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Comics @ UF

GCO Constitution

  1. The Graduate Comics Organization (GCO) is a graduate student organization formed within the English Department of the University of Florida.
  2. GCO is a non-commercial and non-profit entity which does not require dues from its members.
  3. The purpose of GCO is to:
    1. Serve as a pre-professional and social support group for English graduate students and other graduate students at the University of Florida working on Comics Studies.
    2. Aid teaching assistants with the development of pedagogical skills thorough open workshops on teaching comics and animation.
    3. Enhance the academic resources available to the entire University by organizing academic activities such as lectures and national conferences focusing on interests generated by our graduate students.
    4. Provide student representation on faculty committees.
  4. The membership of GCO is open to all UF students regardless of race, creed, color, age, national origin, disability, gender, or religion. Discrimination prohibited. Student government and GCO shall not discriminate on the bases of race, ethnicity, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, disAbility, or any other classification as provided by law.
  5. Meetings shall be held once a month and may be in-person or in the digital environment of MOOville.
  6. Membership entails no dues nor membership fees in accordance with statue 810.20E from the Student Body Constitution. GCO complies with the Student Government 800 codes, specifically 808.11, which states, “Student organizations can only receive student body funds if they are registered with the University of Florida Office of Student Activities and adhere to Student Body Laws.”
  7. GCO shall petition Student Government for an initial budgest for each academic year. Other funds shall be acquired from the English Department, and other student organizations who share GCO’s interest in promoting the humanities. Expenditures shall require a majority vote at two consecutive meetings. Laws.
  8. Officers:
    Officers will hold office for one full year. Elections will be held in March with term of office beginning the following fall semester. Nominations will be solicited from the members at large, and elections will be held the following week. If the nominees run unopposed, then the nominee for that position will automatically become that officer. Officers for positions with multiple nominees will be elected by a 2/3 majority vote.

    In the event that one or more positions become vacant prior to a regularly scheduled election, the remaining officers shall appoint such interim officers as necessary. These members shall hold office until the next scheduled election. An officer could be impeached for not fulfilling duties by one member requesting an impeachment vote and then the impeachment would require a 2/3 vote to impeach the officer.

    Given the importance of an active relationship with CLASSC and its governing bodies, it is the task of the President and Treasurer of each organization to maintain active relations with the Student Body Treasurer’s Office, or the Executive Board of their respective umbrella organization, and remain in accordance with Student Body

    1. President or Co-Presidents: call and preside at all meetings, serve as GCO’s primary representatives to other organizations, and supervise the work of any members of GCO. At the beginning of the term, one of the co-presidents will be designated to sign all necessary documents and papers.

      If during the general election at least two people are not interested in the position of Co-President, then the GCO Presidency can be held by a single person.

    2. Vice-President: assists the co-presidents in running of meetings and serves in a president’s absence.
    3. President: conducts meetings and serves as GCO’s primary representative to other organizations.
    4. Secretary: keeps minutes of all meetings and distributes minutes to all GCO members.
    5. Treasurer: keeps accurate records of all finances of GCO, acts as liaison to Student Government finance office and provides access of financial records to all GCO members.
    6. Executive Member at Large: commit to attending most GCO meetings and functions. (There may be as many Executive Members at Large as are nominated and accept the position.)
  9. Appointed Positions:
    These positions may be appointed at the beginning of Fall term by new GCO leadership or appointed by outgoing leadership at the end of Spring term and then ratified by new leadership at the beginning of Fall term.

    1. Historian: records events with pictures and saves newspaper clippings and save it in an GCO scrapbook. Should also save programs and announcements, and get pictures of GCO conference events and parties.
    2. Webmaster: posts minutes and relevent information on the GCO website.
    3. Chancellor: offers assistance and advice to GCO officers if needed or requested. This position is generally given to the outgoing president.
  10. Committees:
    1. Executive Supervisory Committee (Super-GCO) consisting of officers and other committee chairs.
    2. Grievance Committee.
    3. Teaching Assistant Committee.
    4. General Education Committee.
    5. Comics and Computers Committee (CC).
  11. GCO will adhere to the Student Guide and all other rules governing the University of Florida and its students. Absolutely no hazing is permitted.
  12. GCO members may leave and dissociate themselves from GCO without fear of retribution or harassment.
  13. Faculty advisors will be appointed by general consensus of GCO’s membership. Duties will be to provide advice and act as liasons. The faculty advisor will be kept for his or her tenure at the University or if a 2/3 majority vote called to request the choosing of a new faculty advisor.
  14. Amendments to the GCO constitution shall be solicited annually at the end of the spring semester from all GCO members. Passage of ammendments requires approval by 2/3 of membership.
  15. Meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order.
  16. GCO affirms in advance its willingness to adhere to the Student Guide and to the other laws, rules and regulations governing the University of Florida and its students.
  17. In holding with the Student Guides, GCO does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin, disAbility, or sexual orientation.
  18. GCO does not require or collect membership fees.