SECTION 10 – Initiation Ceremony

The promotion of pledges to active membership status shall be conducted in a closed formal ceremony at a date following the pledge election meeting and prior to the end of semester Pledge Dinner. All pledges and members of the active chapter must be present for the ceremony. During the ceremony the active or Alumni President will preside over the administration of membership oath, pin and formally promote the pledges to active membership.

SECTION 11 – Resignations

Any student or alumnus member of the Fraternity shall have the right to resign from the Fraternity. No member shall be permitted to resign if he/she owes any dues, fees, assessments or property to the Fraternity. A member shall tender his/her resignation in writing to the active chapter stating his/her reason for the resignation. The President shall, at the next regular business meeting, examine the petition and determine if the party is eligible for resignation and conduct a vote of members present to determine whether the exiting member shall be recommended for reinstatement if, at a later date, the individual petitions for reinstatement. Upon conclusion, the results shall be mailed to the individual and the Alumni Association. A member who fails to settle obligations prior to departure will be suspended and may be expelled as per Article 3 Sections 12 & 13. An active member who fails to attend 3 consecutive meetings, without notice to the President, shall be presumed to have relinquished membership and shall be suspended pending formal action by Active Judicial Committee.

SECTION 12 – Suspensions

A student member may be placed on suspension by the chapter Active President or Alumni President, pending a hearing by the Active Judicial Committee, if there is reason to believe that the individual has done any of the following:

(a) Has failed to fulfill duties of a member and/or officer of the Fraternity.(includes attendance violations and failure to pay debts)
(b) Has failed to maintain academic standard.
(c) Has broken his/her oath to Fraternity.
(d) Has violated any local, state, or federal law classified a felony.
(e) Has violated any Fraternity or university code of conduct and ethics.
(f) Has committed any offense that has brought shame or disdain to the Fraternity’s name.

Upon being placed on suspension a student member will be temporarily relieved of all Fraternity duties, will not have voting privileges, and shall not have contact with pledges. Suspended members may attend regular business meetings, but no social events or ceremonies. This restricted membership shall remain in effect until the President removes the suspension. The affected member shall immediately be notified in person or by certified mail of the date of his/her required appearance and the charges against him/her. This notification must occur 48 hours prior to the Judicial Committee hearing. The suspended member shall appear at request of the Judicial Committee. Failure to appear as requested shall be a substantial infraction under Section 13- Expulsion provisions. The Judicial Committee will convene, investigate the charges, make a determination of guilt, and make a recommendation to the President within 5 days of the notification of a complaint. The member has the right to appeal the finding of the Judicial Committee, in writing and within 5 days that punitive action is ordered, to the chapter Active Executive Council. The finding of the Executive Council shall be final and binding. In cases where the Alumni President has initiated the suspension the case will be deliberated by the Alumni Judicial Board. No appeal will be allowed to the Boards disposition.

SECTION 13 – Expulsions

Student members will be expelled from the Fraternity by the chapter Active or Alumni President, upon a determination by the Active Judicial Committee or an Alumni Board that said member is guilty of an offense warranting expulsion. The Active Judicial Committee, presided over by the Vice President, shall have the authority and responsibility to investigate any allegations of misconduct by a member of the Fraternity. The Alumni Board may conduct an investigation itself or assign it to the Active Judicial Committee. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the Active Judicial Committee shall determine the validity of the allegation with a finding of guilt or innocence. If the accused is found guilty by a 2/3 vote of the Judicial Committee a recommendation for expulsion shall be forwarded to the President for execution.

Criteria for expulsion of a Fraternity member shall be:

(a) Member found guilty of committing a “substantial” offense - those offenses listed in Article 3, Section 12, as (c), (d), (e), or (f) Burden of proof shall be a preponderance of evidence.

OR;

(c) Article 3, Section 12 offense listed “ a” or “b” was committed by member after he/she was instructed to rectify conduct and/or he/she failed to fulfill the terms of assigned punitive action ( pay fine etc..) while on suspension. See Article 3, Section 12 “suspension guidelines”.

