BY - LAWS FOR
PHI - UPSILON ZETA OF
LAMBDA CHI ALPHA FRATERNITY
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
AT SAN ANTONIO
ARTICLE
I: NAME
Section
1.
This body shall be officially known and designated as the Phi Upsilon Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.
ARTICLE
II: OBJECTIVES ENUMERATED
Section
1. Objectives. The objectives of the Phi Upsilon Zeta shall
be:
(a) To maintain at the University of Texas at
San Antonio, an undergraduate unit of Lambda Chi Alpha in accordance with its
ideals, standards, traditions, and laws set forth in its ritual, constitution,
statutory code, Grand High Zeta edicts, and the authorized rulings and orders
of its general officers.
(b) Particularly to build up the membership,
ideals, spirit, organization, and physical equipment of this chapter so that
affiliation there with shall ever be regarded as an honor and privilege of
which only the finest men are worthy.
(c) To foster a spirit of genuine brotherhood
among its members, to make welcome within its home all members and associate
members in good standing of other Zetas who visit it, to do all within its
power to increase the friendly bond between the chapters, to develop as much as
possible a universal consciousness of fraternalism in Lambda Chi Alpha, to
emphasize the fact that its badge and ritual are sacred, that initiate
membership is for life, and that its brotherhood is universal within this
membership.
(d) To make good men great and great men
excellent.
ARTICLE
III: LAWS
Section
1. Laws enumerated. Phi Upsilon Zeta shall be governed by the
following laws:
FIRST: CONSTITUTION AND STATUTORY CODE
SECOND: RITUAL
THIRD: ORDERS OF THE GRAND HIGH ZETA
FORTH: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO
FIFTH: CHAPTER BY - LAWS
SIXTH: DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
SEVENTH: DECISIONS OF THE HIGH ZETA
EIGHTH: INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL
ARTICLE
IV: MEETINGS & FUNCTIONS
Section
1. Regular Meetings.
The time and place of regular meetings shall be
determined by the High Alpha. The
chapter shall be required to hold a minimum of two regular general fraternity
meetings each month of the academic year, and a minimum of one meeting a month
during the summer sessions.
Section
2. Special Meetings.
Special meetings may be called by the High Alpha or by
the written petition of one-third of the active membership. The entire membership must be notified at
least 24 hours prior to a special meeting.
Section
3. Initiated Brothers.
Only initiated brothers will be allowed to attend an
Initiated Brothers meeting. Brothers
from other Zetas will be allowed only after the High Phi, or highest ranking
officer if the Phi is not present has challenged and proved that the brother is
a duly initiated member of the Fraternity.
Section
4. Quorum.
A majority, which is defined as 50% + 1 of the active
members in good standing shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special
meeting of Phi Upsilon Zeta. Associate
members shall be considered part of the quorum in all discussions not
pertaining to those matters which are reserved to fully initiated
brothers.
Section
5. Who may attend.
Phi Upsilon Zeta business meetings are open to the
public. No person under the influence
of alcohol or drugs shall be permitted to attend regular or special meetings.
Section
6. Responsibility to attend.
(a) Attendance at all regular and special
meetings shall be compulsory on all members in good standing, including
associate members.
(b) Any
chapter event that is announced (in a chapter meeting and on the calendar) by
the officer in charge of the event as a “mandatory event” at least 3 week prior
to the event shall be considered compulsory for all members to attend. Failure to attend a “mandatory event” shall
follow the same guidelines as missing a chapter meeting.
(c) All decisions concerning excuses for
absence from a meeting shall be made by the Executive Committee. Excuses shall be given to the High Gamma or
Presiding officer if the High Gamma is not present before the absence and must
in writing. The Executive Committee may
grant an excuse after the absence in extenuating circumstances.
(d) The High Tau and the High Gamma shall each
record the names and fine amount for all such fines to each member’s dues.
Section
7. Who may vote.
Active members in good standing of Phi Upsilon Zeta are
entitled to vote on all chapter decisions.
