Brown RISD Hillel

student constitution

Constitution for the Jewish Community of Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design

Revised 2006
  1. Structure
    1. The Hillel Student Board and its constituent committees and groups ("Hillel") provide the formal leadership and structure for the Jewish Community.
    2. The Brown Hillel Foundation provides infrastructure for the Jewish Community including financial, programmatic, and logistical support.
  2. Purpose
    1. The mission of Hillel is to contribute to the larger community by creating a vibrant Jewish community in which all of the Jewish students at Brown and RISD can explore and express their Jewish identity in a way that is meaningful to them
  3. Hillel Student Board
    1. The Hillel Student Board shall be the general leadership and the chief decision-making body of the Hillel.
    2. Meetings
      1. The Student Board shall meet on an a weekly basis.
      2. All Student Board meetings shall be open unless explicitly closed.
    3. The duties of the Student Board are:
      1. Long range planning.
      2. Allocating funds for all Hillel groups and projects.
      3. Creating and implementing a vision for the Jewish community.
      4. Maintaining Shalom Bayit (harmony and mutual respect) in the community.
      5. Ensuring diversity in programming.
      6. Encouraging pluralism in all Hillel functions.
      7. Fostering a welcoming environment within the Jewish community.
      8. Sustaining Hillel groups.
      9. Continually evaluating Hillel's programming and seeking to improve it.
      10. Continually evaluating the needs of the Jewish community and seeking to meet them.
      11. Supporting student leaders in developing leadership skills and in personal growth.
      12. Ensuring the clear transfer and sharing of information among all students, leaders and staff.
    4. The Executive Board shall be comprised of five officers: the President, the Executive Vice President ("EVP"), the Vice President of Community Programming ("VCP"), the Vice President of Campus Relations ("VCR"), and the Vice President of Cultural Arts ("VCA")
    5. The duties of the President are:
      1. To preside over all meetings of the Student Board and Hillel community.
      2. To represent Hillel publicly.
      3. To lead the Executive Board, especially in the duties described in Article III, Section 3, subsections a, c, i, and j.
      4. To network with other college groups in Providence (primarily at Brown).
      5. To maintain good communication with the Brown Hillel Foundation, its Board of Directors and staff.
      6. To serve as a trustee on the Hillel Board of Trustees.
      7. To serve as mentor to the VCP, VCA and VCR.
      8. To ensure that this constitution remains updated and to transmit electronic and physical copies of this constitution to a new Board upon its election, as well as to the Hillel staff upon any amendment to this constitution.
    6. The duties of the EVP are:
      1. To oversee the budgeting process for Hillel groups and projects.
      2. To maintain up-to-date information about Hillel's budget and allocations.
      3. To keep minutes at Student Board meetings, public Hillel community meetings, and all other meetings at which the President presides.
      4. To distribute those minutes in a timely manner and maintain an up-to-date archive of the agendas and minutes from Hillel meetings.
      5. To keep track of all information, especially regarding program scheduling, in a central and accessible form.
      6. To act as President in the President's absence.
      7. To be familiar with funding opportunities outside Hillel, especially from the University and International Hillel, and to aid students wishing to apply for such grants.
    7. The duties of the VCP, VCR and VCA are:
      1. To serve as mentors for the group leaders under his or her jurisdiction, including in the development of leadership skills, in logistical tasks, and in personal growth.
      2. To meet regularly with all of thoise group leaders as a group.
      3. To support and coordinate programming among those committees and groups.
      4. To ensure programming quality, quantity, and variety within those committees and groups.
      5. To involve groups and group leaders in the business of the Student Board by keeping them up-to-date on Student Board business and bringing their feedback back to the Student Board.
      6. To help committee chairs and group leaders form partnerships both inside and outside Hillel.
      7. To assist groups in integrating Jewish content into their programming as appropriate.
      8. To communicate with staff about programs.
      9. To support students running programs outside of a group.
      10. To actively seek student leaders interested in creating new groups or projects and supporting them in that process.
      11. To address problems that arise in their area of jurisdiction.
      12. To hear and try to resolve concerns in their area of jurisdiction raised by members of the Jewish community.
      13. To fulfill additional duties as discussed in sections 8, 9 and 10.
    8. The Vice President of Community Programming:
      1. Works with those groups and committees responsibile for creating the broad programming intended for the Brown / RISD Jewish community at large.
    9. The Vice President of Campus Relations:
      1. Works with those groups whose purpose necessitates meaningful collaboration with or attention to the wider campus and city, especially tzedek and identity groups
      2. Should have experience connecting to groups outside Hillel, and supports group leaders in developing those skills
      3. Must balance supporting existing groups and programs and actively reaching out to form new partnerships
    10. The Vice President of Cultural Arts
      1. Works with those groups which primarily program for themselves, especially arts and performance groups, as well as Shabbat minyanim
      2. Must balance supporting existing groups and programs and actively reaching out to form new partnerships
  4. Hillel Committees
