana. es en estos pensamientos e ideas que nosotros por este medio establecemos esta contitucion.

We, the Chicano Students of the Univerity of California, Santa Barbara, reclaiming our past, present, and looking toward our future, believe that it is our duty and right in advancing the Chicano Nationalist Philosophy that finds itself within El Plan de Aztlán, El Plan de Santa Barbara, and The Philosophy of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/a de Aztlán for the advancement and betterment of the Chicano Community. It is with these thoughts and ideas that we hereby establish this constitution.

Principles

Familia: We will work towards creating a community of friendship, trust, and understanding between all our brothers and sisters of Ixachitlan. 

Higher Education: As students of the University, we understand the importance of Raza to attain higher levels of education and commit ourselves in promoting higher education to our Gente throughout Aztlán.

Homophobia: We will not tolerate the exclusion of Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender/Intersex (LGBTI) Chican@s

Mutual Respect: Disruptions, threats, rumors, slanders, and the pitting of MEChistAs against each other will not be tolerated since it breeds disharmony and division amongst the membership.

Nuestra Cultura: We will celebrate and educate on nuestra cultura e historia Chicana, with the intent of promoting all the rich traditions and arts that our Gente have to offer.

Nuestros Documentos: El Plan de Santa Barbara, El Plan de Aztlán, The Philosophy of MEChA, and all the principles from the Regional, Statewide, and National Constitution will be our guiding documents in the development of our chapter.

Racism: Racist remarks, comments, gestures, and/or doctrines will not be tolerated during any MEChA de UCSB meetings and/or events. This should not only be limited to MEChA meetings or events, but should be a continous ideal that should become part of a MEChistAs life.

Sexism: Sexist remarks, comments, gestures, and/or doctrines will not be tolerated during any MEChA de UCSB meetings and/or events. we need contributions of both men and women working together for the betterment of nuestra raza.

La Universidad: Understanding the strategic importance of the university, we will perceive the university as being ours and will work towards educating it of issues concerning the Chicano/a community.

OBJECTIVES

El Barrio: To establish close working relationships with the Chicano organizations in the barrio that works for the betterment of the Chicano community and do not compromise the principles and objectives of MEChA de UCSB.

Chicano Studies: To play an active role in the development of a Chicano Studies Department at the University whose curriculum will be relevant to our gente.

Cultura: To promote our culture by organizing, participating, and sponsoring events that celebrate La Cultura Chicana.

Los Documentos: To implement the objectives set forth in El Plan de Santa Barbara, El Plan de Aztlán, and Philosophy of MEChA.

Estudiantes: To socialize and politicize Chicano/a students on-campus to the ideals of El Movimiento.

Gender Issues: To address issues of sexism and homophobia within our community by providing Chicana/o Combined Caucuses throughout the school year.

Political Action: To develop a Chicano political consciousness for political action that will benefit La Comunidad Chicana.

Recruitment and Retention: To develop, maintain, and defend programs that work on recruiting and retaining Raza to the university.

The University: To educate Raza on importance of the University to the liberation of La Comunidad Chicana.

Article I- Name

Section 1. The name of this organization will be Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/a de Aztlán de la Universidad de California en Santa Barbara (M.E.Ch.A de UCSB).

Section 2. The official symbol of this organization shall be the eagle with its wings spread, bearing a macahuittle in one claw and a dynamite stick in the other with the lighted fuse in its beak. The acronym M.E.Ch.A shall be above the symbol with the phrase "La Union Hace La Fuerza" below.

Article II- Membership

Section 1. Registered UCSB students will make up sole membership.

Section 2. Members must abide by the Principles, Objectives, and Articles set forth in the M.E.Ch.A de UCSB Constitution.

Section 3. Active membership will consist of the following:

              A. UCSB Undergraduates limited to six years of active membership.

              B. Active participation in one of M.E.Ch.A. de UCSB's committees.

              C. Attendance of Three-Fourths (3/4) of all M.E.Ch.A. de UCSB General Meetings.

Section 4. Only active members may vote and participate in debates and/or discussions regarding all M.E.Ch.A de UCSB decisions.

              A. Voting rights will be granted at the third consecutive meeting that a member attends.

Section 5. All members will constitute General Assembly.

Section 6. M.E.Ch.A. de UCSB will not restrict membership based upon race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, age, and/or physical ability. We will not tolerate hazing, as stated in California State Law.

Article III- El Concilio

Section 1. El Concilio will consist of all M.E.Ch.A de UCSB coordinators.

