Oushi Anime

Oushi Anime Constitution

Article 1. Name

The name of the organization shall be Oushi Anime, Oushi for short.

Article 2. Purpose

Section 1) Oushi Anime shall serve three (3) purposes.
1) As a forum and gathering place for anime enthusiasts to meet and enjoy the company of anther anime fans.
2) A place for those interested in anime fandom to meet other such individuals.
1 Fandom shall be defined
a) as interests and hobbies that spring from an interest in anime
b) Interests lying in Cosplay/Costume, Manga, Video Games (mainly those based from Japan), Fanfiction/FanArt, and any other hobby that might be included in the usual anime convention
3) A place for individuals not of Asian descent, but interested in Asian (Japan to be more specific) culture, to meet other such individuals and learn about the culture of their choice.
2 Culture Meaning:
a) Popular (Including, but not limited to): Video games, Music (J-Rock, J-Pop), Fashion trends (Ganguro, Gothic Lolita), Current trends, etc.
b) “Regular/Historical (including, but not limited to):” Festivals, Local Customs, Language

Section 2) Oushi Anime shall have no affiliation with any entity.

Article 3. Members

Section 1) Membership to Oushi Anime shall be broken up into three categories: Members, Honorary Members, and Alumni.
1) Members shall be anyone meeting the following qualifications:
a. Is a USF student
b. Has attended 3 consecutive meetings
c. Continues to make an appearance at either formal meetings, informal get-togethers, or on the forums
d. Helps out with Oushi events (i.e. Bull Market, campus and community wide events, convention planning, etc).
e. Registers as a member of Oushi on OASIS
1 Allowances shall be made for students whose GPA does not allow them to register on OASIS on the grounds that they raise their GPA.
2) Alumni membership shall be based on the following criteria:
f. Has graduated from USF with at least a Bachelor’s Degree
1 Does not count towards USF Alumni who graduated before 2003 (Oushi’s founding year)
g. Continues to be involved in some aspect of Oushi (meetings, forums, events, informals, etc)
h. Was not discharged from USF for poor academic performance
i. Lives within the Tampa Bay area
3) Honorary Membership shall be awarded to those who:
j. Are not USF students, but meet the other requirements for membership under Members or Alumni
k. Were USF students, but kicked out for Academic reasons
l. Were USF students but transferred to another school within the Tampa Bay area
m. Are Minors who fall under the “Excused Minor” clause
As Oushi is currently a non A&S funded club, the organization is allowed to have 20% of its membership consist of non-USF students. For this reason, Alumni and Honorary Members shall be based as follows:
1) Alumni and Honorary Membership shall be set at 20% of the total membership
a. This number shall be based on the idea that the number of Members is equal to 80% of the total membership.
b. Alumni shall make up 10% of the 20% while Honorary Members shall make up the other 10%
Section 2) Only active USF students in the organization have voting rights. Non-USF students do not have voting rights.

Article 4. Revoking Membership

A member may be removed from the group by a majority vote from the elected officer core. If the member in question feels that he/she was evicted from the club, the case may be brought before the club and settled with a 2/3 vote from the active membership.
1) Membership for Members, Alumni, and Honorary Members shall be revoked for any of the following reasons:
a. Failure to adhere to the rules of the club
b. Being disruptive, rude, or otherwise offensive to one or more elected officers to the point of concerning the other members
c. Starting and continuing a flame war (see forum rules) after receiving warnings from the staff
d. Creating an uncomfortable atmosphere within the group for other members
e. Harassing or assaulting other members be it inside or outside of Oushi settings
f. Creating conflict that affects the entire group
g. Breaking laws set down by USF, the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County, the State of Florida, and the United States of America
h. Involving the entire club in personal disputes between one or more members
2) Membership may be reestablished at the beginning of each semester. Should this be the case, the current, elected officer core shall notify the member in question. Readmission shall not be offered to those who
i. Are still guilty of the incidents that led to their banning from the group.
j. Have attempted to cause trouble for the entire group over personal disputes with one or more members
k. Harasses or assaults members of the group prior to and following ban
l. Did not adhere to the guidelines for members who find themselves on temp ban
Article 5. Guests

