CONSTITUTION – STUDENTS TOGETHER for the ADVANCEMENT of
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
Article I. The official name of this organization is the University of Northern Iowa
Students Together for the Advancement of Reproductive Rights, or the UNI STARR.
Article II. Purpose. STARR is a student run organization that serves to:
- Section I. Educate the University of Northern Iowa and surrounding communities by
raising awareness about a woman's reproductive health and rights, sex education;
safe sex practices; and providing support for access to all reproductive options which
include motherhood, contraception, abortion, or adoption.
- Section II. Respond to students' needs and preferences both on campus and in
society by providing them with the necessary information, resources and education to
make informed decisions about sexual activities, sexual health, and reproductive
management strategies.
- Section III. Contribute to creating a diverse university community by encouraging
dialogue.
- Section IV. Strengthen the university's goal of being a leader in educational
innovations, programs, and research by expanding the diversity of perspectives on
sex education and reproductive health through group positions, organized events, and
community service by providing a link between the university community and
Planned Parenthood chapters in the Cedar Valley.
Article III. Executive Offices include the President, Vice-President,
Secretary/Treasurer, Director of Public Relations, and Director of Outreach.
- Section I. The executive officers and the faculty advisor comprise a body known
as the Executive Council.
- Section II. Officers must be undergraduate or graduate students at UNI.
- Section III. Officers must serve a one-year term, and are eligible for two terms
per executive officer position.
- Section IV. STARR secretary/treasurer will provide a two-week notice to all
members prior to elections.
- Section V. Elections will occur during a regular STARR meeting in March.
- Section VI. Eligible voters must be current UNI students and official members
recorded as in attendance at the election meeting.
o Official membership is granted when the member attends at least two
consecutive meetings.
- Section VII. Voting is by secret ballot.
- Section VIII. Executive council members will be elected by a majority vote.
o In the event of a tie for first place, there will be a run-off election
between/among the tied candidates.
o The outcomes of any further ties between/among candidates will be
decided with a majority vote by the current executive officers, excluding
the faculty advisor.
 An executive officer has the option of abstention from voting.
o In the event of a tie in the executive council, the faculty advisor will make
the deciding vote.
Section IX. Executive council members are to give a two-week notification prior to
resignation, ensuring adequate time to find a replacement.
Article IV. Membership
- Section I. Students, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, who are
currently enrolled at least part time at UNI, and who have attended at least two
consecutive meetings.
- Section II. For voting eligibility, see Article VII. Voting.
- Section III. STARR does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual
orientation, age, or creed.
Article V. Duties of the Executive Officers
- Section I. President
o Represents the STARR in all official business when dealing with all internal
and external organizations, as well as University administration, and will
facilitate all communication with these entities, as well as the executive
council and all STARR members.
o Will act as a liaison with the STARR faculty advisor.
o Checks the executive council's respective duties and responsibilities, and
directs group meetings.
- Section II. Vice President
o Will act as acting president in the event the president cannot attend a meeting
or event, or if s/he can no longer fulfill her/his duties.
o Coordinates meeting times and orders necessary supplies.
o Reviews and recommends changes to the STARR Constitution and bylaws as
needed.
o In charge of refreshments for group meetings if possible.
o Responsible for reserving the space necessary for group meetings.
- Section III. Secretary/Treasurer
o Responsible for recording, summarizing, and distributing notes from group
meetings.
o Maintains all attendance records of group meetings.
o Compiles a roster of all official group members.
o Responsible for managing and conducting the group's funding and spending,
as well as maintaining appropriate accounting and inventory of STARR
merchandise.
o In charge of completing and seeing through any necessary forms from the
Student Involvement Center to the Northern Iowa Student Senate.
o Attends Student Senate budget meetings to allocate funding.
o Has signing privileges on the STARR checking account, and is responsible
for reimbursing other officers for club-related purchases.
- Section IV. Director of Public Relations
o Executes all communication with internal and external organizations, under
the direction of the president or acting president.