SECTION 13.1- Process and Rules of Expulsion Hearing:

1. Allegation or complaint filed with chapter Active Vice President or Alumni President.
2. Active Judicial Committee (or Alumni Judicial Board) convenes, confirms, and investigates allegation.
3. Accused placed on suspension and immediately notified.
4. Accused member appears before Committee (Board) for sworn deposition. Members
who fail to appear may be convicted in absentia.
5. Active Judicial Committee (or Alumni Board) conducts hearing and determines guilt
or innocence.
6. Judicial Committee (Board) submits written report of findings and its decision for disposition of case to the President.
7. President calls a special meeting at which he absolves or expels member.
8. Member may appeal decision to the Active Executive Council in writing within 5 days
of an expulsion, in which case the Council’s decision would be final. There is no appeal to the Alumni Judicial Board.
9. Written verdict and disposition delivered to the Alumni Association President and the
accused.
10. The Alumni Association Judicial Board will review the case report and may affirm or
overturn decision of Active Judicial Committee.

SECTION 14 – Reinstatement

Any member who has resigned from the Fraternity may be reinstated in good standing if he/she;

(a) Files a written petition for reinstatement with the active chapter Fraternity Secretary and Alumni Association Secretary.

AND

(b) The petition is approved unanimously by the active chapter members and the Alumni Association President.

ARTICLE 4 – FRATERNITY GOVERNMENT

The government of the Fraternity chapter will be comprised of the democratically elected Active Executive Council, the appointed officers, and the appointed committees.

SECTION 1 – Chapter Active Executive Council

The Executive Council shall be comprised of; the President, the Vice President, the Secretary and the Treasurer. These officers will be elected by a majority vote of the chapter’s active student membership. The Council shall be the governing body of the Fraternity chapter, but shall operate under the authority of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. The Executive Council shall be empowered to make decisions regarding the active Fraternity, its operation, and disbursement of funds.

The duties of the Active Executive Council shall be:

1.To preserve the integrity of the Fraternity and uphold the Fraternity Constitution.
2.To act as a planning board for the chapter, coordinating a calendar of the year’s activities in conjunction with the alumni, committees and appointed members.
3. To review the reports and monetary requests of the appointed officers and the committees.
4. To act as the appellant court for any appeal of Judicial Committee verdicts.

The Executive Council shall have the authority to:

1. Approve or disprove any proposed Fraternity activities.
2. Approve or disapprove submitted budgets by appointed officers.
3. Render final decisions regarding expulsions.

SECTION 2 – Elective Officers

These officers shall be elected by a simple majority of the chapter actives at the last meeting of the concluding semester. Term of office shall be one semester. These officers are, in order of authority, are:

A. President
B. Vice President
C. Secretary
D. Treasurer

In the event that an officer resigns or is removed from office before his/her term is over the position will be filled by the next ranking officer until an election is held to fill the vacancy. Duties of an officer temporarily absent will also be fulfilled by the next ranking officer.

SECTION 3 – Appointed Officers

There shall be four appointed officers of the Fraternity chapter. These officers shall be chosen by the Active President immediately following his election and shall serve a term of one semester. The appointed officers shall fulfill their duties at the direction of the chapter Active President and the Active Executive Council.

A. Pledge Master
B. House Manager
C. Sergeant at Arms
D. Pledge Trainer
E. Social Chairman
F. Historian

SECTION 4 – Duties of Elected Officers

The President- The chief executive officer of the Fraternity.

The duties of the chapter’s Active President shall be:

1. To develop and implement a plan for the successful management and growth of the Fraternity.
2. To preside over the Chapter Executive Council.
3. To appoint all non-elected officers and committee members.
4. To delegate duties to members and oversee the discharge of these duties.
5. To bring disciplinary action against malfeasant and misfeasant members and implement disciplinary decisions against members.
6. To expel members on the recommendation of the Judicial Committee.
7. To preside over all chapter meetings, special meetings, ceremonies and Fraternity events.
8. To administer fraternal oaths and to promote pledges to active membership.

The President shall have the authority to:

1. Implement decisions of the Executive Council.
2. Remove an appointed officer.
3. Discipline and levy fines for misconduct of members as per the Constitution and approved fine schedule.
4. Call special meetings.
5. Direct Judicial Committee to convene.
6. Remand Judicial Committee’s decision to the Executive Council in expulsion cases.
7. Suspend and expel members according to the Constitution.

The Vice President

The duties of the Vice President shall be:

1. To temporarily assume the office and duties of the President in his absence or for the remainder of term should the office become vacant.
2. To assist the President as directed.
3. To preside over the Judicial Committee.
4. To conduct investigations and disciplinary hearings when warranted.
5. To deliver findings of Judicial Committee in a written report to the President and the Secretary.
6. To interpret all matters of constitutionality.
7. To negotiate and resolve disputes among members.
8. To sit on the Executive Council.

