ΑΣΨ

 

PREAMBLE

 

We the sisters of Alpha Sigma Psi Sorority of Marywood University, believe in maintaining a high standard of intellectual, moral, and social development among our members; believe in promoting cooperation among campus organizations and the community; and believe in encouraging the continuity and leadership among student life.  For these reasons, we, the sisters of Alpha Sigma Psi, do hereby ordain and establish this constitution.

 

ARTICLE I

NAME

Section 1: Name

This organization shall be officially known and designated as the Alpha Sigma Psi Sorority hereinafter referred to as the Sorority.

 

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE

 

Section 1: Purpose

The purpose of Alpha Sigma Psi Sorority shall be:

A. To establish a loyal sorority and promote unselfish friendships among its members.

B. To inspire and nurture humanitarian values and ideas.

C. To actively take part in the betterment of the welfare of the community in which we live.

D. To encourage academic excellence in each member.

E. Emphasize the value of poise and personal dignity.

Section 2: Mission Statement

We are a group of young ladies who wish to create a sorority based on service for the future of not only us, but also our future generations. We will come together, not as peers, but as sisters, to perform such tasks. Sisterhood is where individuals from different backgrounds come together and become sisters for life. It’s a life changing experience that will not only benefit those we are helping, but also ourselves, in hopes that these young ladies will turn into strong and independent women. Alpha Sigma Psi will be the next milestone in our life, opening new doors and creating opportunities.

 

Section 3: Vision Statement

Alpha Sigma Psi Sorority envisions a world where children can live peacefully without any complications of any sort. Our main goal is to do as much as we can to make that statement true by volunteering our time to the children.

Section 4: Philanthropy

Alpha Sigma Psi’s philanthropy is working with kids in any way we can. We stand for showing that even though we are young; we can make a difference in the world through the lives of children. Our main foundations we work with are St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, March of Dimes, UNICEF, and Ronald McDonald House Charities. However, we are not limited to just those foundations. We will contribute our time to any local foundation.

 

Section 5: Core Values

Alpha Sigma Psi has five main core values that we will revolve the Sorority around.  

• Action Oriented: Being a service sorority, we will commit to making a difference.  

• Respect: Having respect for ourselves, our sisters, our campus community, and every person we should meet.

• Dedication to service: We will not only be dedicated to service but we will also make it a part of our lives to make a difference.

• Integrity: Anything we do or say will be done with integrity, there shall be no deceptions or dishonesty.

• Unity: We will perform and commit to our work as a whole, becoming a Sisterhood.

 

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP

 

Section 1: Classes of Membership

There shall be nine classes of members: a cub, an active member, an inactive member, an alumnae member, an expelled member, a deceased member, an honorary member, an active alumnae member, a non-enrolled member, inactive good standing, and non-member.

A. Cub:  A cub is a woman who has received and accepted a bid to become an active member, and has been pinned by the sorority but who has not been initiated nor de-pledged by Alpha Sigma Psi. A cub must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate at Marywood University, and has completed one semester of academic study, which has been at MU.

B. Active Member:  An active member is a person who:

1) Has been a bid, and has been initiated by the Sorority,

2) Is currently enrolled as an undergraduate at MU, (enrolled according to University standards means currently taking classes, not including withdrawals.)

3) Is current in her obligations to the Sorority unless excused by the High Alpha.

4) Is in good standing with the Sorority and has met all other requirements of active members of the Sorority as may be required by this Constitution or the By-Laws of the Sorority.

C. Inactive Member: An inactive member is a person who has been an active, is not an expelled member, but is not in good standing with the Sorority.  Exception to poor standing is personal problems beyond the control of the individual sister, as brought before Standards.

D. Alumnae:  A member who is no longer enrolled at MU as an undergraduate and does not reside locally, or an undergraduate who has completed eight semesters at MU not including summers and co-ops, who has been active for four semesters, or an undergraduate with extraordinary circumstances that replace the Sorority in the life of the sister (i.e. marriage, child). If the extraordinary circumstance is no longer present and the member reenrolls at MU without the eight semesters at MU and the four semesters active, this person must return to active status.

E. Expelled Member: A member who has been expelled by a unanimous vote of the Sorority.

F. Deceased Member: A member who at the time of her death was an active or inactive member of the Sorority.

G. Active Alumnae: An enrolled MU student who has completed eight semesters, not including summers, who having the option to go alumni, wishes to have Active Alumnae status.