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o Directs the distribution of publicity materials, in accordance with university
policy.
o Will work with the director of outreach in coordinating events that involve
internal or external organizations.
o Responsible for coordinating with the university in following the proper
protocol in order to hold an event, as well as for the appropriate use of logos
and other forms of school and student group representation.
Section V. Director of Outreach
o Coordinates and directs all group events other than meetings.
o Delegates additional responsibilities to group members in an event.
o Collaborates with the director of public relations in establishing relations with
internal or external organizations.
o Responsible for maintaining communication with UNI students or any other
members of the public regarding STARR.
Section VI. Faculty Advisor
o Responsible for hosting monthly executive council meetings.
o Acts in cooperation with the president as a liaison between STARR and
University administration.
Section VII. All executive council members are expected to volunteer to lead and
coordinate components of the major events sponsored by STARR, and to attend all
meetings and events.
Article VI. Amendments to the Constitution & By-Laws
- Section I. A copy of proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be
submitted in writing to the President and Faculty Advisor. The
recommendation shall then be discussed at the next STARR meeting.
- Section II. Voting on proposed amendments shall take place at the meeting
following the discussion. The Constitution will be amended by a quorum
including all of the executive council.
- Section III. Amendments to the Constitution shall be distributed to all members
and attendants in the minutes following the voting meeting.
- Section IV. Members of the executive council may be removed through a
specific process that entails the following criteria.
o A written, formal complaint against the officer, filed from one or more
undergraduate or graduate student members of STARR.
o The remaining members of the executive council unanimously agree that
there is good reason for the accused officer to be removed from her/his
office.
o The accused officer will give an explanation of their guilt or innocence
regarding the complaint(s) charged against her/him.
o The official members of STARR, excluding the executive council, will vote
by secret ballot whether to remove or retain the accused officer.
In the event of the accused officer being removed, the executive council must
unanimously decide on a temporary replacement. A special election must be held
no later than two weeks from the impeachment, where all official members,
including the executive council will vote for an official replacement, in accordance
with Article IV, Section VIII of the STARR Constitution.
Article VII. Funding
- Section I. Funding will be raised through applying for NISG funding, fundraising,
donations, and any other way the Executive Council sees fit.
Article VIII. Faculty Advisor
- Section I. Serves a two-year term.
- Section II. The Faculty Advisor will be elected by official members of STARR.
- Section III. Will be reviewed annually by the executive council for continuation
of position.
- Section IV. In the event of her/his resignation, is responsible for helping find a
suitable replacement within the University faculty.
Article IX. Voting
- Section I. All persons who are present and who meet the eligibility for
membership as outlined in Article III. Membership. Exceptions are noted in the
following sections.
- Section II. A quorum is reached with five or more members present, two of
whom must be members of the executive council.
- Section III. Any vote in conflict with the STARR Constitution is null and void.
Article X. Meetings & Events
- Section I. STARR meetings will be held bi-weekly throughout the academic year,
subject to change at the executive council’s request. Meetings may be held
without a quorum, though the minutes from the previous meeting cannot be
approved, nor can any other voting take place other than as regards discussion
topics.
- Section II. Executive council meetings will be held twice a month as decided by
current executive officers.
- Section III. Meetings will follow Robert’s Rules of Order.
- Section IV. STARR events are open to all UNI students, faculty, and staff, and to
the general public according to the UNI code for student organizations.
Article XI. Sponsorship/Co-Sponsorship of University Events
- Section I. The purpose of co-sponsorship is to involve STARR in campus events
promoting the goals and values of the organization as outlined in the
Constitution. Thus, any university events in which, according to the judgment of
STARR, facilitate this purpose, are eligible for co-sponsorship.
- Section II. STARR will co-sponsor any event that satisfies all of the following
criteria:
o The event promotes the purpose of co-sponsorship outlined in Section I.
o A representative from the primary sponsor for the event provides an
outline of the event, as well as how it relates to the STARR purpose.
o The event does not require a financial contribution from STARR.
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Section III. All events not meeting these three requirements must be voted on
subject to the rules outlined in the Constitution.