The Vice President shall have the authority to:

1. Conduct all Fraternity affairs in absence of the President.
2. Suspend members per constitution.
3. Convene and preside over the Judicial Committee.

The Treasurer

The duties of the Treasurer shall be:

1. To promptly collect and disperse all Fraternity money.
2. To report of Fraternity finances to the chapter members and Alumni Advisor at each regular meeting.
3. To collect all dues, fees, fines and assessments.
4. To report members who fail to pay dues and fines to the President and the Vice President.
5. To prepare a written Fraternity budget for each semester and present it to the Executive Council and chapter membership.
6. To diligently manage the Fraternity checking account.
7. To maintain accurate financial records of Fraternity and to maintain records in a secure organized file at the Fraternity House.
8. To be a member of the Executive Council.

The Treasurer shall have the authority to:

1. Allocate Fraternity funds at the direction of the Executive Council.
2. Negotiate and institute plans of payment with members.
3. Impose and collect fines for delinquent accounts. Amounts defined by fine schedule approved by Executive Council.

The Secretary

The duty of the Secretary shall be:

1. To notify all chapter members, Alumni Advisor, and Alumni Secretary of Fraternity meetings and events.
2. To record accurate and concise minutes of all regular and special chapter meetings.
3. To record the minutes of other meetings and prepare any needed Fraternity documents as directed by President or Vice President.
4. To submit completed minutes of prior meetings to the President, Alumni Advisor, and members at each regular chapter meeting.
5. To keep a secure and organized record file at the Fraternity house containing; minutes from all meetings, Judicial hearings, Fraternal correspondence, and the Fraternity member and alumni address and phone book.
6. To assemble and maintain the Fraternity address and phone book.
7. To conduct all Fraternity correspondence with faculty, alumni, members, businesses and university. Preparing all invitations, notifications, and notes of gratitude, business orders, requests, and news releases.
8. To propose and manage a correspondence budget for each semester and submit it to the Executive Council.
9. To assist the Pledge Master with the development, revision, production and disbursement of recruitment materials, pamphlets, banners, faculty announcements.
10. To provide a list of active Fraternity members, their offices & their biographical information to the Alumni Association Secretary.
11. To notify Alumni Association Secretary of all suspensions, expulsions, resignations, or any disciplinary proceedings.

The Secretary shall have the authority to:

1. Financially obligate the Fraternity for; correspondence materials and disbursement, facility rentals, event reservations and arrangements.
2. Carry out any tasks assigned and approved by the President and/or the Executive Council.

SECTION 5- Authority and Duties of Appointed Officers

5. The Pledge Master

The duties of the Pledge Master shall be:

1. To develop a recruitment plan, calendar and budget and submit it to the Executive Council for approval.
2. To develop a pledge program plan, calendar and budget and submit it to Executive Council.
3. To be standing member on Social Committee.
4. To work and coordinate with the Secretary on development of recruitment program; dates of events, pamphlet production, publicity materials, instructor notifications, media notification, and alumni notification.
5. To recruit suitable candidates for the pledge program.
6. To deploy the pledge program as approved by the Executive Council.
7. To instruct the pledge class on the requirements of the program and assign duties to them.
8. To supervise and instill discipline in pledges.
9. Take reasonable punitive action against pledges for minor infractions.
10.To report all pledge misconduct to the Executive Council, active class, and Alumni Advisor.
11.To provide all chapter actives and the Alumni Advisor with an outline of the
program, its events, and provide pertinent testing information.
12. To provide weekly reports of the progress and conduct of each member of the pledge class.
13. To assign “big brothers”.
14. To supervise the Pledge Trainer.

The Pledge Master shall have the authority to:

1. Elect an individual to become a pledge of the Fraternity.
2. Discipline and suspend a pledge.
3. Modify the pledge program; its calendar, events, and content upon approval by Executive Council.
4. Appoint and dismiss the Pledge Trainer.
5. Nominate a pledge for “Perfect Pledge” honors.
6. Dismiss a pledge for constitutional violations.