Associate members are entitled to vote in all chapter meetings not
reserved to consideration solely by initiated brothers. Voting by proxy is
prohibited.
Section
8. Behavior at meetings.
(a) Disorder in a regular or special meeting
shall not be tolerated.
(b) Any
member who refuses to maintain proper decorum in a chapter meeting shall be expelled
from the meeting by the presiding officer and fined $10 dollars, to be paid at
the time of dismissal or added to the members regular dues.
Section
9. Dress at meetings.
(a) The first and last meeting of the semester, and the first meeting of every month are formal chapter meetings.
1. Dress at Formal chapter meetings shall be
shirt and tie, or a banded mandarin collared shirt with a sport coat, or a vest
will be acceptable.
(b) Dress at all other chapter meetings will
be defined as casual to include a shirt, short or pant and footwear.
(c) Those
members who do not dress according to Section IX, subsections “a” and “b” shall
be denied entrance to the general chapter meeting.
(d) Guests
and Alumni shall be expected to dress appropriately, but may be granted
entrance at the discretion of the highest ranking officer.
Section
10. Order of business. The following will be the Order of Business
at regular chapter meetings of Phi Upsilon Zeta:
(a) Formal
Opening Ceremony at each formal chapter meeting.
(b) Call to
order.
(c) Roll
Call.
(d) Reading
of minutes.
(e) Officer’s
reports.
(f) Administrative
Assistants and Committee reports.
(g) Old
Business.
(h) New
Business.
(i) Open
Discussion.
(j) Formal
Closing Ceremony at each formal chapter meeting.
(k) Adjournment.
Section
11. Rules of order.
Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of
meetings of Phi Upsilon Zeta. The
following special rules shall be in force:
(a) A
initiated member shall be addressed as “Brother....”.
(b) An Associate
Member shall be addressed as “Mister...”
(c) Officer shall be addressed as “Brother
High Alpha”, etc.
ARTICLE
V: OFFICERS
Section
1. Officers by rank. The elected officers are, by rank, as
follows:
President also known as
the HIGH ALPHA
Vice
President also
known as the HIGH BETA
Secretary also known as
the HIGH GAMMA
Treasurer also known as
the HIGH TAU
Risk
Management also known
as the HIGH IOTA
Fraternity
Educator also known as
the HIGH KAPPA
Recruitment
Coordinator also known as the
HIGH DELTA
Ritualist
also
known as the HIGH PHI
Scholastic
Chairman also known as the
HIGH SIGMA
Social
Chairman also known
as the HIGH EPSILON
Alumni
Secretary also known
as the HIGH RHO
Alumni
Advisor also known
as the HIGH PI
Section
2. Administrative Assistants. The following administrative assistants
shall be elected by the active chapter:
(a)
Interfraternity Council Representative
The
duties of the Interfraternity Council Representative shall be as follows:
1. Attend all Interfraternity Council meetings.
2. Report to the chapter all events planned or
organized by the Interfraternity Council.
3. Check the Lambda Chi Alpha box in the
Interfraternity Council office area and report on that information to the
chapter.
(b) Intramural
Chairman. The duties of the Intramural
Chairman shall be as follows:
1. Shall be in charge of informing the active chapter the location, time, and opponent for all sporting events.
2. Shall attend weekly IFC meetings.
(c) Historian. The duties of the Historian shall be as
follows:
1. To photograph chapter events and to make and
keep a scrapbook for Phi Upsilon Zeta.
(d) Team Coaches
The
Team Coaches will have the following duties:
1. establish team policies
2. establish a roster
3. establish practice times
4. establish a “starting line-up”
5. appoint assistant coaches if necessary
6. establish plays if the sport requires it
7. responsible for all athletic equipment
No
member can be a coach of more than one team at a time. A coaches participation
in the intramural in question is not allowed.
Section
3. Eligibility to hold office and
administrative assistant positions.
No member may hold a High Zeta office or be an
administrative assistant unless he is an active member in good standing and
meet the requirements of Code X-16 of the Constitution.