Oushi gladly welcomes guests so long as they show an interest in the group.
1) Non-USF Student (NUS) guests are allowed so long as the number of NUS remains at a rate of one NUS for every USF student. That is, the number of NUS guests must be less or equal to the number of USF students.
2) Excused Minor Clause: Minors are allowed to attend Oushi meetings and other functions provided that:
a. A parent or guardian has filled out the Parental consent form
b. They are the guest of a Member, Honorary Member, or Alumni
c.
Article 6. Dues/Fees

Oushi Anime does not intend to collect dues from its members, except in the case of the Oushi Anime viewing library in which case fees will be charged to replace DVDs declared missing or damaged by the librarian. Monies for special events, cosplay groups, AMV creations, convention planning, and other expenses shall be gained through fundraisers, raffles, auctions, bake sales, etc. Donations and sponsorship will be discussed within the officer core.

Article 7. Quorum

A quorum (minimum number of members needed) shall be composed of 50% +1 of the active voting membership. This quorum must be met when voting on issues such as:
1) The semester/year’s playlist
2) Members who wish to appeal a decision made by the officer core
3) Changes to the Constitution
4) The removal of an officer due to member complaint

Addendum: In the case of issues listed and not listed above (with exception to issues number one(1) and three(3)), the officer core shall maintain the rights to decide which decisions they feel are best voted on within the officer core and which should be decided by the group/quorum.

Article 8. Officers

An officer core of four elected officers shall exist for the running of the club. These officers are elected to serve a term following elections of new officer(s) to the following school year's elections (i.e. May through April). Anyone wishing to run for an elected office must meet both the University of South Florida qualifications as well as Oushi Anime qualifications.

1) USF Qualifications are as follows:
a. Must be a degree seeking USF student
b. Must have a 2.5 GPA or higher
c. Must not have any probations, mark ups, (in other words, don’t be in trouble with the school)
d. In coming freshmen with a valid USF ID and access to OASIS may run

2) Oushi Anime Qualifications:
a. Must have been a member of Oushi prior to the beginning of the Spring semester of the election year
b. Must be able to attend weekly officers meetings (mandatory during the first month or so)
c. Be able to juggle school, work, and club
d. Work well with others
e. Be available at least two Wednesdays a month for Bull Market
f. Be able to separate club business from personal issues
g. Be open minded to new and old ideas
h. Think on one’s feet
i. Organized
j. Possess good communication skills
k. Be willing to attend non formal outings or somehow find a way to interact with members outside of the formal meetings
l. Pay attention to the forums

Article 9. Officer Positions

1) President

The President represents the Oushi Anime for Student Activities, Reservations, and any other part of USF that decides to contact the club. As the head of the club, the forums, and the officer core, the president is expected to be the main problem solver, decision maker, and face of the club. He/She shall be in charge of ensuring that meetings run well, the forums are kept up to date and presiding over other formal club activities. The length of term for the President shall be one year.

Other duties and responsibilities of the President include (but are not limited to):

a. Putting the club’s feelings before personal feelings.
b. Getting along with the club
c. Keeping updated on club activities, events, and behind the scenes running
d. Making sure Oushi continues to follow guidelines set down by USF
e. Appointing committee heads or hearing suggestions for said positions
f. Being capable of doing the other officers’ jobs, but not actually performing said duties unless the officer appointed is unavailable.
2) Vice President

The Vice President shall assist the president with his/her duties, and preside over the organization in the president's absence. He/She is the second in command after the President, but still answers to the other officers as well as the club for his/her behavior. In addition, the Vice President’s duties shall also include: informing the President of issues he/she might have missed, keeping an eye over forums moderators, and reporting their progress and behavior back to President, working well with other officers for the purpose of running the club, representing club at any functions the President cannot attend, acting as club Complaints Officer, maintaining the suggestions box, redirecting questions and concerns to the proper officer or staff member, and performing any other responsibilities that may be added on as the year progresses. The length of term for the position of Vice President shall be one year.

