Student organization quarrels over bylaw
Note: This article originally appeared in the April 5, 2012 issue of The Pan American. The Pan American was the student newspaper at my former university, The University of Texas - Pan American, where I got into writing. Ultimately, TPA was shut down as a result of a merger with neighboring university to make way for The University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley and the new student publication did not transfer anything from TPA. Here's one of my articles for them that was saved thanks to the miracle of Google Docs.
When Samantha Magdaleno sent out a mass email to the members of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars about officer elections, she had no idea of the upheaval that would ensue.
The email, sent out March 20, explained how the officers of the student chapter were not going to have have elections for their positions and remain in power for another academic year.
According to Magdaleno, the officers decision to opt out of elections was due to a clause in their organization’s constitution, located in Article IV, Section 4, detailing that officers must serve a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years in NSCS.
“The amount of time the officer serves in this capacity should be no less than one academic year and not exceed two academic years unless approved by the NSCS national office or by an election held by the chapter,” reads the contested section.
“I wrote the email to bring attention to this issue from other members,” the 20-year-old from Belleville, Mich., said. “It may say that about officer positions, but it also says (under Article VII, Section 2) that the leadership group must be elected by a fair and democratic process, something that I’m not seeing.”
NSCS is an honors organization that promotes higher education and community involvement for students through various service projects. The UTPA chapter was founded last spring by Nancy Limon.
Magdaleno is in hot water with the organization for speaking out about the issue, and she said she could be ousted from her position as the vice president of Planning to Achieve Collegiate Excellence, a branch within NSCS that specializes in middle school students.
According to emails sent to Magdaleno from the NSCS national office in Washington, D.C., by talking about the issue, she was “dividing the officers and members and creating conflict within the organization.” The national office told Magdaleno to stop sending emails on the subject and to let the faculty advisor, Professor Banil Banik, handle it.
Banik declined to comment on the matter.
“I know that there are risks involved to talking about it,” Magdaleno said. “But knowing that members are getting something beneficial out of this makes it worth it for me.”
Nancy Limon, the president of NSCS, said she does not understand why there is outrage.
“I’m just following directions from the national office,” said Limon, a native of Linares, Mexico. “That was already in the constitution when we got it. As a local student chapter, we can amend the constitution we receive from the national office, but we didn’t make any amendments. I know that there’s some confusion, but I’m just doing my best.”
One of the students who received Magdaleno’s email was Vanessa Garza, a 20-year-old McAllen native, who also supported making other members aware of the situation.
“The fact that the officers didn’t, and from my understanding still are not, wanting to at least be re-elected for their positions is ridiculous to me,” said Garza, a sophomore majoring in mass communication, via email.
According to Rebecca Gadson, the Assistant Dean of Students, however, NSCS and its constitution aren’t breaking any University rules.
“Currently, there is no University policy that dictates term limits for students elected to officer positions within student organizations,” she said.
Sharice Evans, the member engagement manager for NSCS in the national office, noted that giving incumbent priority is the norm for NSCS, “We are treating the UTPA chapter just like the other 300 plus chapters,” she said.
Some members, though, are still upset about the situation and are voicing their opinions. Chelsea Davila, a member of the UTPA chapter, said that while she agrees with the rule and thinks it’s fair, she doesn’t like how the officers are implementing it.
“They’re using the article as a loophole to stay in power,” the 20-year-old Harlingen native said in an email interview. “They read the parts of the constitution that are favorable to them, and ignore the parts that say that they must hold elections.”
A compromise was reached on Friday, making the positions of Vice President for Publicity, VP of Community Service and Fundraising Chair open for members who want to run against an incumbent.
Other coveted and occupied positions like Secretary and President are still not open to elections this year.
An idea that was taken under consideration was that of having co-officers. Under this role, if a candidate beats an incumbent, then they'd both serve as officers so that the incumbent could mentor the new officer.
However, co-officer positions were done away with by the assistant dean of students because University Policy does not allow that.
Limon said that there is a possibility for change in the constitution. If the majority want to amend it, then it could be done with approval from the national office, she said.
Even if change is brought to the chapter, Magdaleno said she may not stick around.
