Penn Arab Student Society
The University of Pennsylvania’s Arab Student Society’s (PASS) goal is to provide our university with an organization geared towards exploring Arab heritage and culture. PASS provides a forum for Arab students and all interested in Arab culture to meet and discuss issues relevant to the Arab World and Arab communities in the United States. We achieve this through hosting seminars, students panels, guest speakers, dinners and social outings. We also seek to provide newly admitted and prospective Arab students with the necessary information to further assist them with their transition to the University of Pennsylvania.
Mission Statement:
The Constitution of the University of Pennsylvania Arab Student Society
Article I - Name and Affiliation
The name of this organization shall be the University of Pennsylvania Arab Student Society (PASS).
Article II - Purpose
Section 1: To provide Penn with an organization geared towards exploring Arab heritage and culture. It will also be an opportunity for Arab students and all interested in Arab culture to meet in an informal social setting to discuss issues relevant to the Arab World and the Arab communities in the United States.
Section 2: To raise awareness throughout Penn’s campus concerning issues that are pertinent to the Arab World.
Section 3: To give the members of PASS the opportunity to explore the Arab Identity and rediscover the commonalties of the Arab Nation as a people with common causes and concerns. Furthermore, PASS will work to bridge the gap between the Arabs in the Arab World and the generations of Arabs raised in the U.S.
Article III - Membership
Section 1: All University of Pennsylvania students are eligible for membership.
Section 2: A PASS member is expected to attend meetings and participate in PASS related activities. A member is also expected to pay the dues levied by the executive board.
Section 3: Only full members, those paying dues, have voting privileges and the option to run for office.
Article IV - Officers
Section 1: PASS shall be administered by an executive board. All executive board members shall be voting members. Non-voting members are invited to the board meetings, but their attendance is not obligatory. In case of a tie in a voting procedure, the board will seek the advice of PASS' faculty advisor.
Section 2:
The President should:
* Preside over meetings of the society and the executive board.
* Act as general coordinator.
* Supervise the board's formulation of the budget.
* Handle communications with PASS members and the Penn
community.
community.
* Deliver presidential “State of the Society” Address at the first
General Body Meeting of his / her tenure, detailing the
organizational goals of his / her term as president.
General Body Meeting of his / her tenure, detailing the
organizational goals of his / her term as president.
* Specifically address whether or not the goals detailed in this address
were met at the final General Body Meeting of his / her tenure.
were met at the final General Body Meeting of his / her tenure.
The Vice-President should:
* Assume the president's position in his/her absence.
* Collaborate directly with Committee heads to organize and
supervise special events.
supervise special events.
* Implement the goals set by President in his / her “State of the
Society” Address
Society” Address
* Organize the monthly General Body Meeting by:
* Drafting the invitation for the meeting.
* Making Executive Chairs accountable for their roles in planning
the event.
the event.
* * Compiling the agenda or presentation for the meeting, which
should include next month's agenda and a feedback session
involving General Board Members: Collaborate directly with
Committee heads to organize and supervise special events.
should include next month's agenda and a feedback session
involving General Board Members: Collaborate directly with
Committee heads to organize and supervise special events.
* Delegate responsibilities in coordination with the president as they
see fit.
see fit.
The Treasurer should:
* Collect dues and maintain a list of paid members.
* Handle monetary exchanges, and keep an accurate account of all
funds and transactions.
funds and transactions.
* Be aware of al funding options (and involved stipulations) possible.
* Serve as the official PASS representative to the Student Activities
Council.
Council.
The Secretary should:
* Maintain accounts of each general and executive PASS meeting in a
consistent format, clearly detailing the specific tasks of members
for the week.
consistent format, clearly detailing the specific tasks of members
for the week.
* * A version of executive board minutes without the attendance
record shall be sent weekly to the executive board in a timely
fashion. Maintain an accurate list of all PASS members and
affiliated organizations
record shall be sent weekly to the executive board in a timely
fashion. Maintain an accurate list of all PASS members and
affiliated organizations
* Serve as the official PASS representative at the Student Activities
Council in the absence of the treasurer.
Council in the absence of the treasurer.
The Cultural Awareness Committee Head should:
* Initiate and preside over events that will create Arab cultural
awareness.
awareness.
* Act as a liaison between guest speakers and PASS.
* Work in direct coordination with the vice-president in locating and
inviting speakers to speak to PASS and preparing all the necessary
arrangements for that activity.
inviting speakers to speak to PASS and preparing all the necessary
arrangements for that activity.
* Help arrange for documentaries and films to complement activities
and raise awareness.
and raise awareness.