    1. Hillel has a number of standing committees to address or plan certain aspects of the Hillel program or otherwise implement Hillel's mission.
    2. All committee chairs shall maintain active and diverse committees of no fewer than 4 students.
    3. The Shabbat Committee
      1. Plans and implements special programming for Shabbat.
      2. Ensures the smooth logistical flow of Shabbat observance, including (but not limited to) candle-lighting, dinner, birkat hamazon, singing, oneg shabbat, Shabbat lunch, Seudah Shlishit and Havdalah.
      3. Creates a welcoming and inclusive community on Shabbat.
    4. The Holidays Committee
      1. Plans and implements religious and cultural programming related to Jewish holidays.
      2. Ensure the smooth logistical flow of holiday observances.
      3. Creates a welcoming and inclusive community on holidays.
    5. The Education Committee
      1. Integrates Jewish content and education into Hillel programs.
      2. Plans and implements educational programs, including (but not limited to) regular classes, speakers, discussion groups, and one-time teaching sessions.
        1. It is recommended, but not a requirement, that the Chair of the Education Committee have a broad base of Jewish knowledge across the field of Jewish experiences.
    6. The Social Committee
      1. Integrates social aspects into other Hillel programs.
      2. Plans and implements social programming, including (but not limited to) the Purim and Chanukah parties, other parties, study breaks, and trips.
    7. The Tzedek Committee
      1. Integrates tzedek into the Hillel program.
      2. Promotes social justice activity and awareness within Hillel.
      3. Plans and implements one-day service projects and other tzedek special events.
    8. The Welcoming Committee
      1. Meets the needs of prospective students, including (but not limited to) correspondence, arranging overnight visits, and coordinating volunteers and activities for A Day On College Hill (ADOCH).
      2. Supports and coordinate events for first-year and transfer students including (but not limited to) orientation and First-Year Students of Hillel programming.
      3. Helps other Hillel leaders ensure that all Hillel programming is welcoming and accessible to the entire community.
    9. The Israel Committee
      1. Plans and implements community-wide Israel programming, including (but not limited to) large Israel initiatives, Yom Ha'atzma'ut programs, and initiatives that do not fall within the purview of any constituted student group
      2. Works with the leaders of Israel-oriented student groups on campus to co-ordinate Israel programming
    10. The Shabbat, Holidays, Education, Social, Tzedek, Welcoming and Israel committee chairs shall be elected positions, as their leadership and programming affects the experience of the wider Hillel community.
    11. Student Trustees
      1. The Student Board shall annually select three students prior to the spring board meeting of the Hillel foundation, who shall function as student trustees along with the President in accordance with the Foundation's bylaws.
    12. Ad-Hoc Committees
      1. The Student Board may create ad-hoc committees by a majority vote and appoint their chairs as it sees fit.
      2. The Chairs of Ad-hoc committees will be assigned to a Vice President at the Board's discretion.
  5. Hillel Groups
    1. A Hillel group shall be a semi-independent organization recognized by the Student Board.
    2. Hillel groups shall select their own leaders independently of the Student Board and the Hillel community.
    3. The Student Board shall have the power, by a 75% majority, to constitute and deconstitute Hillel groups.
    4. A group seeking official recognition shall present to the Student Board the following:
      1. Goals for the group.
      2. Plans for programs the group intends to run or activities in which it intends to engage.
      3. Evidence of adequate interest in the group's existence.
      4. A sample budget.
    5. Benefits of constitution shall include:
      1. Access to free photocopying in the Hillel office.
      2. Support from staff (both programming staff and student workers) and the Student Board.
      3. Permission to use the Hillel name and logo.
    6. Funding
      1. Once constituted, a Hillel group is immediately eligible for funding, should such funding be available under the current semester's budget.
    7. The Student Board reserves the right to reject any request for group constitution.
    8. The following shall be cause for deconstitution of a group:
      1. Lack of interest or activity (in consultation with the group leadership).
      2. Activity by a group that is egregiously contrary to the spirit or interests of Hillel.
    9. An accurate, updated list of all current Hillel groups shall be maintained in Appendix B of this constitution.
  6. Replacement of Officers
    1. Impeachment of the President
      1. A motion of impeachment against the President may be brought only by a consensus decision of the four Vice Presidents.
      2. The EVP shall immediately inform the President of such a motion, at which time the President may resign.
      3. If the President does not resign, a Student Board meeting shall be called as soon as possible, at which the President shall be allowed to speak in his or her defense.
      4. A unanimous vote of the Student Board shall be required to remove the President from office.
    2. Replacement of the President
      1. In the event that the President resigns, the EVP shall immediately and temporarily assume the role and duties of the President.
      2. The Student Board shall publicize the vacancy, take applications, and elect a new President by a 75% majority, rounding up.
      3. The new President shall take office immediately upon election, at which time the EVP shall resume the duties of his or her office.
    3. Impeachment of an officer other than the President.
      1. Any member of the Student Board may bring a motion of impeachment to the President.
      2. The President shall immediately inform the accused officer of the motion and shall offer the accused officer the opportunity to resign.