3) Treasurer

The Treasurer shall receive, dispatch, and keep accurate records of all financial matters. He/She and the Treasurer shall share the position of Third in Command in the absence of the President and Vice President. In addition, the Treasurer shall be in charge of maintaining a well stocked snack table for bake sales, Bull Market, other fundraising events, and formal meetings when the club decides to cater. While it is not mandatory that the Treasurer have a car, it is preferable that any applying for this position either have one or have access to one. Lastly, the Treasurer must be available at some point on Wednesdays between 9am and 2pm for Bull Market and able to perform any other duties that he/she may be assigned over the course of the year. The length of term for the position of Treasurer shall be one year.

4) Secretary

The Secretary shall be in charge of the upkeep of Oushi Anime records and share the position of Third in Command with the Treasurer in the absence of the President and Vice President. In addition, the Secretary shall be in charge of the Oushi Anime Library’s upkeep as well as commanding staff for special events, watching over committee forum moderators, and capable of performing other duties that may be added on as year goes by. The length of term for the position of secretary shall be one year.

Section 2. Staff

In the event that there are no elected officers that can take care of duties, other members may be asked to step in as helpers. The appointment of these staff members must be approved by the President, who may in turn require further approval from the entire officer core. Staff members may range from yearly (appointment lasts for the duration of the President’s term) to temporary (appointment lasts on an as needed basis) and include positions such as A/V coordinator, Cosplay group leader, convention/special event contact, forum moderator, Officer core assistant, flyer posting, art director, and other positions that may arise.

Article 10. Elections of Officers

One month prior to the last general meeting of the Spring semester, the President must notify the members of the annual election of officers. The election shall take place during the last general meeting of the Spring semester.

Elections are by secret ballot. In the event of a tie, a run-off between those candidates who tied will take place the following week.

In the event that a required officer position becomes vacant during the school year, the President must motion for the election. In the event that the President’s position is vacated, the Vice President takes on the interim responsibilities of the President and calls for a motion for the election. In the event that the Vice President’s position is vacated, the Treasurer makes the motion. In the event that the other officers’ positions are vacated, the Secretary makes the motion. The motion must be seconded. The motion carries with a simple majority vote of the Executive Board. The members must be notified one week prior to said election.

Article 11. Officer and Staff Removal

Section 1. Staff

Staff members may be removed from their positions by the President, without a vote from the officer core, quorum, or general club. Removal may be based on failure to complete duties, insubordination, completion of purpose, or for violating any membership rule that results in expulsion from the club. Temporary staff members will be relieved of their positions upon completion of their duties. Year long positions may also be relieved based on a two thirds (2/3) vote of the officer core (minus the President) and the other year long staff members. Should a staff member feel that he/she has been unjustly removed from office; a meeting may be called in which both sides of the issue shall be presented and a quorum (called a trial of peers) shall decide the wronged party. After hearing the quorum’s vote, the President will then suggest a ruling which will go to the quorum for a vote.

Section 2. Officer Core

The Vice President, Treasurer, or Secretary may be removed from office for the following reasons:
1) Failure to attend to duties
2) Failure to carry out a direct request from the President
3) Purposely picking fights with other officers, the President, or club members
4) Abusing power
5) Failure to maintain required GPA
6) Failure to notify the President of changes in academic state
7) Repeated complaints from other members concerning the officer’s behavior
8) Outright, public, or purposely disobeying the President’s command on dealing with problem members
9) Embezzlement
10) Using Oushi Materials or materials paid for by Oushi for personal gains/needs
11) Issues in which the other members of the core feel that all parties would be better served with the removal of the officer in question
The President may be removed for the same reasons as another officer, but must be voted out of office by a majority vote of the officer core and 2/3 vote of an quorum, presided over by a USF member who is not an officer, nor in anyway involved with the President outside of an officer/member relationship.

