Article I
NAME OF ORGANIZATION

“The name of this organization shall be “The Yak”Article II

PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION

Background: Started in 1980, the Graduate Creative Writing Program at George Mason University has a national reputation. The core faculty comprises internationally recognized writers, and our graduates have published with both major and small presses and in national commercial and literary magazines.

(From The MFA website)

o The program itself is a top 25 program in the country and the most prestigious in the DC metro area. The students of the organization often graduate and become everything from: professors, script writers, novelists, award winning poets and everything else under the sun that has to do with the creative arts. The program itself is quite serious and takes its students 3 years to graduate from the program in a 48 credit hour series of courses that entails a rigourous schedule of literature, writing workshops and working with some of the country’s best writers in visiting workshops.

o The Program consists of over 120 students, both full time and part time & has three major sections where writers concentrate, including:
ß Fiction
ß Poetry
ß Non-fiction
ß Purpose: The Yak is a community based organization that allows the students of the MFA program to read aloud their work to the entire campus. While our readings tend to center around MFA student writers, the reading series is open to both undergraduate students and graduate students alike. The purpose is to host events both on George Mason University’s campus in Fairfax and the greater DC area giving credence to George Mason University students. The events are always open to any member of the community and every reading includes an “open mic” at the end of every night where anyone who wishes to read is welcome to read their own work. It is, perhaps, the one true organization for the MFA student body that allows a regular event that graduate students are able to get together and share their creative work.

Article III

MEMBERSHIP

Membership in this organization will not be restricted on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, sex or age.
• All students at George Mason University are automatically eligible to become members of the Yak.
• All active members must be enrolled GMU students with a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.0, and in good academic standing with the university.Article III.a
• Types of membership available:
¸ Board members: Students who have volunteered to work with the organization organizing events.
¸ Graduate Membership: Members who are enrolled in either the MFA program or the MA program in English are automatically members. These students are given preference for showcasing and advertising their material for events. Only graduate students can become board members of the organization.
¸ Undergraduate Membership: These students gain secondary preference for showcasing and advertising their work. NOTE: An undergraduate student must attend at least 3 events before they are eligible to be showcased in an event.
¸ Honorary: Members from other parts of the community, ala, DC, and visiting writers are invited to read and attend meetings.
¸ Faculty: All members of the MFA and MA body are made official members of the Yak and are welcome to all readings, meetings and events.

Article III.b

Membership & revoking membership

• Active undergraduate members of the “YAK” become official by attending two straight public meetings or enrolling in one of the graduate English programs.
• Membership in the YAK can be revoked by a student not meeting academic standards, violation of any of either George Mason University’s standards, the state of Virgina, or federal laws.

Article III.c

Governance and leadership of the Yak

• The Yak committee works on a co-chair basis. There must be at least three co-chairs but no more than five co-chairs.
All officers must be in good academic standings.
• The officers of the Yak will hold the positions from the last week of the school year till 1 calendar year.

ADVISOR

The primary advisor shall be a member of the faculty or staff at George Mason University.

• The advisor will be the director of the MFA program.
• The advisor will be removed when they retire from George Mason University
• The advisor does not have a vote and will consult offering advice to the members of the board as needed.Article Five ELECTIONS
• All elections will take place in May of the Spring term.
• The nomination process will be either selfnominated, or from those members of the MFA/MA program.
• The nominees will simply state their interest in the position.
• Voting will be done if there is more than 5 candidates for the members of the board by secret ballot. The outgoing membership of the board will be responsible for tallying the votes.
• Runoffs will be held no less than 24 hours after the first election.
• A shadow period of no more than 2 events will allow a period of transition including 1 mandatory transition meeting for the new members of the board and old board.

Article Six

MEETINGS

• The board will meet monthly and with the entire community on a weekly basis.
• All board members must preside at all board meetings.
• A qurum will be no less than 2 members of the board.
• Special meetings can be called on a “at will basis” by any member of the board.
• The last section of Robert’s rules of Order shall be used for working with meetings.

Article Seven

FINANCE

• A budget will be drawn on an annual basis once the new members of the board are selected in the Spring. This meeting will be held in conjunction with the English faculty to divvy a equitable system. Part of the annual budget for events will be drawn from the English department’s budget and Student Tax dollars.

Article Eight

AMENDMENTS

Events to the constitution are suggested in board meetings and must meet a _’s approval at all public meetings of the YAK.
The Office of Student Activities must review all amendments in the same manner as a completely new constitution.Article Nine RATIFICATION
• The constition will be ratified at the first public meeting of the Yak by giving every member who attends a copy of the constitution and an oral vote of “yea” or “nay”.
This constitution shall become effective upon approval by a _ vote of the membership, the Council of Student Organization Umbrella Leaders and the Associate Dean of University Life / Director of Student Activities.