H. Inactive Good Standing: A member who is not eligible for Alumnae status, but who is away from MU with the intent to return (i.e. fall camp, co-op). This member pays no dues and may attend social events if the social fee for that event is paid in advance. This member may still wear letters but may not hold committee positions and has no voting rights. Upon returning to MU, this member will return to active status following Active guidelines.

I. Non-Member:  A woman who at one time was a member of Alpha Sigma Psi, but who voluntarily relinquishes their membership of Alpha Sigma Psi.

 

Section 2: Initiation

A. Bidding

1) Procedure for bidding

(a) Any active member shall be able to nominate a prospective cub during any regular meeting of the Sorority or a special meeting called for bidding.

(b) When a prospective cub is nominated, an eighty-five percent vote of recognition, of those members present, without prior discussion, is required before that person can be considered for a bid.

(c) At the next regular or special meeting, a vote will be taken on the prospective cub.  The prospective cub will be given an invitation to become a cub upon approval of eighty-five percent of all active voting members.  The vote shall be taken by secret ballot after discussion.

2) Invitation to Membership

(a) A prospective cub shall be invited to become a cub on the official form adopted by the Sorority and extended on behalf of the Sorority’s Founders.

(b) A prospective cub must notify the Chairs of her acceptance within the date specified on the invitation.  If the perspective cub wishes to hold the bid, the bid may be held for two invitations.  If acceptances are not received within that time period, the invitation is canceled and can only be renewed upon approval of eighty-five percent of the active members of the Sorority.

B. Pinning

1) After the prospective cub has notified the Recruitment Chair that she accepts the invitation of the Sorority to become a cub, the date and time for pinning of the prospective cub shall be set at the next regular meeting of the Sisterhood.

2)  All prospective cubs shall go through the pinning ceremony as a class.  Should a cub not be able to attend the pinning, she shall be pinned at a later time, with her cub class present.

3) Each cub will be asked to sign the "Alpha Sigma Psi Honor Code" form.

4) Eligibility

(a) Must have completed one semester of academic study, which has been at Marywood University.

(b) Must have cumulative grade point average of at least 2.25.

C. Recruitment

1) After a prospective cub is pinned, she then becomes a cub.

2) A cub, in order to become an active member, must undergo a pledge period to acquaint her with the purpose of the Sorority.

3) The Sorority shall determine the activities and length of the pledging period.

4) A vote shall be taken amongst the Executive Board and Chairs rating the cub on a one to five scale. Three through five shall represent acceptable progress.  Comment space will be provided on the ballot. A summary of the written comments shall be discussed immediately after the vote.

5) When votes are counted, if more than fifteen percent of the ballots read unsatisfactory and an explanation is given for each of these votes, the cub will then be put on a one-week probation period.  Once a cub is put on probation, the New Educator Member shall immediately notify her of her status.  The following week, a vote to depledge will be taken.

6) The Sorority reserves the right to ask any cub to depledge upon more than fifteen- percent approval of the active membership.

D. Initiation

1) After the cubs have successfully completed their pledging period, the New Educator Member shall inform the Sorority and the Sorority shall again vote to approve the cub class for membership.  Said approval shall be at the regular meeting, shall be by secret ballot, and shall receive no more than fifteen percent no vote.

2) Once a cub class has been approved as ready for membership, each cub shall be individually voted on to approve her for membership.  This vote shall be at a regular meeting, shall be by secret ballot, and shall receive no more than fifteen percent no vote.  If a cub receives approval of less than eighty-five percent of the active members, she is no longer a prospective member of the Sorority. 

3) If the cub receives approval of all, or all but fifteen percent of the active members, then the cub shall be initiated with her class as a whole, into the Sorority.

(a) The Sisterhood shall determine the date and time of the initiation.

(b) The Ritual Chair shall determine the format and content of the initiation ceremony.

4) Upon initiation, each sister shall sign and date a copy of Alpha Sigma Psi’s honor code. Upon being initiated into the sorority and signing the constitution, that sister is legally bound to the terms and conditions of the constitution of the sorority.

 

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERS OF ALPHA SIGMA PSI

 

AΣΨ members shall attend all regularly scheduled AΣΨ sorority meetings and appropriate committee meetings.  AΣΨ members shall preserve a permanent record of activities, issues, and accomplishments to be kept for future members.

 

Section I: President

The President shall:

• Be available to serve a full term.

