Our Constitution

---

Proposed Charter of the Phi Alpha Fraternity
Artilcle I. Name

This organization shall be known as the Phi Alpha Fraternity of Gustavus Adolphus College.

Article II. Mission Statement and Preamble

We, the members of the Phi Alpha Fraternity choose to come together to promote a healthy social and academic atmosphere, to foster and maintain existing friendships and to develop new ones. We strive to develop the best in each individual. We encourage leadership, individual responsibility, and community service. The Fraternity's strength springs from a common bond, a proud history, and the worth of the individual within the group. We seek to continue to set a good example for future members of the Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Article III. Membership

Section A. Discrimination
The Phi Alpha Fraternity complies with the discrimination policy outlined in the Gustavus Guide. Nor will the organization sponsor activities which are knowingly offensive to individuals on the basis of such grounds. As a social organization that sponsors many events, we are especially concerned with race, religion, and sexual discrimination.

Section A. Eligibility

The eligibility for membership and the number of active members in this fraternity shall be determined by the rules and regulations of the Phi Alpha Fraternity, as approved by the Inter-Greek Senate and Gustavus Adolphus College. Members of the fraternity must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.2 to be considered for election into the fraternity.

Section B. Application and Election

Application for membership shall be governed by the regulations of the Inter-Greek Senate and Gustavus Adolphus College. Applications for membership that have passed said requirements and regulations will come before the active membership of the fraternity in a closed meeting for final voting only if the number of applicants is over seventy. If the number is below seventy then all the applicants shall receive membership.

Clause 1. All active members of the Phi Alpha Fraternity shall be eligible to vote in the final membership ballot.

Clause 2. The balloting shall be secret. Members shall vote either positive, negative, or abstain from voting. No applicant shall receive membership with five or more negative votes. The number of postive votes needed for membership shall be decided at that meeting.

Clause 3. All absentee ballots must be presented to the secretary before the meeting.

Section C. Initiation

All newly elected members shall undergo initiation rites.

Clause 1. All newly elected members shall be called pledges until the completion of initiation and formal induction into the Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Clause 2. All pledges are responsible to an initiation chair appointed by the body of active members, their respective pledge leaders, and each and every member of the fraternity.

Article IV. Rush

Section A. Definition
Rush is the period when pledges vie for membership in the Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Section B. Stipulations
The length and times of rush shall be determined by the Inter-Greek Senate in cooperation with the Dean of Students

Article V. Pledge rights and Grievance Policy

Section A.
Any pledge may file a written grievance to the president of the fraternity within a reasonable time frame of an alleged violation of the pledge bill of rights, fraternity alcohol policy, or hazing policy. This action will result in the convening of the Social Activities Board at the earliest possible time at which the case will be heard.

Section B.
The fraternity agrees to comply with the Inter-Greek Senate Pledge Bill of Rights.

Article VI. Dues

Members of the fraternity must pay dues to cover organizational costs. To be considered an active member of the fraternity, members must pay dues. The term covered by said dues, amount of the dues, and date of payment shall be set by the fraternity.

Article VII. Officers

Section A. Officers
The officers of the Phi Alpha Fraternity shall consist of a President, a Junior Representative, a Sophomore Representative, Treasurer, Secretary, and Historian.

Section B. Qualifications
In order to be elected, the officer must be in good standing with the fraternity and the college. He must attend all meetings.

Section C. Election
The election of the officers shall be held during a regular business meeting during each semester. Officers will be nominated at that meeting. All active members are eligible to vote in the election of officers. Active members is defined as being in good standing with the fraternity and having paid the required amount of dues for that semester. Voting shall be by a majority vote of members present at the meeting and shall be by a method agreed upon at that meeting. Absentee votes for officers are not allowed.

Section D. Term of Office
All officers shall serve for the semester in which they are elected until successors are elected.
Section E. Duties
The president shall preside at all meetings, enforce the constitution and bylaws, appoint all committees, appoint chairs as needed to organize social activities, preside over the Social Activities Board, and handle all elections. If the president is unable to fulfill his duties, the junior representative shall take over until the president is able to resume his duties or until a new president can be elected. The secretary shall keep the proceedings, maintain the fraternity file, post time and place of all meetings, and assist the president in elections. The treasurer shall administer the funds of the fraternity, collect dues, and publish a monthly statement of all debits and credits to all members. The historian shall keep the roster, election results, constitution and by-laws, and all pertinent fraternity information.

