The University of Missouri – Columbia
MUSLIM STUDENTS’ ORGANIZATION’S CONSTITUTION
A. The Constitution
Article I – Name
Section I:
The name of the organization shall be “Muslim Students’ Organization of University of Missouri – Columbia” hereafter referred to as MSO. We agree to abide by all regulations described in the M-Book, all University policies, in addition to all federal, state, and local laws.
Article II – Purpose
Section I:
The purpose of the MSO shall be to represent the followers of the faith of Islam and to assist Muslim students at MU in practicing the teachings of Islam. Toward this end the MSO shall:
a. Help students carry out Islamic practices in the pursuance of Islam as a complete way of life.
b. Carry out educational programs and activities that will help establish a relationship between the Muslim students and the community that is based on mutual respect and understanding.
Article III – Affiliation
Section I:
The MSO will be affiliated with and a dues paying member of The Muslim Students Association (MSA), as well as the Muslim American Society (MAS), the Islamic Center of Central Missouri (ICCM) and the Muslim Students Union (MSU).
Article IV – Membership
Section I:
Membership and activities are open to all currently enrolled students regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era.
Section II:
Any MU student in good academic standing and interested in the
furtherance of the goals of the MSO may be admitted as a member.
Members must pay a ten dollar annual membership fee on or before the membership deadline. Membership deadline is within the first ten weeks of each semester.
Section III: Rights and Privileges
Members will have the privileges to participate in the activities of the MSO. However, only those members who have attended 3 meetings or activities per semester and have paid the ten-dollar annual membership fee on or before the membership deadline shall be eligible to hold office.
Section IV: Termination of Membership
a. Membership of an individual may be terminated upon:
i. Failure to comply with the membership obligations as set
forth in Article IV of the Constitution.
ii. Upon charges brought against any Member and determined
to be contradictory to the stated goals of the MSO and its constitution.
Article V – Organization
Section I:
The affairs of the MSO will be organized and managed by the Executive Committee and its advisor is a fulltime faculty/staff of the University.
Section II:
Members who would like to run for an office in the Executive Committee have to maintain an active MSO membership for at least one semester (winter or fall, not summer as it is not an official semester – it is optional for students to be in summer semester). The term of office is one year. Any member who attends 3 MSO meetings or activities per semester is an active member.
The executive Committee shall be elected on a yearly basis and will consist of:
a. President
b. Vice President
c. Educational Officer
d. Treasurer
e. Secretary
f. Social Committee Chairperson
g. Public Affairs Committee Chairperson
h. Web Officer
Article VI – Duties and Termination of Executive Committee Members
Section I: The Officers shall:
a. All officers should have at least the basic knowledge about Islam and able to answer questions when they are asked. Therefore, all officers must take the Islamic Center of Central Missouri’s outreach preparation and examination within four weeks of the first semester of being elected.
b. Officers must have a 2.2 GPA or above, and be registered for at least 6.0 credit hours through the University of Missouri.
c. Incumbent officers shall have the option to run for re-election.
d. The duties of each officer shall be:
a. President
1) Be responsible for overall management of the affairs of the MSO by implementing the constitution of the MSO by formulating the overall plans and organizing the efforts and resources.
2) Call and preside over the meetings of the Executive Committee.
3) Present the annual report the General Body.
4) Act as a member of the Islamic Center of Central Missouri Operating Council.
b. Vice President
1) Assist the President in accomplishing the purposes of the MSO.
2) Temporarily assume the function of the President when
requested as such by him/her or if the President is incapacitated or has resigned.
3) Act as liason to the ORG.
c. Educational Officer
1) Carry out educational activities, such as Halaqas, and lectures.
2) Schedule and organize bringing speakers and following up with their accounts.
d. Treasurer
1) Maintaining a record of all financial transactions of the MSO.
2) Collecting and depositing all funds received on behalf of the MSO under appropriate accounts in the Student Organization Account with the Student Life Office, banks and financial institutions.
3) Fund raising activities of the MSO.
4) Supervise filing of all fiscal documents (The General Budget, honorarium forms) with the appropriate authorities and the ORG on due dates
5) Collect and maintain record of membership fees.
e. Secretary
1) Prepare and maintain the minutes of all the Executive
Committee and the General Assembly meetings, emailing
them to the executive Committee after every meeting.
2) Maintaining the records of the MSO, making a copy available in the MSO office.
