Constitution

1.1 General Membership

Student Media Center’s general membership shall consist of all UMBC undergraduate students who are members of a Student Media Center Member Group as outlined in this Constitution.

Membership in this organization will not be denied because of race, color, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, disabled veteran or veteran status, national origin, or religion.

1.2 Member Groups

The three (3) Member Groups are: The Retriever, WMBC, and Bartleby.

1.2 Governance

Student Media Center shall be governed by the members of the Student Media Center Executive Board as outlined in this Constitution.

1.3 Guiding Documents

“Guiding Documents” are the documents establishing Student Media Center’s rules, policies and processes. This Constitution shall be Student Media Center’s supreme Guiding Document, followed in order of precedence by Member Group bylaws, and any other Student Media Center Guiding Documents that may be created for the purposes of governing the Student Media Center.

2.1. Structure

The Student Media Center Executive Board consists of at least six (6) student members: the two (2) students holding the most senior offices from each Member Group as defined by that Member Group, and one (1) staff Advisor member. For any additional Member Group added to the Student Media Center, The Executive Board shall be run collaboratively, with no formal hierarchical structure. In the event consensus cannot be reached, a vote shall be taken as described in Section 2.3.

2.2. Powers

The Executive Board shall have the power to adopt rules, procedures, and initiate actions in order to ensure the successful and continuous operation of Student Media Center; remove existing Member Groups; convene meetings; and any other necessary actions.

2.2.1. — Budget

The Executive Board shall have the power to approve Student Media Center’s operating budget; and approve and allocate funds to Member Groups.

2.2.2. — Approval and Removal of Member Groups

The Executive Board may approve the inclusion of a new Member Group or removal of an existing Member Group. Member Groups may not be added or removed unless by Constitutional Amendment.

2.2.3. — Rules, Procedures, Actions

The Executive Board may adopt any rules, procedures, or actions it deems necessary to ensure the successful and continuous operation of the Student Media Center; such rules and actions shall align with the laws of the State of Maryland, and the rules and regulations of UMBC and the University System of Maryland.

2.2.4. — Committees

The Executive Board may create and disband committees as needed.

2.3. Voting Rights and Quorum

In the event consensus regarding a proposed action cannot be reached, each Executive Board member shall have one (1) vote. The Student Media Center Advisor is a nonvoting member and does not have veto power. However, in the event of a tie vote the Student Media Center Advisor will serve as the tie breaking vote.
A quorum consists of at least four (4) members of the Executive Board, including at least one (1) Executive Board member from each Member Group, plus one (1) Advisor member. Any student member may designate a current member of the Executive Board as a proxy to make a quorum for the purposes of voting, provided that designation is made in writing to the remaining members of the Executive Board at least six (6) hours prior to a scheduled vote.

2.4. Establishment and Amendment of Guiding Documents Other than the Constitution

The Executive Board may establish and amend Student Media Center Guiding Documents, including the Constitution (per Article 6), and any rules governing the Executive Board’s internal management process.
Member Groups shall establish and amend their own Bylaws.

3.1. Structure

Student Media Center’s Member Groups are: The Retriever, WMBC, and Bartleby. Each Member Group shall be staffed to ensure the proper functioning of the Member Group in accordance with the Bylaws of each Member Group. The functions, duties, and responsibilities of officer positions for each Member Group are described in the Bylaws of those organizations.

3.1.2. –The Retriever

The Retriever is the student-run newspaper at UMBC. The officers of The Retriever are the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Business Manager, Advertising Manager, and Production Manager. The Retriever also employs additional staff members as needed who are not considered officers.

3.1.3. –WMBC

WMBC is the student-run radio station at UMBC. The officers of WMBC are the Station Manager, Chief Engineer, Assistant Station Manager, Library Manager, Events Manager, Promotions Manager, Personnel Manager, Treasurer, and Alumni Liaison. WMBC also employs additional staff members as needed who are not considered officers.

3.1.4. –Bartleby

Bartleby is the student-run literary magazine at UMBC. The officers of Bartleby are the Senior Editor, Junior Editor, Social Media Manager, and Designer. Bartleby also employs additional staff members as needed who are not considered officers.

3.2. Staff Members of Member Groups

Each Member Group may create a staff structure to help in fulfilling their responsibilities, and may appoint or hire students to their staff. Each staff officer will have powers and duties as determined by the appointing/hiring Member Group, and consistent with this Constitution and the Member Group Bylaws. Staff positions exist at the sole discretion of the officers of the Member Group and consistent with its Bylaws.

4.1. General Procedure

The selection or removal of any Member Group can only be effected through Constitutional Amendment (see Article 6), in accordance with Article 6 of this Constitution. Removal of individuals is retained by Member Groups and does not require Constitutional Amendment.

4.2. Selection

4.2.2. — General Selection

All new Member Groups to the Student Media Center will be selected by the Student Media Center Executive Board annually during the fall semester, but no later than October 31st of the fiscal year prior to the fiscal year in which the incoming Member Group will obtain membership status.
The intent of this subsection is to ensure sufficient time to include the new Member Group in the budget for the subsequent fiscal year.

4.2.3. — Requests for Selection

Any student organization that meets the eligibility requirements may request to be selected as a Member Group of the Student Media Center. Member requests will be considered by the Student Media Center Executive Board no later than September 30th of every fall semester.