The House Manager

The duties of the House Manager shall be:

1. To set and collect house rent.
2. To set house parking regulations and collect parking fees as approved by Executive Council.
3. To establish rules of conduct and cleanliness for members and renters. (to be approved by Executive Council.)
4. To negotiate rental agreements and contracts with tenants.
5. To serve eviction notices at the direction of the Alumni Association.
6. To set and collect fines for violation of house rules.(approved by Council)
7. To manage the house finances and maintain a record file of house expenses.
8. To perform or arrange for house repairs, maintenance, and cleaning.
9. To procure needed materials for house repair and upkeep.
10. To prepare a report detailing all needed repairs, proposing improvements, semester house projects, rental rates, parking rates, house rules, and fine schedule and submit it to the Executive Council and Alumni Association for approval.
11. To submit a house report with cost estimate for repairs & projects to the Executive Council for approval.
12. To conduct safety inspections of house at least twice a semester and submit summary to Executive Council and Alumni Association. (includes fire equipment)
13. To organize and direct at least two house cleaning up days a semester.
14. To diligently pay property rent to Alumni Association.

The House Manager shall be granted the following authority by the Executive Council:

1. Set and collect room rental and parking rates as approved by Executive Council.
2. Enter into rental agreements and contracts for month to month room rentals.
3. Authorize house expenditures to $300.00 unless authorized by Executive Council.
4. Fine tenants and members for house misconduct according to posted and approved fine schedule.
5. Delegate house chores to tenants.

The Sergeant–at-Arms

The duties of the Sergeant-at-Arms shall be:

1. To maintain order, provide security and enforce meeting rules at chapter meetings and ceremonies.
2. To insure that the meeting place is clean and adequate seating is provided.
3. To assist the Pledge Master with the arrangements and preparations for pledge meetings and ceremonies.
4. To store and maintain Fraternity regalia.
5. Levy fines for misconduct and rule infractions occurring during meetings (according to Council’s fine schedule.)

Authority of the Sergeant-at-Arms:

To levy and collect fines for misconduct at meetings as per fine schedule approved by Executive Council.
Obligate the Fraternity financially for rental of meeting places with the consent of Executive Council.

The Pledge Trainer

The duties of the Pledge Trainer shall be:

1. To assist the Pledge Master with the Pledge Program planning and execution.
2. To assist the Pledge Master with recruitment activities.
3. To educate, tutor, supervise, advise, and discipline pledges at the direction of the Pledge Master.
4. To temporarily perform the duties of the Pledge Master in his/her absence or permanently upon resignation.
5. To maintain the pledge room and its historical items.
6. To direct the pledge class project.

The Social Chairman

The duties of the Social Chairman shall be:

1. To preside over the Social Committee.
2. To prepare a calendar of social and professional events and submit it to the Executive Council.
3. To arrange facility rentals, restaurant reservations, and other arrangements for events.
4. To make arrangements for guest speakers.
5. To coordinate with Secretary to produce invitations and publicity materials.

The authority of the Social Chairman:

1. To obligate the Fraternity for facility rentals, equipment rentals, and publicity related events as approved by the Executive Council.

The Historian

The duties of the Historian shall be:

1. To maintain all Fraternity memorabilia and photographs.
2. To serve as the photographer at all Fraternity events.
3. To assemble a photo yearbook.

The authority of the Historian:

1. To purchase materials for completion of the yearbook and preservation of memorabilia.

SECTION 6 – Committees

There shall be at least two committees, the Judicial Committee and the Social Committee.

The Judicial Committee

The Judicial Committee shall be the judicial body of the Fraternity. The Committee shall examine all incidents of member misconduct brought to its attention and determine punitive action to be taken. The Committee shall be composed of the Vice President and three active members of the Fraternity who have been appointed by the President.

The duties of the Judicial Committee shall be:

1. To enforce the Constitution & Law of the Fraternity.
2. To investigate member misconduct.
3. To hold hearings and examine evidence.
4. To render decisions of guilt or innocence.
5. To recommend type of punitive action to be instituted against guilty party; fines, labor, suspension, or expulsion.
6. To forward report of hearing verdict and recommendations to the President and the Executive Council.

The Judicial Committee shall have the authority to:

1. Summon the presence and compel the testimony of members.
2. Suspend members for failure to appear or failure to testify.

The Social Committee

The Social Committee shall be composed of the Social Chairman, the Secretary, the Pledge Master and at least one other member of the Fraternity. The purpose of this committee shall be to provide the Fraternity with an array of social and professional activities.