      3. If the accused officer does not resign, a Student Board meeting shall be called as soon as possible, at which the accused officer shall be allowed to speak in his or her defense.
      4. A unanimous vote of the Student Board shall be required to remove the accused officer from office.
    4. In the event that a Committee Chair or Vice President resigns, the Executive Board shall publicize the vacancy, take applications from the community, and appoint a replacement by consensus.
  7. Elections
    1. Elections shall be scheduled for mid-March, leaving the month of April for an orderly transition.
    2. Voting rights shall be granted to any Brown or RISD student who has attended at least three Hillel-sponsored events in the past year, or to any person at the discretion of the Student Board.
    3. Eligibility for office.
      1. Anyone with voting rights, who has been a member in good standing of a committee or group (as determined by the committee chair or group leader), may run for a position on the Student Board.
      2. Candidates for Executive Board positions must plan, at the time of election, to be present at their university for the duration of their term.
      3. Candidates for committee chairs may plan to be absent from their university in the spring semester of their term.
      4. Candidates running from abroad shall e-mail their speeches to the President, who shall ensure that they are read at elections.
    4. All candidates shall submit their names and the position they are running for to the Executive Board, which shall then e-mail out the slate of candidates prior to elections.
    5. All eligible members shall be eligible to run for any or all positions; a member failing of election to one office may run for another open office.
    6. Shared positions (co-candidacy).
      1. The sharing of a single Student Board position by two people shall be prohibited.
      2. The sharing of a committee chairship shall be strongly discouraged.
      3. Candidates wishing to run as a pair shall submit a detailed explanation of their reasons for doing so and their plan for splitting up their responsibilities and communicating with each other to the Student Board.
      4. The Student Board shall have full right to reject any application for co-candidacy, in which case either or both candidates shall remain eligible to run independently.
    7. Presiding Officer.
      1. The sitting President shall preside over elections, except in the case where the sitting President is a candidate for Hillel office.
      2. If the sitting President is a candidate for Hillel office, the Executive Board shall select a graduating student who is a current or past member of the Student Board to preside over elections.
      3. The presiding officer may vote in elections.
    8. Twenty people shall be considered a quorum for valid Hillel elections.
    9. In order to cast a vote for a particular position, a person must be present for all speeches or certify having read the speech transcripts or position papers. Restriction from voting for a given position does not disqualify a person from voting for other positions.
    10. Voting rules.
      1. Voting shall be by secret ballot.
      2. The presiding officer and the Hillel staff shall count ballots.
      3. A candidate must receive a true majority to win election.
      4. If more than two candidates run and none receives a majority, a runoff round shall be held immediately between the two candidates who received the most votes.
      5. If two candidates get the same number of votes but not the greatest number of votes, a runoff shall be held between them; there shall then be a runoff vote between the winner of this preliminary runoff and the candidate who received the greatest number of votes.
      6. Abstentions shall count towards quorum and towards a majority.
      7. If no candidate is elected, that position shall be passed and revisited at the end of the election. If, after the second round, no candidate is elected, the newly elected Executive Board shall appoint an eligible student to hold the position.
      8. See Appendix A for discussion and examples of these voting rules.
    11. Order of Elections
      1. The recommended default order of elections shall be the order in which positions are listed in Article III, Section 4 and Article IV.
      2. The presiding officer shall have the discretion to reorder the elections.
  8. Policy-making
    1. Position Statements
      1. The Hillel Student Board does not make position statements on behalf of Hillel.
      2. Upon receipt of a petition or other request for endorsement, the Student Board shall forward the petition to all Hillel groups, which are free to make independent statements as they see fit.
    2. Decision-making
      1. The Student Board shall seek appropriate community input before making policies and major decisions, which may include community meetings or the creation of an Ad-hoc committee.
      2. Policies and decisions shall be publicized on a regular basis.
      3. Any student objecting to a Student Board decision may, by presenting to the Student Board a petition with ten signatures concurring with the objection, require that a community meeting be called as soon as possible. After discussion at a community meeting, the policy under consideration shall be returned to the Executive Board for review.
      4. A vote by 75% of the Executive Board shall be required to change the decision.
  9. Constitutional Amendments
    1. The Student Board shall have broad authority to amend Article III (with the exception of Section 4) and Articles IV through VII of this constitution.
      1. Such an amendment shall be approved by a 75% majority.
    2. Amendments to the constitution shall be publicized and registered with the Hillel staff.
    3. The Student Board may not restrict public input or eliminate a requirement for a public vote.
    4. An amendment to Articles I and II, Article III Section 4, and Articles VIII and IX shall be approved at an extensively publicized community meeting, with an attendance of twenty or more, by a 75% vote.