Note: The President reserves the right to remove members, officers, and staff from their positions on the grounds insubordination, personal attacks to the President or another member, and/or using profanity, threatening remarks to either the President or another officer. Further, the President reserves the right to allow removed staff or officers back to their position for a trial or probation period without a vote from either the other members of the officer core or the quorum. Disagreements with such decisions may be brought before the quorum for dispute during which the President must explain the reasoning behind his/her decision. If the president is found to . If problems persist with said individual, he/she will be permanently removed from their position and a vote will be called up to determine if the individual should be allowed to have any position ever again. Should the person continue to cause disruptions within the club, he/she will be at fault for violating the constitution and then subject to procedures pertaining to regular members. Friends and family of anyone presenting a complaint are not allowed to preside over quorums assembled to act as a trial of peers.

Article 12. Advisor

The advisor is chosen by a general consensus of the current officers. The minimum duties for the advisor to fulfill his/her role is to 1) Meet with the Organization President and/or the Organization Executive Board a minimum of once a month; 2) Be placed on all communication venues (listservs, blackboard etc.) the organization has set in place; 3) Attend a minimum of 1 meeting/event the organization holds a semester; 4) Provide general advisement/guidance to the organization and its members on organizational matters.

Article 13. Meetings

The officer transitions meeting will be held 2 weeks following the election of new officers. Meetings shall be held in the Engineering Auditorium or any other facility that can accommodate over 30 people in a theater style setting. They will begin at 7pm, but, if the room is open prior, members may game or socialize provided that an elected officer (preferably one who is authorized to reserve meeting space) is on site. The suggested format for the playlist is that three (3) episodes of the longest show on the playlist be shown, along with two (2) episodes of the shorter shows, one (1) episode from a show that is not on the playlist (hereon referred to as an Anipick-or whatever the club decides to call it), and three Amine Music Videos (AMVs) distributed throughout the playlist. The decision to call a special meeting may be made by any officer, when deemed necessary, with a 48 hour notice.

Article 14. The Library

The library is a network that allows members to borrow anime DVDs and music from other members or from a collection of DVDs that the club will maintain. The Secretary shall be charged with the library’s upkeep and notify the officer core if any problems should arise concerning the library. Fines for lost, late returns, or damages done to DVDs in the library shall be determined by the officer core at the beginning of the school year.

Article 15. Rules of Order

Meetings shall be run according to Robert’s Rules of Order

Article 16. Amendments

Amendments to the constitution may be made only after suggestions are made to the officer core who will first vote on the issue before presenting it to a quorum. A 2/3 vote is required to pass any amendment to the constitution.

The President reserves the right to veto any movement provided he/she provides a sound reason.

All amendments or bylaw changes will be considered pending until presented to and reviewed by the Office of Engagement & Involvement.

Article 17. Hazing

This organization prohibits its members, both individually and collectively from committing any acts of hazing as defined herein: “Hazing,” means any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with this organization. Such term shall include, but not be limited to, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other forced activity which adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual to extreme mental stress, such as　sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual. For the purpose of this section, any activity as described above upon which the initiation or admission into or affiliation with this organization is directly or indirectly conditioned shall be presumed to be a 'forced activity' the willingness of an individual to participate in such activity notwithstanding.

Article 18. Organization Agreement

Organization agrees to abide by Florida State Statute #240.262 regarding hazing. Furthermore, agrees to abide by all Engagement & Involvement policies as outlined in the student handbook, to check the organization’s mailbox regularly, to communicate via email upon request, and to update the organization’s records whenever there is a change.