The duties of the Social Committee shall be:

1. Prepare a calendar of events for the semester and submit it to Executive Council.
2. Prepare a budget for the proposed events and submit it.
3. Implement an approved event calendar.
4. Coordinate events with Alumni Association.
5. Organize and staff all events

ARTICLE 5 – MEETINGS and EVENTS

There shall be two types of meetings: regular business meetings and special business meetings.

Business and Special meetings

(a) The President shall determine meeting dates, times, location, and dress.
(b) Business meetings shall be the regular weekly chapter meetings and ceremonies.
(c) Special meetings are those meetings convened by the President other than the regular business meetings.
(d) The Secretary shall notify all members of meetings and specify the dress code.
(e) Robert’s Rules of Order shall be used to conduct all meetings.

Events

Events shall be any activity, other than a business meeting, that member attendance has been deemed mandatory by the President. These events include; Rush/recruiting activities, social events, and professional activities.

SECTION 1- Conduct and Rules of Meetings & Events.

1. Members are required to attend all meetings and events deemed mandatory by the President.
2. Meetings shall be closed to the public, former members, and pledges.
3. Special Meetings shall be closed to the public, any members restricted, or any person prohibited from attending regular business meetings.
4. The meeting place shall be secured (locked) at the designated meeting time and no person shall be permitted to enter or leave unless it is specified by the President or Sergeant at Arms.
5. Order will be maintained by the Sergeant at Arms.
6. Minutes will be recorded by hand at all meetings by the Secretary. No audio recording may be made without permission of the President.
7. All meetings and events shall be open to Alumni.
8. Robert’s Rules of Rules of Order shall be used to conduct all meetings unless found to be contrary to the constitution.
9. Fines will be assessed to any member that is tardy, absent, uses profane language, violates dress code or violates any other meeting/event rule. These fines will be assessed by the Sergeant- at -Arms according to a fine table and conditions approved by the Executive Council.
10. Any member who desires to be absent from a meeting must request permission, in writing, from the President.
11. Any member who misses a meeting must present a letter to the President explaining the reason for his/her absence.
12. Any member who misses 3 consecutive meetings and has not contacted the 13. President shall be presumed to have relinquished his/her membership with the Fraternity and will be immediately placed on suspension.

ARTICLE 6- DUES, FEES, and FINES

Pledge Fees

All persons accepting pledgeship in the Fraternity shall pay to the active chapter Treasurer a fee set by the Executive Council. This fee shall be due within five days of the date of pledgeship and is not refundable. Failure to pay the fee is grounds for dismissal from the program. If for any reason a pledge depledges or is depledged and then returns to pledge again he/she will be required to pay the fee again. 20% of all pledge fees shall be deposited into the chapter fraternity house account for upkeep and maintenance purposes.

Active Semester Dues

Every semester the Treasurer shall collect dues from each active student member of the chapter. The due amount and date of payment shall be set by the Executive Council and shall be posted in the chapter house. Usually dues will be collected at the second regular meeting of the semester. 25% of the active dues total shall be deposited into the chapter Fraternity house account. Failure to pay dues diligently will result in disciplinary action as per Article 3 Section 12 (a).

Fines

Fines may be imposed upon members as punishment for misconduct and for delinquency in payment of monies owed to the Fraternity. Fines shall be set by the Executive Council each semester and delivered to the active membership. This money shall be deposited into the general Fraternity account, unless the fine was collected by the House Manager. Members failing to pay fines will be immediately reported to the Vice President for disciplinary action by the Judicial Committee.

ARTICLE 7- FACULTY ADVISOR

Each semester the Fraternity shall choose an instructor from the criminal justice department to be the Fraternity’s campus Faculty Advisor. This instructor will be elected by a majority vote of the active student membership. The active chapter Secretary shall notify the Alumni Association of the selection. Advisors are invaluable assets to the Fraternity. They are our lobbyists and ears on campus who will keep us involved with and knowledgeable of and about our department. The Advisor shall be invited to all Fraternity events and may be permitted to attend meetings. At the end of each semester the Faculty Advisor will be honored for his/her contributions with an award at the Pledge Dinner.

ARTICLE 8- AMENDMENTS

Any active member may present an amendment to the Constitution. All proposed amendments must be presented in writing for consideration by the chapter members. Members may adopt the amendment with a ¾ vote majority of the active chapter. If an amendment passes it shall be forwarded to the Alumni Association President for approval. Upon approval, the amendment shall become effective.

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