The IFC at East Stroudsburg University is made up of eight fraternity organizations. The IFC works together with all of the fraternity members in the areas of community service, academics, recruitment and social involvement. Not only does the IFC work with other greeks, but they help to serve all ESU students and organizations.
The Fraternities that make up the IFC council at East Stroudsburg University are:
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IFC PREAMBLE
In order to promote the welfare of the Greek-Lettered Social Fraternity System and the educational objectives of East Stroudsburg University and to cultivate those qualities of character, honor, cooperation, and scholastic achievement in all fraternity members, we do establish this as the Constitution of and for the Interfraternity Council of East Stroudsburg University.
ARTICLE I - NAME
SECTION I.
This organization shall be known as the Interfraternity Council of East Stroudsburg University and shall hereafter be referred to as the "IFC" in this Constitution.
SECTION II.
Wherever in this Constitution the word "fraternity" appears, it shall refer to the men's Greek-Lettered Social Fraternities that are recognized by the East Stroudsburg University.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
SECTION I.
It is the purpose of the IFC to:
A. Advance the positive values of social fraternities and the contributions made by such organizations as part of the East Stroudsburg University community.
B. Promote positive relations among the recognized social fraternities and social sororities of East Stroudsburg University and the surrounding community.
C. Insure cooperation between the fraternities and the university in order to maintain an effective working relationship.
D. Discuss questions of mutual interest and to present to the fraternities such recommendations, as the IFC deems beneficial to the fraternity system.
E. Provide a means of self-discipline in cases where the imprudent behavior of one or more fraternities or individual members has jeopardized the reputation of all, or where this imprudent behavior has in any way affected the university.
F. Standardize, controls, and regulates the rushing and pledging activities of the men's social fraternities.
G. Promote Interfraternity participation in athletics, scholarship, community service, and any other competition that may be deemed advisable.
H. Provide and act as the representative, central government of the separate men's social fraternities. Provide advice to the university administration on all matters regarding fraternities. Act as the official body to speak for fraternities on campus and to serve as a clearinghouse for all information directed to the IFC by the university administration.
I. Administer a judicial system that will provide due process for member organizations not in compliance with the ESU Student Code of Conduct and the IFC Code of Conduct.
ARTICLE III - REPRESENTATION,
MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
SECTION I.
Any social fraternity at East Stroudsburg University MUST be a participating member or must apply to become a participating member of the IFC.
A. Fraternities who are currently active/voting members or applying to the IFC must satisfy the following criteria:
1. Attend all IFC regular and special meetings.
2. Pay dues as outlined by the Executive Board.
3. Comply with policies and procedures promulgated by the IFC Executive Board and the IFC Advisor.
4. Meet all of the responsibilities as outlined by the Constitution, the Executive Board, or the Advisor.
5. Subscribe and adhere to all policies of the IFC judicial process.
B. Any new fraternity of IFC shall:
1. Formally, petition the IFC, stating the qualifications and objectives of the group. The fraternity must also follow the procedures listed in the University Handbook for the IFC to recommend recognition to the Office of the Vice President for Student Development.
a. Upon recognition of the IFC, the group must serve a probationary period of two semesters at the end of which time acceptance of the petitioning fraternity will be decided by a two-third's vote of the member fraternities present at the meeting. The right of abstention shall be suspended. b. During the probationary period the petitioning fraternity may participate in all
activities, events, and meetings, but shall not have voting privileges. Dues and other financial assessments shall be the same as those of the permanent IFC members. 2. Permanent membership shall be awarded based upon the criteria of the added on expansion policy. 3. Before the final vote of acceptance, the IFC may question the petitioning fraternity. The petitioning fraternity must present a report to the IFC regarding the criteria listed on the Expansion Policy as well as having obtained a National Charter. A final vote will be taken by secret ballot. A two-thirds vote is needed for acceptance.
SECTION II.
A. Any member fraternity may withdraw from membership in the IFC by presenting a formal written notice not less than one month before the date of withdrawal. In doing so, the fraternity also requests the withdrawal of University recognition of that same fraternity.
B. No fraternity, which has been suspended or has lost University recognition may be a voting member of the IFC.
SECTION III.
Each member fraternity shall send two voting representatives to each IFC meeting. All members of recognized fraternities and their guests may attend.
The member fraternities shall:
A. Submit the names, addresses, phone numbers, and social security numbers of their officers, representatives, active members and new members, as well as submit a copy of the new member program and copy of the fraternities constitution in writing, to the Secretary at the first regularly scheduled meeting of each semester. Copies will then be sent to the IFC Advisor, and Vice President for Student Affairs. Changes must be reported immediately.