Section
4. Elections.
Regular election to High Zeta offices, Administrative Assistants, and executive committee members at large shall be held annually on the first week in April. Nominations will be taken three weeks before elections, in addition a chapter member may only run for two offices per election. Any member nominated for an office will hand in a mission statement, goals, and direction he would like to take the office, to the Executive Committee one week after he has been nominated. All High Zeta officers except for the High Kappa and High Phi , Administrative Assistants, and executive committee members at large shall assume their duties at the next regular meeting following their elections. The High Kappa-elect and the High Phi-elect shall assume their duties following the next Ritual Exemplification or two months whichever comes first. The High Zeta officers shall go through the Formal Installation Ceremony at the Annual White Rose Formal.
Section
5. Vacant positions.
The High Alpha shall make all interim appointments to
fill any vacancy in any High Zeta office or Administrative Assistant position.
Section
6. Delegate qualifications.
The Official Delegate to General Assembly, Leadership
Seminar and any other events that require an official delegate shall be elected
by the undergraduate chapter and shall have at least one full year of college
work before graduation and be an active member in good standing.
Section
7. Duties of the official delegate.
The Official Delegate of the General Assembly,
Leadership Seminar, and any other events that require an official delegate
shall attend all sessions thereof and serve on committees to which he is appointed. He shall present a report to the High Zeta
and then to the active chapter following his return from the assembly.
ARTICLE
VI: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section
1. Composition.
The Executive Committee shall be composed in accordance with
Code IV-28 of the Constitution and Statutory Code. Two members at large and an alternate will be elected by the
chapter at the regular chapter elections held in April.
Section
2. Powers and duties.
The powers and duties of the chapter Executive Committee
shall be defined in Code IV-29 of the Constitution and Statutory Code of Lambda
Chi Alpha.
ARTICLE
VII: MEMBERSHIP.
Section1. Membership requirements for all initiates.
The General Fraternity is and shall remain the sole and
final authority of the requisites for membership in Lambda Chi Alpha. Only the following shall be eligible for
membership in Lambda Chi Alpha:
(a) College
men of good moral character whose ideals, characteristics and attainments are
such as will make them compatible, congenial, and worthy members of the
fraternity, who comply with the laws of the fraternity, and who are not members
of any other national general social college fraternity or any similar local
general social fraternity.
(b) All
initiates, except honorary members at the time of initiation, shall be students
at the college or university where a subordinate Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha has
been established. No candidate, of
whatever membership classification, shall be initiated unless he shall have
paid-in-full, twenty-one days in advance of the initiation, the initiation fee
of the subordinate Zeta into which he is received. All initiation fees shall be paid in cash or money order
only. He shall also have paid the
Associate Member fee, all monthly dues, and any other money that he may owe to
the Phi Upsilon Zeta.
Section
2. Voting on candidates for Associate
Membership. The procedure
to be used by Phi Upsilon Zeta is as follows:
(a) The High Delta will be responsible for
developing criteria for Associate Membership to be passed by the active chapter
by a majority vote. This criteria shall
be reviewed on a yearly basis and voted on by the active chapter at the last
chapter meeting of the Spring semester.
(b) The
Delta Committee comprised of the High Delta. High Alpha, High Kappa and two
members-at-large elected by the Chapter shall use the criteria to select
eligible men and issue them an invitation to join Lambda Chi Alpha.
(c) A simple majority vote is required for any
eligible man to be offered a bid.
Section
3. Voting on candidates for initiation. The procedure to be used by Phi Upsilon Zeta
is as follows:
(a) A prospective initiate’s name must be
proposed by one member of the active chapter and seconded by another at least
three weeks before initiation and tabled for a week. The final vote on candidates for initiation shall be held at a
time to be determined by the active chapter.
Favorable percentage for initiation shall be as follows:
75% for 20 men and under, voting.
80% for 20 - 30 men,voting.
87% for 30 men and above, voting.
Section
4. Associate membership regulations. New member orientation shall be governed by
the following rules:
(a) They shall be under the supervision of the
Executive Committee, High Alpha, High Kappa, and Big Brother Coordinator.