Section 2. El Concilio will have the following powers, duties, and responsibilities:

              A. To insure that the M.E.Ch.A de UCSB Constitution is upheld and abided by.

              B. To make decisions regarding the Agenda for all General Body meetings.

              C. To make minor decisions regarding the Chapter.

              D. To make emergency major decisions regarding the General Assembly.

              E. To inform the General Assembly of all emergency major decisions done on its behalf by the subsequent                    General Meeting following the emergency situation.

              F. To close El Concilio meetings solely to the committee coordinators.

              G. To be directly accountable to General Assembly.

Article IV- Meetings

Section 1. General Meetings

             A. General meetings will occur once a week and will consist of the General Assembly.

             B. All major decsions regarding the Chapter will be brought to the General Meeting for input and approval.

             C. Meetings may be closed to only active members by the request of an active member and the approval by a                   simple majority of the active membership and by the co-chairs (see duties and responsibilities of co-chairs                   Article V, Section 7, sub-section H).

             D. A minimum of one educational segment will be provided at a General Meeting every month.

Section 2. El Concilio meetings

              A. El Concilio meetings will occur once a week and will consist of M.E.Ch.A. de UCSB's coordinators.

              B. El Concilio meetings will set the Agenda for all General Body meetings.

              C. El Concilio meetings will be empowered to make minor decisions regarding the Chapter.

              D. El Concilio meetings may be closed to only coordinators by the request of a coordinator and approval by a                   simple majority of El Concilio.

Section 3. Committee meetings will meet outside of the General Meeting at the discretion of the committee members and coordinator.

Section 4. All M.E.Ch.A. de UCSB meetings will be conducted by Robert's Rules of Order.

Article V- Coordinators and Committees

Section 1. Only active members may be coordinators of M.E.Ch.A. de UCSB.

Section 2. All coordinators will be directly accountable to the General Assembly.

Section 3. All coordinators will hold their term in office for one academic year beginning on first day of the Fall quarter and ending on the last day of Spring Quarter.

Section 4. All coordinators will be responsible for upholding M.E.Ch.A. de UCSB's Principles and Objectives.

Section 5. All coordinators must be able to meet the following requirements:

            A. Attend all General Meetings and El Concilio meetings.

            B. Provide a time slot when his/her committee can meet on-campus.

            C. Must be able to fulfill his/her duties and responsibilities outlined under his/her committee.

Section 6. All committees will have two co-chairs that will be gender balanced.

Section 7. M.E.Ch.A de UCSB's committee's and their duties will consist of the following:

              A. Internal Committee

                  1. Shall actively work on strategies (tabling, flyering, etc.) that will recruit Raza to our Chapter.

                  2. Shall help create an active role in the development of Chicano Studies curriculum that is relevant our Gente                       by working closely with the present Chicano Studies program.

                  3. Shall organize and develop Raza cultural activities on campus for the purpose of teaching the membership                       and  non-MEChistAs of nuestra cultura.

                  4. The Internal Coordinator(s) shall be the official voice of our chapter on all campus issues.

             B. External Committee

                  1. Shall attend all Central and Regional Meetings.

                  2. Shall organize trips for the Chapter to all Statewide and National Conferences.

                  3. Shall ensure that Voting Rights for our Chapter are maintained at both the Central and Regional levels.

                  4. Expenses made by the External Coordinators (gas, lodging, food, and other traveling expenses related to                       M.E.Ch.A. business) will be the responsibility at both the Central and Regional levels.

                  5. The External Coordinator(s) shall be the official voice of our Chapter at all external meetings.

             C. Community Committee

                  1. Shall establish close working relationships with Chicano organizations that support and do not contradict                       M.E.Ch.A. de UCSB's Principles and Objectives.

                  2. Shall be a liaison to all local junior high and high school Raza clubs and organizations within the Santa                       Barbara M.E.Ch.A. Central boundaries.

                  3. The Community Coordinator(s) shall be official voice of our Chapter at all Community Meetings.

              D. Scholarship Committee

                   1. Shall create a Scholarship fund every year for high school seniors pursuing higher education.

                   2. Shall develop various fund-raisers for the Scholarship fund.

                   3. Scholarship awards shall be a minimum of $500 dollars and the number of scholarships awarded will be based                        on the availability of funds raised.

                   4. Selection criteria shall be based on a criticial analysis essay in which the Scholarship coordinators shall                        decide upon the topic.

                   5. The Scholarship Coordinator(s) will present the Scholarship Award and disburse award(s) once confirmation                        has been received that student(s) have enrolled in a post-secondary institution.

              E. Administrative Committee

                   1. Shall maintain attendance of members at all General Meetings.

                   2. Shall create Membership Lists with telephone numbers and e-mails (after permission is given for the release                        of their telephone numbers), to be distributed to the membership for M.E.Ch.A. business.