B. Have two representatives present at every meeting.
C. Appoint another representative to fill the vacancy if one of their representatives assumes an executive office.
D. Uphold and abide by the constitution, by-laws, rules and regulations of the IFC.
E. Submit a signed hazing policy, discrimination policy, B.Y.O.B. policy, Risk Management policy and adhere to the financial obligations as outlined by the IFC.
F. At the beginning of the semester each fraternity must submit a list of people living at each chapter house.
SECTION IV.
A. Each member fraternity shall pay dues as outlined by IFC. The cost of dues shall be determined by the IFC Executive Board.
B. Any fraternity failing to meet its financial obligation to the Council will be denied the right to vote in the Council's proceedings. All bills must be paid within two weeks of their assessment.
C. Obligations as stated above not met by the third IFC meeting will result in a suspension of that organization's voting rights until all obligations are met. Delinquency beyond the 4th meeting will result in the recommended de-recognition of that organization pending the approval of the Vice President of Student Development.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
SECTION I.
The officers of the IFC shall be: President, Vice president, Secretary, and Treasurer, which constitutes the Executive Board. Their powers and duties shall be those usually pertaining to such offices and such powers as stated below:
A. The President shall:
1. Conduct all regular and special meetings. 2. Appoint standing and special committees with the approval of the IFC Executive Board. 3. Convene any special meetings at the written request of one fraternity. 4. Act as spokesman for the IFC, and take such action as is necessary between meetings; however, such action shall be subject to review by the IFC at the next scheduled meeting. 5. Maintain files for succeeding presidents. 6. Shall only vote when it is necessary to break a tie vote. 7. Serve as Greek Week chair. 8. Perform all duties assigned by IFC. 9. Carry on privileges by Roberts Rules of Order. 10. The president will review and remove any officer who fails to fulfill their duties as deemed by the current IFC needs with approval from the current Chapters present and in good standing.
B. The Vice President shall:
1. In the absence of the President, preside and discharge the duties of the President. If the President can no longer serve, the Vice President will automatically assume the Presidency. A new election would be held to fill the position of Vice President. 2. Act as the Rush and New Member Committee chairman or supervise said chairman. 3. Shall serve as the lFC Academic Chair, coordinating with the Academic Chairs of each fraternity plans to improve the academic standards of the fraternal organizations.
C. The Treasurer Shall:
1. Collect all dues, fines, and assessments of the IFC, and shall pay all bills by order of the President or Advisor, and shall be custodian of all funds and shall keep an accurate account of all finances which must be reported to the IFC and Advisor at each regular meeting. All expenditures must be made in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. 2. Arrange for the Treasurer's books and accounts to be audited on request by the advisor. 3. Shall serve as the fund raising chair or supervise said chair. 4. Shall have veto power of all financial matters.
D. The Secretary shall:
1. Record the proceedings of the IFC and distribute minutes of each meeting to IFC members, Executive Officers, the Advisor, and the Office of the Vice President for Student Development. 2. Act as corresponding secretary for the IFC. 3. In the absence of the President and Vice President, preside and discharge the duties of the President. 4. Maintain files of the minutes and correspondences for reference by current and future officers. 5. Shall serve as Public Relations chair or supervise said chair.
SECTION II.
All offices in both general and vacancy elections shall be filled in the following manner:
A. Nominations will be open to the floor at a regular scheduled IFC meeting for the office which is to be voted or vacated. Any active member of a voting fraternity may be nominated. More than one member from a single fraternity may be nominated for an Executive Board office. A voting member from a different chapter must second all nominations.
B. The week following nominations, second round nominations will be open to the floor for last minute nominations.
C. Each nominee will be given the opportunity to speak.
D. At the conclusion of speeches, ONE fraternity representative from each member organization shall vote on the nominees, filling one position at a time starting with the office of President and proceeding down to Secretary. The individual receiving the most votes shall be elected by a simple majority of those present. In the event of a tie vote, the president will cast the final ballot.
E. The election of officers will be held on the 9th week of each spring semester. The new officers will be required to mentor the current officers for the remainder of the current officer's term.
F. The new officers shall take their positions at the last IFC meeting of the academic year and are expected to retain the office for the subsequent year.
G. No president of any recognized chapter may run for the Executive Board of IFC.
H. Only members from each chapter may run for an IFC Executive Board position if they have attended meetings of IFC as a representative or past Executive Board member.
SECTION III.
Removal of Officers shall occur as follows:
A. Officers may be removed for failure to fulfill their responsibilities of their positions or for conduct that discredits the Greek social fraternity system.
B. A voting IFC representative may introduce a motion to remove an officer; however, such a motion must pass by a three-fourths majority.
C. No fraternity, which has been suspended or has lost University recognition, may have a member nominated for the Executive Board of IFC. If the members are currently in office, they will remain in office until the end of their one-year term.
ARTICLE V - THE ADVISOR
SECTION I.