4.3. Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible to be considered as a Member Group of Student Media Center, an organization must meet all the following criteria:

1. Be sufficiently established as a group that it does or would meet the requirements to be recognized as a UMBC undergraduate student organization, as determined by SGA;
2. Be a producer of media run wholly by undergraduate students;
3. Able to provide a portfolio of media produced by the group.

Eligibility does not guarantee selection. The Student Media Center Executive Board retains the decision making power to make a final determination regarding whether to amend this Constitution to add an eligible organization as a new Member Group in accordance with Article 6, to the extent that such determination aligns with the laws of the State of Maryland, and the rules and regulations of UMBC and the University System of Maryland.

4.4. Removal of Member Groups

4.4.1. — Ineligibility

The Student Media Center Executive Board and Student Media Center Advisor shall periodically review the status of Student Media Center Member Groups to ensure eligibility criteria to remain a member of the Student Media Center is met. If an organization fails to meet any of the Eligibility Requirements, the organization shall be removed as a Member Group of Student Media Center upon being informed of ineligibility in writing by the Student Media Center Advisor. A Member Group found to be ineligible may appeal the Student Media Center Executive Board determination within five (5) regular school days (exclusive of weekends and holidays) of its notification by the Student Media Center Advisor. The Student Media Center Executive Board shall appoint an ad hoc committee of two (2) students from each Member Group to review the appeal and make a final determination of eligibility. Upon appeal, a finding of affirmation of ineligibility is considered final and the Member Group is thereby removed as a member of Student Media Center, upon Constitutional amendment.

4.4.2. — Requests for Removal

Any Member Group may request to remove itself from the Student Media Center by submitting a letter of removal signed by all officers of the Member Group to the Student Media Center Executive Board and Student Media Center Advisor.
The requesting Member Group will be removed from the Student Media Center upon Constitutional amendment. The Student Media Center shall honor all valid removal requests and amend this Constitution accordingly.

4.4.3. — Termination

Any Member Group may be terminated and removed from Student Media Center on the following grounds:

• • • failure to conduct operations in a manner reasonably calculated to advance objectives identified in the Preamble to this Constitution;
    • intentional or reckless conduct in violation of the Student Media Center’s Guiding Documents, or of any applicable law or UMBC policy;
    • intentional or reckless misrepresentation of Student Media Center policy;
    • intentional or reckless behavior that brings dishonor or disgrace upon the Student Media Center and/or harm to UMBC undergraduates.

A termination proceeding may be initiated by request from any member of the Student Media Center Executive Board. In termination hearings, votes of abstention are prohibited. A Member Group against whom a termination proceeding has been initiated is entitled to be notified within five (5) regular school days (exclusive of weekends and holidays) of the grounds for termination and disclosure of the evidence supporting termination, as well as at least ten (10) regular school days (exclusive of weekends and holidays) after notification of the grounds in which to prepare a response. The Student Media Center Executive Board may choose to hold an in-person hearing, or may instead make a determination of removal based on the evidence. The Student Media Center Executive Board shall appoint an ad hoc committee of two (2) students from each Member Group to make a finding of termination and removal in accordance with procedures described in Article 2 of this Constitution.

A terminated Member Group may appeal the Student Media Center determination within five (5) regular school days (exclusive of weekends and holidays) of its notification by the Student Media Center Advisor. The appointed ad hoc committee shall meet to review the appeal and make a final determination of termination. Upon appeal, a finding of affirmation of termination is considered final and the Member Group is thereby removed as a member of the Student Media Center.

A terminated Member Group may reapply for selection as a Member Group after one (1) calendar year.

4.5. Removal of Individuals

4.5.1. –Notice of Removal

Member Groups may remove individual members from their groups consistent with UMBC policies and Member Group Bylaws. Prior to removal of any individual, the Member Group shall provide notice of intent to remove to the Student Media Center Executive Board to ensure removal is consistent with this Constitution. The Student Media Center Executive Board may request that a Member Group remove an individual from their organization for any violation of this Constitution to ensure the successful and continuous operation of the Student Media Center.

4.5.2. –Rights of Removed Individuals

Any removed individual of a Member Group has the right to request review of the removal decision by the Student Media Center Executive Board. All decisions of the Student Media Center Executive Board are considered final to the extent that they are consistent with this Constitution and UMBC policies.

5.1. Right to Participate

All UMBC undergraduate students shall have the right to apply for Student Media Center Member Group status for which they are eligible.

5.2. Right to Petition

All Member Groups shall have the right to request that Student Media Center take actions or make resolutions consistent with Student Media Center policies and purposes.

5.3. Right Against Interference

All Member Groups shall have the right against interference in their operations to the extent that those operations do not violate any rule or policy of the Student Media Center.

5.4. Right against Discrimination

No UMBC undergraduate group or individual shall be excluded from any Student Media Center forum or activity, or be granted or denied any benefit, on account of race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, ancestry, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, veterans status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or genetic information.

Ratification of this Constitution, and amendments thereto, require a two-thirds vote of the entire membership of the Student Media Center Executive Board, exclusive of the Advisor member, plus two (2) additional student members of each Member Group. Ratification or Amendment of this Constitution shall be submitted to SGA for approval.