(b) They shall be educated according to the
guidelines established in the High Kappa Manual.
Section
5. Breaking of associate
membership. Associate
membership of any man may be broken as prescribed by Code VI-6, or
automatically for any one of the following reasons:
(a) Failure to report to three chapter
meetings without adequate excuse.
(b) Failure to maintain good financial
standing with the chapter.
ARTICLE
IX.: INITIATION
Section
1. Time.
The time and date of Ritual shall be decided at High
Zeta retreat.
Section
2. Manner of Initiation.
Phi Upsilon Zeta shall initiate only in accordance with
the laws and practices of the General Fraternity.
Section
3. Compulsory Attendance.
Every active member shall be required to attend and
participate in the Ritual Exemplification Ceremony. Any member not attending the Ceremony shall be fined $100.
Section
4. Conduct.
Any member not exhibiting an attitude of decent conduct
shall be subject to a fine to be imposed by the High Alpha or High Phi of $75.
Section
5. Pre-Ritual.
(a) Pre-ritual
shall not exceed two days and three nights.
(b) Every
active member shall be required to participate in two-thirds of the Pre-Ritual
Activities. Failure to do so will
result in a $45.00 fine.
ARTICLE
X: FINANCES
Section
1. Dues. The structure of payment is as follows:
(a) Each active member is required to pay $300
per semester, Fall and Spring. With the
initial payment of $60 due at the first meeting of each semester. The remaining payments of $60 a month shall
be due the 15th of each month. There
shall be a 5 school day grace period in which no fines or penalties shall be excused
after this shall immediately be financially suspended.
A member shall be fined $25.00 if his check returned to
Phi Upsilon Zeta for any reason.
Anyone carrying a balance over from one semester to another
will be assessed a fine of 25% of the balance that is held over.
Section
2. Budget.
The budget of Phi Upsilon Zeta shall be prepared by the
Executive Committee and proposed to the active chapter in the second business
meeting of any semester and approved by the third business meeting. Associate Members’ dues shall not be
included in the planning.
Section
3. Reserve Fund.
The amount of $2.50 per man per month shall be added to
the Reserve Fund which shall be used only for purposes specified in Code
VII-22. This amount will be due by the
active chapter to the Reserve Fund on the 15th of the month for the Fall and
Spring semesters only. Payment on the
Reserve Fund begins September of 1996.
Section
4. Associate member fee.
The Associate Member fee shall be equal to the amount
charged to the chapter by the General Fraternity.
Section
5. Initiation fee.
The Initiation fee shall be equal to the amount charged
to the chapter by the General Fraternity.
Section
6. Procedure for disbursement of funds.
(a) All
amounts expended must be within the approved budget, and approved by the
officer under whose budget the amount is to be applied.
(b) Each
officer may only spend 10% of his budget in one month without explicit approval
by the executive committee. Any amount
over 10% must be approved by the executive committee prior to spending or
entering into agreement promising the money.
Failure by any officer to not follow such procedures may result in that
officer having to pay for such expenditures by the said officer.
Section
7. Financial Accountability.
(a) The High Tau shall present at every
chapter business meeting a written financial report, regarding the weekly
expenditure of all funds as well as the status of chapter accounts.
(b) The amount owed by individual members and
their standing in the chapter shall be posted on the meeting room door prior to
and throughout the duration of the chapter meeting.
ARTICLE
XI: DISCIPLINE OF THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBER
Section
1. Offenses defined.
Each member of Phi Upsilon Zeta shall abide by the laws
of the Fraternity as defined in Code III, the by-laws of this chapter, acts of
this Zeta, and acts of this Zetas’ Executive Committee and Officers as provided
for by said by-laws. A member in
violation of any of these laws is subject to disciplinary procedures and
penalties.
Section
2. Fines
(a) A fine
of ten dollars will be assessed to any members’ monthly dues if he should
violate the following:
1. Failure to attend mandatory chapter events.
2. Failure of an Officer or Administrative
Assistant to attend a High Zeta meeting.
