Black Student Union

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"Making an Impact"

CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Desert Pines High School

2008-09

The purpose of the Black Student Association at Desert Pines High School is that of recruiting, retaining, and unifying the students in the school and community to promote higher education and cultural awareness. The organization’s mission statement is:

1. To enable members to participate in educational events and activities.

2. To enrich the member’s cultural exposure.

3. To utilize the inherent leadership potential for each member in individually structured activities, which will promote and enrich the educational experience.

4. To teach and encourage members to work together toward common goals.

5. To promote the club and encourage others to participate through positive role modeling.

CONSTITUTION

We, the students of Desert Pines High School, sharing not only a common heritage and dignity, but also a common interest in furthering the education of our people, have deemed it necessary to unite and establish the Black Student Association.

It is our firm belief that education is a tool for developing a creative, progressive, and democratic society. We, as individuals and as an organization, are striving to insure the perpetual progress of our members within and without the educational and social system.

BYLAWS

Article 1, Primary Provisions

Section 1:

Name of Organization

The name of this organization shall be The Black Student Association.

Section II:

Motto

Character Before Color

Section III:

Club Code: Respect and be proud of your origin and perpetuate it immaculately. Help to defend the rights of all people and learn how to assert your own rights. Make yourself worthy through education and standing high in the light of your own deeds. Let your firmest purpose be that of helping to see that each new generation becomes more educated, concerned, and efficient.

Article 2, Membership and Source of Power

Section I:

a. All students duly enrolled in Desert Pines High school, and in good standing therein shall be members of this organization.

b. Only members in good standing of the student body shall be permitted to vote upon student body affairs or to engage in student body activities.

c. To be eligible for The Black Student Association student must have a 2.0 GPA and satisfactory conduct (no U’s) in all subjects the previous semester in school and have a passing grade and satisfactory conduct (no U’s) in all subjects in the semester to date. In case s of extreme absences, students will be disqualified from membership and/or running for office. In addition, students must comply with the rules of moral conduct of the State Board of Education and with the rules and regulations of the Clark County School District.

d. Officers must meet the eligibility of Sections I-III and have a scholarship average of at least ‘C’ in the previous semester.

e. The Black Association President must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Section II:

It is mandatory that each applicant attend TWO (2) general meetings and TWO (2) committee meetings per quarter to become eligible for membership and to have voting privileges.

Section III:

All regular members are entitled to propose, discuss, and vote on matters of interest to the organization

Section IV:

By state law the Principal is directly responsible for the welfare of the school in all its activities; therefore, power shall be delegated by the Principal to the elected officers of The Black Student Association, and that power may be revoked by the Principal at any time.

Section V:

It shall be the duty of the member to participate in all meetings and other activities of The Black Student Association, and abide by all the organization’s policies.

Article 3, Removal from Office/Membership

Section I:

A two-thirds vote of The Black Student Association members is required for dismissal of an office for misconduct or neglect of duties.

Article 4, Amendments

Section I:

Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by the officers and members of The Black Student Association, or by petition of twenty percent of the total student population. Petitions shall be presented to the Secretary of the Student Body for further consideration.

NLT: BSU Constitution

BSU EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

President – Sarra Baskerville 12th (143833)

Vice-President - William Baskerville 12th (143834)

Treasurer - Lache Hasbrouck 12th (1092015)

Secretaries - Andrea Jeffers / Rose Campbell

DUTIES

President: The President shall preside at all meetings, preserve order, see that all officers perform their duties, enforce the By-laws, appoint and supervise all committee and give the casting vote if a tie occurs. The president shall not make or second any motions, nor take part in any debates while in the chair.

Vice President: The Vice-President Elect shall assist the President in any and all ways possible. He/she shall preside over meetings in the event of the President’s absence and shall take over all the Presidential duties and powers in the event of the vacating of the President’s chair and during the course of the regular business year.

Treasurer: The Treasurer shall keep and make a detailed report of all club monies possessed by The BSU. He/she shall assist in all fundraisers, and make a detailed report at each regular meeting or upon request of all profits and losses incurred from fundraisers.

Secretary: The Secretary shall keep a correct record and report on all proceedings of the BSU meetings in a file to be kept for that purpose. He/she is also responsible for creating and gaining approval of all BSU flyers, posters, and correspondences made on the club’s behalf.

Historian: The Historian shall maintain the club’s history to the best of their ability and document as many activities as possible. The Historian’s responsibility is to gather photos, newspaper articles, newsletters, club stories and awards received by members during the year. The club should provide you with a reasonable budget for supplies (camera, scrapbook, etc.).

Meeting Dates & Times:

Meetings will be held every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month in the Career Center, Room 313, or Room 801.

The Executive Officers will meet every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each the month in the career center, Room 313 or Room 801.

Desert Pines High School Black Student Union

Code of Conduct

1. There is a clear expectation that all B.S.U. members/leaders will agree to adhere to the club’s motto “character before color” on and off campus at all times.

2. B.S.U. leaders and representatives are expected to be honest and respectful at all times. Repeated dishonesty and/or disrespect of self and others will not be tolerated and will result in termination of membership.

3. Any incident involving alcohol and/or drugs will result in immediate removal from office or membership.

4. Failure to fulfill the duties of office, fighting, using obscene language, not adhering to the district and/or school dress code, open defiance of school authority, forgery, cheating, habitual tardies, or vandalism will result in probation or removal of office depending on the offense.

5. If at any time a student leader/member is found to be truant to any class or classes, a parent and/or teacher conference will be required, and the student will be placed on probation for a period of nine weeks. Repeated truancies will result in removal from B.S.U.

6. If at any time a derogatory or slanderous remark to and/or against a staff member, faculty member, administrator, advisor or any B.S.U member, you will be required to have a one-on-one meeting with the advisor and may be placed on probation. Repeated disrespectful behavior will result in removal from B.S.U.

7. Any officer or representative absent or tardy, excused or unexcused from 20% of the leadership class, including mandatory leadership events or activities or from attendance to properly publicized special or general B.S.U. meetings will be either placed on probation or dropped from membership.

8. If a member/leader is going to be absent, late or leaving early for a mandatory B.S.U. event, he or she must submit an Activity Excuse Permit and obtain approval from the advisors. Approval must be granted at least 48 hours in advance (excluding weekends). Failure to obtain approval will result in a probation status for 30 days, and hours must be made up.

Questions or concerns regarding the consequences associated with a violation of the Code of Honor may be directed towards the B.S.U. advisors.

I have read the B.S.U. Code of Conduct and agree that adhering to this Code of Conduct for academic purposes will also help to promote essential skills, which reaches beyond the school environment. Honesty, integrity, active stewardship, and timeliness are useful and valuable traits that impact one’s life.