Section F. Vacancies
All vacancies shall be filled at the next regular meeting by special election.

Section G. Duties
Officers of the fraternity shall pay one-half the dues set for rehular members of the fraternity.

Article VIII. Trustees

Section A. The fraternity shall appoint two persons who need not be members to be Trustees of the fraternity.

Section B. The advisor shall be a third trustee upon taking the position of advisor.

Section C. Trustees shall hold office until death, resignation, or cancellation of such appointment by the fraternity in a general meeting.

Section D. Each trustee shall be indemnified against all costs and expenses incurred by him acting on behalf of the fraternity out of the property of the fraternity.

Section E. Trustees will receive an annual financial report with a list of active members, assests, and property. They will also receive a letter of updated events.

Article IX. Dissolution

The Phi Alpha Fraternity may be dissolved by votes of at least three-quarters members present and voting at a properly convened extraordinary general meeting called for such a purpose. In the event of the fraternity ceasing to operate, the Trustees shall take control of the assests and property of the fraternity until the fraternity recommences operation. If the fraternity does not recommence operation within 5 years from the last meeting, the Trustees shall give the assests to some other Inter-Greek Society organization of their choice or to a local charity on behalf of the Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Article X. Advisor

Section A. Office
The Phi Alpha Fraternity shall have an advisor who is a member of the faculty of Gustavus Adolphus College.

Section B. Duties
The advisor shall attend regular meetings and review pledging and rush activities. The advisor shall also act as a liasion between the college and the fraternity. The advisor shall guide the fraternity on moral, ethical, and legal matters.

Article XI. Inter-Greek Senate

Section A. Membership
The fraternity will be a member of the Inter-Greek Senate. As a member of the Inter-Greek Senate, the fraternity agrees to abide by policies, regulations, and disciplinary actions set by that body.

Section B. Representatives
One member of the fraternity shall be elected to be the fraternity's representative on the Inter-Greek Senate. The representative, while not considered an officer, will be required to attend all regular meetings of the Inter-Greek Senate and all meetings of the officers of the fraternity.

Article XII. Academics

Section A. Enforcement
If a members comulative grade point average falls below 2.2, he is barred from fraternity meetings until the standard is met at midterm of semester's end.

Article XIII. Policies

Section A. Law
The Phi Alpha Fraternity shall abide by federal, state, and local laws.

Section B. Alcohol Policy
Clause A.
No active member shall force a pledge to consume alcohol against his will.

Clause B.
Members of the fraternity of legal drinking age shall not furnish alcohol to minors.

Clause C.
In the event that a member of the fraternity shall become intoxicated at a fraternity function, he will not be allowed to operate a motor vehicle. Keys to the vehicle must be surrendered and proper transportation by a sober driver will be provided.

Clause D.
Fraternity activities shall not involve underage alcohol consumption.

Clause E.
Alcohol will not be bought with the Phi Alpha checkbook or checking account.

Clause F.
Infractions of this policy by members of the fraternity will result in action being taken by the Social Activities Board.

Section C. Hazing Policy
The fraternity accepts the definition of hazing found in the 1992-1993 edition of the Gustavus Guide. The fraternity agrees to abide by the requirements on hazing set forth in the draft of Summary of Requirements for Recognition of Fraternities and Sororities, Section 2. Infractions of this policy by members of the fraternity will result in action being taken by the Fraternity Judicial Board.

Article XIV. Social Activity Board

A group of active members in the fraternity, which are appointed by the Executive, to help members of the fraternity act appropriately at the Phi Alpha sponsored activities.

Article XV. Amendments

Articles of this charter may be amended by a two-thirds vote of fraternity members present at a regular meeting of the fraternity. The Amendments must be first approved by the Student Organizations Committee.

Article XVI. Ratification

This charter shall be ratified by a two-thirds bvote of all fraternity members conditional upon acceptance by the Student Organizations Committee. At such times as these conditions are met it shall immediately become the charter of the Phi Alpha Fraternity.