November 8, 2007 Meeting

1. Applications for Recognition

The Committee received no new applications for recognition, but considered revised Constitutions for the following organizations:

Filmmakers Anonymous
Pre-Vet Society
Emergency Health Services Council of Majors
Tau Sigma Honor Society

In every case, the Committee identified minor problems, the resolution of which should result in swift approval.

2. Air Force ROTC

The students seeking to launch the Air Force ROTC organization submitted a Constitution earlier in the month which included the standard nondiscrimination clause:

“Membership in this organization may not be denied because of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, disabled veteran or veteran, national origin or religion.”

The nondiscrimination clause is not required for recognition, but any sort of discrimination in selecting members has an impact on whether an organization is eligible for SGA funding. Chris Najmi had sent the group an e-mail on the Student Organizations Committee’s behalf asking Air Force ROTC whether it planned to enforce the United States government’s policies regarding the sexual orientation of members of the military. As Chris reported at today’s meeting, the Air Force ROTC’s response was ambiguous. Chris will follow up by asking specific questions about whether being openly gay would result in denial of membership in the organization.

3. Record-Keeping

The Committee discussed the fact that the paper files on student organizations maintained by the Student Involvement Center do not contain much of the information that is now routinely handled electronically, including registration forms submitted after organizations have received formal recognition from UMBC. Committee members agreed that it would be useful to have complete paper files on each organization, and Erin Carter will follow up by working with her staff to create paper versions of all information stored in electronic form.

4. Process Change for Recognition Applications

The Committee asked Chris Najmi to develop and provide Sheryl Gibbs with an information sheet to be provided to organizations submitting applications for recognition to the Office of Student Life. The information sheet will advise the organization to send an electronic copy of its proposed Constitution to Chris for an initial review and consultation before it the application is considered by the full Committee. The Committee anticipates that this change will make the recognition process quicker and easier for both the organizations submitting applications and the Committee.

5. Student Organization Categories

The Committee agreed that members would come to next week’s meeting with proposed student organization categories to supplement or replace the existing categories (Academic/Departmental, Greek Life, etc.). Committee members expressed particular interest in replacing the existing Special Interest category with several more accurate and descriptive category names reflecting the various types of organizations now lumped together in that category.