Appendix A: Examples and Clarifications for Voting Rules

Internal Student Board Voting

Votes are rounded up. Since there are currently eleven members on the Student Board, a vote requiring a 75% margin requires nine out of the eleven members to vote for it. Abstentions remove the voter from the total count; thus, with one abstention, ten votes are considered to have been cast and eight are required to have a 75% majority. With two abstentions, seven votes are needed in order to exceed 75% of the seven votes which are cast.

Elections

Abstentions: Abstentions shall count towards quorum and towards a majority. In other words, an abstention is the equivalent of a vote against everybody. Abstentions still count towards the total number of votes cast. Thus, if there are 20 votes cast, a candidate receives 9 votes, and there are 11 abstentions, the candidate loses.

Majority: A candidate must receive in excess of 50% of votes cast. Thus, if 20 votes are cast, candidate A receives 9 votes, candidate B receives 8 votes, and there are 3 abstentions, no candidate wins. In this case, the vote should be taken again.

Ties:

Example 1: Mordechai, Esther, and Haman all get 8 votes and Vashti gets 3. Vashti is dropped and a runoff is held among Mordechai, Esther, and Haman.
Example 2: Mordechai gets 10 votes, and Esther and Vashti get 8 votes each. A preliminary runoff is held between Esther and Vashti. If Vashti wins that runoff, she goes on to an election against Mordechai, which decides the election.
Example 3: Mordechai, Esther, and Haman all get 10 votes. In a repeat of the vote, they each still get 10 votes. In this case, the outgoing Executive Board votes on the candidates. If the Executive Board, following the abovementioned procedures, ties (i.e. Mordechai and Esther each get 2 votes and Haman gets zero), the two remaining candidates (Mordechai and Esther) go back to the whole community for another vote, and if that vote is tied, new speeches are in order. If the Executive Board splits (i.e. Mordechai gets 2 votes, Esther and Haman each get 1), the Executive Board votes a second time, and if they fail again the vote goes back to the community with new speakers.

Appendix B: List of Constituted Hillel Groups as of Spring 2008

Groups for which the VCP is responsible:

Groups for which the VCR is responsible:

Groups for which the VCA is responsible:

The Brown Hillel Foundation :: 401.863.2805 :: 80 Brown St., Providence, RI 02906