Social and Service Clubs

Social clubs have been in existence at AU for many years and may be formed with
essentially the same criteria as interest clubs, with these exceptions:

• at least 25 eligible students must be interested in being club members.
• SGA and representatives of the Department of Student Life must review the club proposal before it will be approved.
• New social clubs may become active only at the beginning of the academic year.
  

• Interest Week: Two weeks are designated at the beginning of the fall semester for social clubs to solicit members. During this time, clubs hold social functions and service opportunities to acquaint interested students with the purpose, goals and membership of each club.
  

• Silent Days: After Interest Week, clubs observe Silent Days, when persuasion of prospective members is forbidden by agreement of the clubs. During this time, interested parties apply for club membership through the secretary of student development, who keeps a record of the applications and forwards them to the respective clubs.
  

• Surge Week: Following Silent Days, clubs invite students from their lists of applicants to join their clubs. During this week, clubs are allowed to have activities for prospective members. Social clubs are encouraged to devise initiation practices that lend themselves to strengthening their stated objectives. No club may engage in initiation practices that violate campus standards and codes of conduct. Any practice that endangers the safety, personal well-being, or personal dignity of an initiate is strictly forbidden. Groups or individuals found in violation of this standard will be subject to appropriate disciplinary measures.

Elections

Officers are elected by each club’s membership in accordance with their approved constitutions. Officers of any organization must be fulltime students in good standing academically and socially with the university and have a 2.0 cumulative GPA during the preceding semester and while holding office. Election results are to be filed with the associate dean of students for community life.

Responsibilities of Club Officers and Advisers

Officers and advisors guide organizations in accordance with the purposes of the groups and within the framework of university policy. They are respon sible for executing the organizations’ programs, handling finances in a business like way, contacting SGA regarding programs and social functions, and promptly filing names of newly elected officers and club members with SGA at the beginning of each semester.

Finances

As a measure of their maturity and efficiency, clubs are expected to use sound business sense in their organizational finances and in the business relations of their members. Club treasurers keep records of all financial transactions, and clubs assume financial responsibility for losses incurred.

Student-Sponsored Programs

Student organizations present a variety of public programs, such as plays, musicals, talent shows, variety programs, and special speakers. Clubs are responsible for all expenses incurred and are charged at cost for rentals, scenery, and prop construction and transportation. These may be requisitioned with the approval of the faculty advisor and the club treasurer. Contact Ronn Johnstone, director of theatre, ext. 4352, if interested in using drama equipment.