October 11, 2007 Meeting--What Counts as a Membership Restriction?

1. Applications for Recognition

The Committee voted to recommend recognition of Alpha Phi Omega as a Restricted-Funded Service organization, and the Political Science Council of Majors (which had its recognition revoked last month) as a Funded Political/Social Activism organization. The Political Science Council of Majors recommendation is tentative pending minor revisions to the organization’s Constitution.

The Committee received new applications for recognition from Best Buddies and Women’s Club Lacrosse (both of which had their recognition revoked last month), and from Get Up. Katie Nolan from Women’s Club Lacrosse attended the meeting and responded to questions about the group’s application and plans to resubmit the Constitution with minor revisions. Chris Najmi will follow up with the other organizations regarding issues with their Constitutions.

Based on the usefulness of the conversation with Katie Nolan, the Committee decided to invite the Presidents of all organizations applying for recognition to meet with the Committee when it considers their applications.

2. Alpha Nu Omega Sorority, Inc.

The Committee met with the two members/officers of Alpha Nu Omega Sorority and answered questions relating to the revocation of its recognition. In accordance with SGA policy, the group’s carryover account will remain in place for two years, and if its officers are successful in recruiting new members and reapplying for recognition the group can ask SGA to restore its access to the carryover funds.

3. What Counts as a Membership Restriction?

SGA’s Student Organizations Policy identifies any organization that is not “open to all UMBC undergraduate students,” or has “selection criteria,” as a limited-funded organization. The Committee discussed the ambiguity of these phrases as they apply to some organizations’ practices. For example, if an organization allows anyone to join but states that only members with certain characteristics (e.g., with a certain major) can hold an officer position, should the organization be considered a limited-funded organization? What about an organization which accepts anyone as a member, but requires auditions to play certain central roles in the organization’s activities? The Committee agreed that this is a complicated issue requiring further discussion.