3) Be responsible for handling MSO mail.
4) Prepare the agenda and notify the member of the Executive Committee and the General Assembly.
5) Be responsible for maintaining a list of the members, and volunteers for various functions of the MSO and Maintain attendance records at all meetings.
6) Assume responsibilities of webmaster in case of webmaster’s inability to fulfill duties.
f. Social Committee Chairperson-Boys and Girls
1) Carry out the social, sport, and educational activities, coordinating with education chair.
2) Be responsible for organizing the various social activities and assign people for setting up, cooking and cleaning if necessary.
3) Recruit new members and volunteers for events.
g. Public Relations Committee Chairperson
1) Keep listserv for members, and brief general assembly on events through email, website and other media.
2) Submit advertising and drafts, including MU Info, Maneater and Missourian print ads.
3) Be the spokesman, representative and correspondent for the MSO in the various means of the media.
4) Maintain contacts with campus groups and coordinating activities.
5) Maintain email lists and help maintain website.
h. Web Officer
1) Maintain and oversee website
2) Organize online calendar of events, and old briefings.
3) Post other pertinent information on the website (Islamic knowledge, resources, contacts, constitution).
Section II: Termination of Chair
a. Membership of an officer may be terminated upon:
i. Failure to comply with the membership obligations as set forth in Article IV of the Constitution.
ii. Upon charges brought against any Member and determined to be contradictory to the stated goals of the MSO or its constitution providing that evidence is presented to support the removal.
iii. Absence of four consecutive Executive board meetings without notifying the Executive Board of the meeting.
iv. Acting contrary to Islamic teachings as dictated in the Holy Quran and Sunnah of the prophet (PBUH). In the case that a disagreement occurs in the interpretation of specific Islamic teachings, the matter shall be taken to the MSO advisor.
v. Failure to meet and fulfill the duties of the specific office.
vi. In the case that on of the conditions for termination (as set fourth in Article V,
Section II a) occur:
1.Two thirds or the majority of the executive board members shall vote to remove the officer from his/her position.
2. An election for a new officer should be conducted at the next scheduled business meeting.
b. Resignation of an officer:
i. Resignations must be submitted within the first two weeks of their taking office. Failure to do so makes the member ineligible to run in next election cycle.
ii. Position will be given to next highest vote gatherer.
iii. It will be under the discretion of the Exec Board to determine further action in case of a tie or unavailability of next highest vote gatherer. Simple majority of the Executive Board is necessary to appoint further members.
iv. Membership dues of resigning member is non refundable.
v. Resigning member must cover all outstanding charges of their doing under the MSO name.
Section III:
a. The Executive Board shall nominate one faculty or staff member (at least 75% FTE) to serve as advisor.
b. The active membership shall vote on accepting the advisor with a simple majority needed for acceptance.
c. Two-thirds of the active members must be present at the time of voting.
Article VII – General Body & Meetings
Section I:
The total membership of the MSO will constitute the General Body
Section II:
The MSO will hold at least one General Body meeting in the month of April to elect officers for the next term.
Section III: Weekly meetings
1.The Executive Board will meet within the first two weeks of both semesters.
2.The Executive Board will meet in the last 4 weeks of each semester to wrap up the semester’s activities and unfinished business.
3.All other meetings will be organized according the needs of the Executive Board.
Section IV: General Body meetings
a. The General Body meeting shall be held at least once a year on a date, time, and place designated by the Executive Committee.
b. Any other meeting may be convened by the Executive Committee upon proper notification to all members.
Article VIII – Finances
Section I:
The MSO will be financed by contributions, donations and other sources consistent with the purpose of the MSO.
Section II:
The finances of the MSO will be budgeted and approved by the executive committee.
Section III:
The fiscal year of the MSO will begin on the first of June and end on the thirty first of May.
Section IV:
The books of account shall be kept up to date and open to the inspection of the University auditor.
Article IX – Amendments
Section I
The Constitution and the By-laws may be amended by the voting members provided that:
a) The proposed amendment is presented to the President ten days prior to the next meeting of the General Body.
b) It is approved by the Executive Committee by a simple majority. The proposed amendment shall then be presented to eligible members and shall be adopted if it receives affirmative votes from three fourths of the voting members.
c) To change provision of this charter the organization will submit to the Student Government Association and the Student Life Office the desired changes to be made.
d) The new constitution, when accepted, will take precedence over the former constitution and the former constitution will be void.