• Preside over all chapter meetings.

• Call and preside at all non-committee meetings.

• Preside and chair all Executive Board meetings.

• Enforce the constitution and by-laws.

• Put to vote all committees not otherwise provided for by the constitution.

• Oversee all Executive Board members' duties.

• Promote the welfare of AΣΨ on campus.

• Perform such duties as the club may require of her.

• Assist and work with all committees in promoting AΣΨ sorority activities.

• Have privileges of exercising or delegating all other powers assigned or stated in this constitution.

•  Work to maintain AΣΨ within the Club Board standings.

• Put on one school wide event, in conjunction with the Vice President, per semester.

• Email girls who are on probation to set up meetings and inform those who have been on probation two consecutive semesters that they will no longer be active members of AΣΨ.

 

Section 2: Vice President

The Vice President shall:

A. Be available to serve a full term.

B. Preside over the AΣΨ calendar of events to ensure that Executive Board members are up to date on their event write-ups and adding notes to their chair specifically.  

C. Chair all AΣΨ meetings in the absence or at the request of the President.

D. Preside over such activities as recommended to her by AΣΨ.

E. Put on one event, in conjunction with the President, per semester.

F. Maintain the AΣΨ email account bi-weekly.

 

Section 3: Secondary Advisor

The Secondary Advisor shall:

A. Be available to serve a full term.

B. Preside over the AΣΨ calendar of events to ensure that Executive Board members are up to date on their event write-ups and adding notes to their chair specifically. 

C. Chair all AΣΨ meetings in the absence or at the request of the President.

D. Preside over such activities as recommended to her by AΣΨ.

E. Maintain the AΣΨ email account bi-weekly.

 

Section 3: Secretary

The Secretary shall:

A. Record, process and distribute minutes from AΣΨ meetings within 24 hours of the meeting.

B. Distribute correspondence documents including agendas, notices, and sign-up sheets at the AΣΨ meetings.

C. Be the point of contact for those who are unable to attend a meeting.

D. Keep a detailed record of AΣΨ meeting and event attendance.

E. Maintain a file of all AΣΨ minutes, letters, notices, and other correspondence documents.

F. Keep a written and updated record of current members.

G. Keep an accurate account of points for all sorority members and e-mail an update to all members the first Tuesday of every month.

H.  At the end of the semester compile a list of girls who are on probation and then pass this list on to the President.

 

Section 4: Treasurer

The Treasurer shall:

A. Be available to serve a full term.

B. Supervise and record all revenue and expenditures of AΣΨ.

C. Be aware of the current working balance, maintain a perpetual record and announce this balance at the last Exec meeting of each month.

D. Act on all proposals or amendments to AΣΨ budget.

E. Prepare and update annual budgets at the end of each academic year for the preceding academic year.

 

 

Section 5: Philanthropy Chair

The Philanthropy Chair shall:

A. Coordinate and oversee all service events for AΣΨ members or students to participate in.

C.  Provide the Secretary with a summary of persons in attendance at these service events.

 

Section 6: Public Relations Chair

The Public Relations Chair shall:

A. Distribute press releases to the campus media when deemed necessary by the Executive Board.

C. Be the end all resource to AΣΨ, facilities, posting policies, printing and advertising AΣΨ sponsored events through e-mail and other forms of mass media.

 

Section 7: Fundraising Chair

The Fundraising Chair shall:

A. Coordinate and oversee no less than one fundraiser per semester that can either benefit AΣΨ as a club, the school wide community, or an outside organization.

B.  In charge of organizing a schedule of which sister will work at which fundraiser

 

Section 8: Historian

The Historian shall:

A. Be in charge of photographing at Sorority events and publishing them on websites.

B.   Documenting events the Sorority takes part in.

 

Section 9: Recruitment Chair

The Recruitment Chair shall:

A. Be in charge of giving out information to girls who are considering joining.

B.   Advertise and recruit prospective girls who are potential Alpha Sigma Psi material.

 

Section 10: New Member Educator:

The New Member Educator shall:

A. Plan and oversee a new member meeting in the fall in addition to Recruitment Week.

B. Setup and maintain a booth for the Clubs Fair.

C. Coordinate with the Executive Board, oversee and take full responsibility of Recruitment Week.

 

Section 11: Alumnae Relations Chair:

The Alumnae Relations Chair shall:

A.  Distribute a newsletter to graduate AΣΨ members once a semester via an email distribution list.

B. Plan an Alumnae event once per semester that involves the Alumnae upon request.

C. Update the directory for the spring semester.

 

Section 12: Greek Representative:

The Greek Representative:

• Represent Alpha Sigma Psi to other Greek lives on campus.