                   3. Shall take clear and concise minutes at both General and El Concilio Meetings.

                   4. Shall pick-up and sort mail (including e-mails) received by M.E.Ch.A.

                   5. Shall update the M.E.Ch.A. de UCSB Constitution following the approval of any proposed amendment.

                   6. The Adminstrative Coordinator(s) will be responsible for maintaining records of all members' voting rights.

               F. Historian Committee

                    1. Shall be responsible for maintaining M.E.Ch.A. de UCSB's files (which include documentation of events and                         programs).

                    2. Shall provide end-of-quarter reports on M.E.Ch.A. de UCSB's goals and objectives.

                    3. Shall provide a M.E.Ch.A. Orientation for all new members concerning M.E.Ch.A.'s History, Philosophy,                         and Ideals at the end of each quarter.

                    4. The Historian Coordinator(s) will be responsible for actively researching and gathering information of our                         organization for M.E.Ch.A. de UCSB's files.

               G. Finance Committee

                    1. Shall be responsible for all financial transactions.

                    2. Shall be responsible for actively researching grants and writing grant proposals.

                    3. Shall be responsible for presenting a full ledger of accounts on M.E.Ch.A. de UCSB's financial transactions                         at every General Meeting and El Concilio Meeting.

                    4. Shall be responsible for fundraising and disbursing Chapter funds to each committee.

                    5. Shall allocate funds for External Coordinators pertaining to traveling expenses.

                    6. The Financial Coordinator(s) shall be responsible for making a budget for the year with the input of                        Committee Coordinators and Co-Chairs.

               H. Webmaster Committee

                     1. Shall create a web page for M.E.Ch.A de UCSB.

                     2. Shall maintain and update web page weekly.

                     3. Shall look for other web pages that represent M.E.Ch.A.'s Goals and Objectives.

                     4. Webmaster Coordinator(s) shall be responsible for sending out e-mails and information pertaining to                          M.E.Ch.A. information to members and other organizations.

                I.  Co-Chairs

                     1. Shall ensure that all Committees fulfill their duties and responsibilities.

                     2. Shall facilitate all General Meetings and El Concilio Meetings.

                     3. Shall fulfill all the duties and responsibilities of any vacant committee co-chair position.

                     4. Shall be responsible for approving all financial transactions and Committee budgets.

                     5. Shall decide to have closed meetings to only active members with the approval by a simple majority of the                          active membership.

                     6. Co-Chairs shall facilitate Chicano and Chicana Caucuses.

Article VI- Nominations and Elections

Section 1. Only active members shall be allowed to nominate and be nominated for any Coordinator position.

Section 2. Nominations

            A. Nominations will open on the second to the last General Meeting of the Winter quarter.

            B. Nominations shall close on the final meeting of the Winter quarter immediately before the Election.

Section 3. Only active members may cast a ballot for any Coordinator position.

Section 4. Elections

            A. Each nominee will provide a presentation before the General Assembly explaining their reasons for running for                  the respective positions.

            B. The General Assembly will discuss the different candidates in an open discussion.

            C. Votes will be cast in a closed ballot once discussion ends on the second week of the Spring Quarter.

            D. The General Assembly will choose two active members who are not running for any position to count the ballots.

            E. Candidates with the most votes will be the elected Coordinators.

Section 5. Officers will assume their positions at the beginning of the following academic year.

            A. Officers elected shall go through a transition period with current officers for the remainder of the Spring                  Quarter.

Artice VII- Impeachment and Removal

Section 1. Any member that works against the Principles and Objectives of M.E.Ch.A. de UCSB may be removed from the General Assembly.

Section 2. Any Coordinator that fails to fulfill his/her respective duty and responsibility may be impeached.

Section 3. Procedure for both Section 1 and Section 2 will be:

            A. A written grievance will be presented at a General Meeting by an active member.

            B. At the following General Meeting the member presenting the grievance shall present his/her case.

            C. The member in question will be allowed to present his/her case.

            D. The General Assembly will discuss the grievance and proceed with a vote on the grievance.

Section 4. A (2/3) two-thirds vote is necessary for impeachment and removal of a member or Coordinator.

Article VII- Amendments

Section 1. Amendments will be submitted in writing to the General Assembly at a General Meeting.

Section 2. At the following General Meeting, the General Assembly will discuss and vote on the proposed amendments.

Section 3. Amendments need a (2/3) two-thirds vote to be approved.

Section 4. The Office of Student Life will be notified of any new amendments when re-registering for the academic year.

Article IX- Ultimate Authority

Section 1. Ultimate Authority as to any interpretation of this constitution shall be decided by the General Assembly with a (2/3) two-thirds vote.