There shall be an advisor to the IFC who is a University employee and who is appointed by the President or his designee. In the event, the advisor position becomes vacant, the IFC may submit candidate recommendations to the President to fill the position.
SECTION II.
The Advisor shall:
A. Provide advice, assistance, and guidance to the IFC.
B. Act as a liaison between the University administration and the IFC.
C. Advise the fraternities on IFC judicial matters as the University representative where appropriate or needed.
D. Act as an approval agent for IFC financial matters (i.e. signing of checks).
E. Have the power to dismiss any IFC decisions which are not in concert with University policy or the IFC Constitution.
F. Attend all meetings of the IFC and meet with the Executive Board on a regular basis.
G. Work with the advisors of the individual fraternities in order to improve all aspects of the Greek social fraternity system.
ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS
SECTION I.
Regular meetings of the IFC shall be held once every week during the fall and spring semesters.
SECTION II.
Special meetings of the IFC may be called by the President at any time, but only at the written request of at least one fraternity. Notification of such a meeting must be given by the secretary to each fraternity and the Advisor at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance.
SECTION III.
No business shall be conducted without a quorum of IFC Executive Board members. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the IFC membership.
SECTION IV.
The normal order of business shall be as follows:
A. Call to order by the presiding officer.
B. Roll Call.
C. Distribution of minutes of previous meeting.
D. Reports in the following order:
* President
* Vice President
* Secretary
* Treasurer
* Advisor
E. Reports of standing and special committees.
F. Unfinished business.
G. New business.
H. Appointment of committees.
I. Date and Place of next meeting.
J. Adjournment.
SECTION V.
Fines for missing properly announced meetings shall be levied by the Treasurer. The fine shall be $25.00 per meeting. If a representative of a fraternity cannot be present at an IFC meeting, they must call a member of the Executive Board or the Advisor to be excused.
ARTICLE VII - VOTING
SECTION I.
Each member fraternity shall have one (1) vote in matters before the IFC. The vote shall be cast by the IFC representative of that fraternity.
SECTION II.
All motions not specifically provided for in this Constitution must be passed by a two thirds majority vote of fraternities present.
SECTION III.
The President shall vote only when it is necessary to break a tie vote.
ARTICLE VIII - RUSH
SECTION I.
RUSH is the process by which potential new members meet in a formal setting with representatives from each of the recognized fraternities on campus. Throughout this process, potential new members are told the requirements and expectations of the new member's process and receive knowledge and information about the Greek system. Furthermore, potential new members are given the opportunity to review fraternities on campus. The fraternity, in turn, is given the opportunity to select potential new members from these RUSH events that will allow them to give students BIDS or invitations to join their organization.
SECTION II.
The Social Fraternities of ESU will use an open RUSH system with the following restrictions:
A. RUSH shall start on the third Monday of the Fall Semesters and the second Monday of the Spring Semesters pending the University calendar to start the Academic year.
B. There will be a Two (2) Week formal dry RUSH (no alcohol) period at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. RUSH schedules, bidding dates, and RUSH rules will be outlined by the IFC Vice President each semester. During the period between the beginning of each semester and the beginning of RUSH for that semester, no bids may be extended. After said RUSH period is over and it is allowed by each individual chapter, if the individual fraternity decides to do so, continue having an on going period of RUSH.
C. All Summer sessions will remain closed with no bids being extended during this time.
D. The IFC RUSH chair, who is the Vice President of the Executive Board, shall have free access to any fraternity house meeting or activity during the formal RUSH period, however, they may not enter a fraternal meeting without special permission.
E. Any disruption of the set times prepared and voted on at IFC, pertaining to RUSH events, shall result in disciplinary action set forth by the IFC Executive Board.
F. All RUSH events shall be dry. ( no alcohol permitted )
ARTICLE IX - ELIGIBILITY
SECTION I.
To be eligible to accept a fraternity bid and to join a fraternity, a student must:
1. Be currently enrolled as a student at ESU, have a minimum cumulative average as deemed by the Vice President of Student Development and have completed fifteen (15) college credits beyond high school if given the 15 credits by the university registers office. If not given they need to have completed at least 12 credits; if they are a transfer student no GPA is required.
2. Meet individual requirements set forth by the fraternity and documented in the IFC files.
ARTICLE X - New Members
SECTION I.
Official bids must be submitted in writing to students by the various fraternities on the dates and times specified by the IFC.
SECTION II.
New member education can begin on the day following the issuance of a bid and will last for no more than eight (8) weeks and must end three weeks before the end of the semester.
SECTION III.
Non eligible members joining a fraternity will result in a loss of the new member class as set forth by the University.
ARTICLE XI - HAZING/INITIATION
SECTION I.
All pledging activities shall be of a constructive nature to the end that will reflect credit on the individual fraternity and the entire fraternity system. They shall not be permitted to interfere in any way with scholastic obligations or class attendance.