3. Failure of a member to submit his Syllabi to the High Sigma by
the third
week
of school (per week until submitted) if it is requested by the High Sigma.
(b) A fine of three dollars shall be assessed
to any member that is late to a chapter meeting.
(c) A fine in the amount the chapter is
charged to the chapter shall be assessed to the Interfraternity Council (IFC)
delegate or Executive delegate if he fails to:
1. Attend an IFC meeting or have eligible
attend in his place.
2. Arrive on time to an IFC meeting or have an
eligible member arrive in his place.
ARTICLE
XII: AMENDMENTS
Section
1. Amendments to the by-laws.
Amendments to these By-laws must be presented to the
Executive Committee for review at least one week prior to the proposed
amendment being brought before the chapter.
Review being defined as informing the Executive Committee of any
legislation. After the Executive
Committee has reviewed the proposed amendment, the amendment must be presented
to the chapter and lay on the table for one week. A two-thirds vote shall be required for the proposed amendment to
be entered into the chapter by-laws.
RESOLUTION APPROVED BY PHI UPSILON ZETA
APRIL 4, 1995
BE IT
RESOLVED that the active members of Phi Upsilon Zeta do hereby agree that those
who promised to go to the retreat and backed out broke their word, showing lack
of respect of the attending members and the chapter finances.
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED that the chapter hereby suggest that the Executive Committee
of Phi Upsilon Zeta require brothers who broke their word reimburse the chapter
for its substantial losses incurred.
The Executive Committee will accept a $15.00 fine for the reimbursement
of chapter funds.
SEPTEMBER OF 1995
BE IT
RESOLVED that the active members of Phi Upsilon Zeta place a high amount of
importance in our Ritual and the meanings behind our closed mottoes of our
Ritual...
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of Phi Upsilon Zeta do hereby require that no
man of this Zeta shall wear a letter shirt, being defined as four inch letters
on his chest, or letter hat, to any tavern.
A tavern being defined as any establishment that make over 51% of its
profit from the sale of alcohol.
APRIL 2, 1996
BE IT
RESOLVED that the brothers of Phi Upsilon Zeta place a high amount of
importance in the expertise that the High Phi exemplifies and...
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED that the active members of Phi Upsilon Zeta recognize the
reputation Phi Upsilon Zeta has throughout the Southwest Conclave and General
Fraternity for Rituals expertise
We the
active chapter of Phi Upsilon Zeta do hereby require that any candidate running
for the position of High Phi will be required to have seen Ritual three times
including his own initiation, in order to be eligible to run for the position.
RESOLUTION APPROVED BY PHI UPSILON ZETA
Spring 1998
RESOLVED, the
members of the Phi Upsilon Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity recognize the
disparity of the office of High Beta in comparison to other offices will allow
the officer in said office to divide his duties in the following manner:
I
To create an External High Beta position whose
responsibilities will
include but not confined to representing the chapter to
the public,
and would be in charge of the Public Relations and
Community
Service Standards
areas. He will be a member of the High Zeta
following the High Rho in officer succession. The elected or
appointed officer will assume the responsibilities that
include but
are not confined to Standards
areas relating to member involvement such
as Individual Involvement and Campus Involvement, serve
as the
ex-oficio
member on the Executive Committee and, if needed, succeeds
as President. He
will be referred to as the Internal High Beta and will
follow the High Alpha in officer succession.
II
To create an Internal High Beta described above with the
creation of
two different vice-presidents. The first will be referred to as the
Vice-President for Community Service. His duties will be defined by the
Community
Service Standards areas. The second will be referred to as the
Vice-President for Public Relations. His duties will be defined by the Public
Relations Standards
areas. Both vice-presidents will
report to the Internal
High Beta and
follow the High Rho jointly in the officer succession.
III
Any manner which the High Beta, the High Zeta and/or Phi
Upsilon
Zeta deems appropriate and/or necessary.
When the decision to split the office is reached,
nominations will be taken at the next chapter meeting and elections will be
held at the following meeting.