• Attend Greek Council meetings.

• Contact other Greek organizations.

 

ARTICLE V:

ALPHA SIGMA PSI EXECUTIVE BOARD

 

The AΣΨ Executive Board shall be elected by a majority vote of AΣΨ active members. Elections for President, Vice President, and Secondary Advisor will be held in March. The elections for the Chairs shall be held at the second to last sorority meeting. The new Executive Board shall take office the last AΣΨ meeting of the year, and their term will last until the same time the following year.

 

Section 1: The Elected Executive Board

The elected member of the Executive Board shall include the President, Vice President, and Secondary Advisor.

 

Section 2: Elected Executive Board's Point Requirement

If members of the Executive Board do not meet the minimum requirements for being a part of the sorority within the period of a semester, they will be asked to step down from their current position on the Executive Board for the following semester.

 

Section 3: Election Guidelines

A. Elections of the Executive Board shall take place during a regular meeting and must be brought to the floor by the President.

B. To be considered for nomination, a member must be active and in good standing with the club, having not been on probation during their membership in the sorority.

 

Section 4: Election Procedures

A. The acting President, if in senior standing and not able to be nominated again for re-election, shall conduct the election process.

B.  If the acting President is able to be nominated again than an active member with senior status at Marywood University will preside over the election.

C.  Voting shall be held in rank order.

D. To run for a position on the AΣΨ Executive Board, a member may be nominated by another active member or self-nominated.

E. Nominations shall consist of presenting the name of the nominee.

F.  Following the nomination of a member, the nominee must have a seconded by another active member. If there is no second, the member will not be eligible for the position.

G. If there is a second on the floor, the nominee shall then state why they are qualified for the position.

H. If self-nominated, the member shall simply state why they are qualified for the position and does not require a second by another sorority member to run for the desired position.

I. After all nominations have been given, the nominees shall leave the room and a debate shall take place by the members of the sorority to determine the best nominee.

J. The blind rising of hands will do voting.

K. A 51% majority is required for a nominee to win.

L. If there is a tie between members then there will be a re-vote also needing a 51% majority vote to win.

M. The President is eligible to vote during elections; however, she can abstain but must break a voting tie if she chooses to abstain.

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 THE BYLAWS OF ALPHA SIGMA PSI

 

• To maintain a 2.25 GPA throughout your academic year.

• Consequence: If a sister falls below the required GPA she will be given a warning and show improvements in one semester and meet the GPA by the second semester. If by two semesters the student does not bring up their GPA they will become an inactive member.

• To hold one member meeting once a week, each sister is allowed 3 skips or more if the reason for missing is approved by the executive board (president, vice president, secondary advisor).

• Consequence: If a sister skips more than 3 meetings not approved they will not be able to participate in the upcoming events.  Fines will be distributed for unexcused absence. Fines will be determined by executive board

• All University regulations, state and local laws are to be observed by all Alpha Sigma Psi sisters.

• Consequence: Failure to abide by the rules will result in consequences decided by standards chair and executive board to fit the offense.

• Alcoholic Beverages shall not be consumed while wearing letters/ representing Alpha Sigma Psi and or on campus.

•  Consequence: Based off standards chair decision, which needs to be passed by the executive board.

• The possession or use of marijuana, narcotics, and hallucinogens shall be subject to immediate action.

• Each sister will be required to fulfill a set amount of service hours set by the service chair at the beginning of each semester. In extreme circumstances hour requirements can be adjusted.

• Each sister is expected to uphold Alpha Sigma Psi standards of treating the campus community with respect and acting in a friendly manner towards mutual acquaintances of other Marywood Sorority and Fraternity members.

• Consequence: If a sister fails to uphold this law they will be subject to penalties determined by standards chair and executive board.

• Rituals and other disclosed information shall be kept a secret.

• Consequence: Depending on the severity and amount of information disclosed members will be subject to immediate inactive member position or expelled from Alpha Sigma Psi.

• As a part of the sorority all sisters are expected to include one another in all aspects of Alpha Sigma Psi. No sisters will be left out.

• Each sister will be held responsible for what they say and do.