* Serve as the official PASS representative at the Student Activities
Council in the absence of the secretary.
Council in the absence of the secretary.
The Social Committee Head should:
* Be in charge of activities and events that foster a sense of
community like cultural and religious celebrations and social
events and activities.
community like cultural and religious celebrations and social
events and activities.
* Act as a liaison between guest speakers and PASS.
* Work in direct coordination with the vice-president in locating and
inviting speakers to speak to PASS and preparing all the necessary
arrangements for that activity.
inviting speakers to speak to PASS and preparing all the necessary
arrangements for that activity.
* Coordinate with other campus groups in Penn and outside of Penn
to create joint social activities for special relevant occasions.
to create joint social activities for special relevant occasions.
* Serve as the official PASS representative at the Student Activities
Council in the absence of the Cultural Awareness Chair.
Council in the absence of the Cultural Awareness Chair.
The United Minorities Council Representative should:
* Act as PASS’s representative to UMC meetings.
* Act as one of PASS’s main conduits to other Penn organizations
representing minority interests.
representing minority interests.
The Webmaster should:
* Maintain an up-to-date website, detailing all current / pending PASS
events.
events.
* Maintain an electronic record of all past PASS events and associated
advertisements.
advertisements.
The Alumni Affairs Chair should:
* Maintain open lines of communication between former and current
PASS members.
PASS members.
* Collect and manage alumni contact information.
The Public Relations Chairs (1-2 positions) should:
* Secure facilities both within and outside of Penn.
* Create advertisements for PASS events.
* Coordinate flyering / advertisement initiatives.
Section 3: Vacancies occurring among the officers shall be filled at the next general PASS meeting after such a vacancy occurs. The vacancy will be filled by appointment by the president, subject to approval of a majority of the executive board. However, should a vacancy occur in the office of president, the vice-president becomes president.
Section 4: Any officer may be unseated for failure to properly perform his duties in good faith. This action shall require an affirmative majority vote of full club members present at a regular club meeting.
Article V - Nominations and Elections
Section 1: Elections for the members of the executive board shall be held at a regular general PASS meeting at or near the close of the Fall semester. Notice of the elections shall be given at least two weeks in advance.
Section 2: Nominations may be given to the presiding officer by any full member. Nominations may be given no sooner than the regular general PASS meeting prior to the election meeting and no later than the opening of the election meeting.
Section 3: A nominee must be considered a full member and accept their nomination.
Section 4: The elections shall be coordinated by the outgoing president. If the president is running for office, the executive board shall appoint an election coordinator.
Section 5: Elections shall be held in order in which the officers duties are listed.
Section 6: All officer elections shall be by secret ballot. The ballots shall be counted by all outgoing officers not seeking election. Ballots shall be made available for recount to any member until the termination of the meeting.
Section 7: Officers shall be elected by a majority of full PASS members present. In case no candidate receives a majority vote, there shall be a run-off election until a majority is received.
Section 8: Officers shall serve a one year term period beginning immediately after elections, and can only serve in that position for two consecutive terms.
Article VI - Meetings
Section 1: PASS will hold its general meetings once every week. The executive board can call a general meeting by majority at any time with at least three days prior notice.
Section 2: Notice of meetings shall be given out by the president in the most complete manner practicable.
Section 3: Executive board meetings may be called by the president or a majority of the executive board with at least two days prior notice. to all officers.
Article VII - Committees
Section 1: The Cultural Awareness Committee is the committee responsible for activities that will create Arab cultural awareness. The events should be directed towards the members of PASS, the Penn community and the outside community as well. The committee will create, under the supervision of the head, the cultural events and work for their success. Cultural events include outside speakers, cultural films and documentaries and bringing the cultural activities that happen in the outside community, and are related to PASS, to members' attention.
Section 2: The Social Committee is the responsible for planning social activities for PASS members. These events should foster the sense of community between PASS members. The committee should stay in touch with the outside Arab community for any social activities that could interest PASS members and which members can participate in. Social events include Mentor program, fairs, cultural shows, parties, religious celebrations and other social events.
Article VIII - Amendments and By-Laws
Section 1: Amendments to this constitution may be adopted upon an affirmative vote by two-thirds of those full members present at a general PASS meeting
Section 2: By-laws may be adopted upon an affirmative vote of a majority of full members present at a general PASS meeting
Section 3: This constitution and by-laws are subject to interpretation of the president. The decision of the president may be overruled by a majority vote of those full members present at a general PASS meeting or a majority vote of the executive board at an executive board meeting.
University of Pennsylvania Arab Student Society’s Official Website