SECTION II.
In initiating new members, all forms of hazing as outlined by the University, federal and state laws are prohibited. Particular attention is paid to those laws regarding: hazing, alcoholic beverages, trespassing, sexual assault and harassment.
SECTION III.
Reported hazing incidents will result in the punishment of the chapter with the judicial process being implemented or any University policy.
ARTICLE XII - FRATERNITY SPONSORED EVENTS
SECTION I.
Only active members and new members may represent a fraternity on intramural athletic teams or any other fraternity competition as submitted to IFC.
SECTION II.
Fraternity sponsored events must adhere to all University guidelines including the following:
1. Fraternities may not have open parties. Parties are limited to the members of that fraternity and their singularly invited guests. 2. No fraternity may charge for entrance to a party or for food and beverages served at that party. 3. No alcoholic beverages may be served to persons under the age of 21. This is strictly prohibited by law. Fraternities must ensure that minors will not be served and must provide for an ID process. An alternative beverage other than water (i.e. soda) and refreshments must be provided at all fraternity functions for those people who are under the legal drinking age or those over 21 who choose not to drink (i.e. designated drivers). 4. Fraternities must follow the guidelines established by the University social event policy and FIPG. 5. The fraternity will also follow the B.Y.O.B. policy set forth by the University.
ARTICLE XIII - THE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
SECTION I.
Each fraternity must submit a complete list of active members and their social security numbers to the IFC Advisor within the first two (2) weeks of the semester. The fraternity with the most improved cumulative average shall be awarded the scholarship award for each academic year.
ARTICLE XIV-EXPENSES
SECTION I.
All disbursements must be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board, with the Treasurer having final veto power of all expenses.
SECTION II.
The President or Treasurer and the Advisor must cosign all checks/withdrawals and contracts.
SECTION III.
It is understood that a reserve of $200 shall be maintained at all times. All Executive Board records (i.e. check book, saving statements, minutes) shall be the custody of the Advisor over the summer.
ARTICLE XV-JUDICIAL AND GUIDANCE SYSTEM
SECTION I.
Each fraternity and its individual members should conduct themselves in such a manner as not to discredit the Greek System or the University. No fraternity shall condone the violation of University policy of the law. All fraternities shall respect the individual rights of and property of others.
SECTION II.
The IFC shall act as the hearing board whenever an alleged violation of the IFC policies are made against a fraternity or fraternity member. Specifically, a hearing will be held by the IFC in areas related to rush violations, new member violations, violations of fraternity sponsored events, regulations, and other areas as outlined by the IFC Constitution. Such hearings shall be closed but include the IFC Council and its Advisor, witnesses may be called as necessary.
Violations or articles which relate to the law, the University's Code of Conduct or other University policies and/or regulations shall normally be handled via the establishments procedures (Greek Judicial Board, SFJB or Administrative Hearings by the Vice President of Student Development or designee). The IFC shall restrict its judicial hearings to matters, which are applicable to Interfraternity issues.
SECTION III.
A three quarters (3/4) vote of those fraternities present shall be necessary for passage of a sanction.
SECTION IV.
Sanctions shall involve a minimum $25.00 fine (plus all costs & damages) to a maximum fine of $500.00 (plus all costs). All fines go into the IFC treasury. Additional sanctions may be imposed if the severity of the violation warrants such action. Sanctions shall be recommended to the Office of the Vice President for Student Development.
ARTICLE XVI - BY LAWS
SECTION I.
Any representative may propose a by-law, which is a secondary law or rule governing the internal workings of the organization. The proposal must be in writing and must be made in the form of a motion. If a motion to consider a by-law is passed by a majority vote, the by-law will be voted on at the next regular meeting. In order to become effective, the by law must be passed by at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present.
SECTION II.
The existing by-law may be repealed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, when proposed in the same manner as Section I of this Article.
ARTICLE XVII - AMENDMENTS
SECTION I.
An amendment is a formal statement of change, an improvement or a correction in the Constitution for the betterment of the organization.
This Constitution shall be amended in the following manner:
a. A proposal to amend the constitution shall be made in writing. A vote to consider the proposal shall be taken. If the vote is affirmative, the proposed amendment shall be reviewed further.
B. The proposed amendment shall be re-read at the next meeting for those IFC members who missed the original proposal presentation.
C. The proposed amendment shall be voted on the following week (two weeks after the original proposal).
D. If the amendment is passed, it shall be referred to the Vice President for Student Development for approval.
ARTICLE XVIII - RATIFICATION
SECTION I.
This Constitution shall take effect and supersede all previous constitutions when the following signatures are affixed:
______________________ _________________
President, I.F.C. And Date
______________________ _________________
Greek Advisor And Date