CONSTITUTION OF THE EPSILON SIGMA SORORITY

OF SHORTER COLLEGE

Amended in Fall 2004

Preamble

            We, the sisters and sweethearts of the Epsilon Sigma sisterhood, shall always strive to uphold Christian ideals and attitudes in being an active organization at Shorter College. It is our utmost goal to keep Jesus Christ at the center of our sorority and to acknowledge Him as our true leader. In doing this, we share a special bond of love in Christian unity and it is our desire to be an example for Christ as we take an active part in Shorter College.

                                    “The girls of Ep Sigma are faithful and loyal;

                                       Victorious and peaceful, together we stand.

                                   And so, as the years pass, we’ll always be loyal;

                                                      We’ll always sing out.

                                                     Always singing Epsilon.”

Article I. Name of the Organization

            Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Epsilon Sigma Sorority.

Article II. Object

            Section 1. The object of the sorority shall be the improvement of Shorter College and the sorority through the actions and loyalty of its members and alumnae.

            Section 2. This sorority shall always strive for the support and leadership of all sororities in enthusiasm, involvement in sorority and school activities, good sportsmanship, good conduct, and a Christian example.

Article III. Rush and Pledge

            Section 1. The Inter-Greek Council shall be the official governing body of all Rush and Pledge events. All events must be scheduled and approved by the Inter- Greek Council.

            Section 2. The purpose of Rush shall be to provide information concerning the history and standards of Epsilon Sigma. The Pledgemaster and Executive Council  will decide upon the events held and propose them to the Inter-Greek Council for  approval. All events shall uphold the purpose of Rush.

            Section 3. Pledge is to be defined as the period in which a potential sister learns the history, constitution, and philosophy of Epsilon Sigma.

            Section 4. The pledge period will last from the date of pledge night until the date of initiation.  Formal initiation will occur sometime during the pledge semester when the sisterhood approves by a 2/3 vote that every pledge can responsibly uphold the values of Epsilon Sigma.  The pledge class will be initiated as a whole.  The first week of this period shall be designated “Pledge Week” and shall involve events and activities to promote unity among the pledges and sisterhood.  A new member will become an official sister after the completion of the pledge period.

            Section 5. Pledges shall be selected for membership according to the standards of                    the Inter-Greek Council. The selection of pledges shall involve the entire             sisterhood. The ranking process shall be decided upon by the Pledgemaster and approved by the Executive Council.

            Section 6. Pledge Requirements

                 A. Pledges shall be issued one copy of the Official Epsilon Sigma Pledge Manual, which outlines the requirements of Pledge and provides the history, traditions, constitution, cheers, and philosophy of Epsilon Sigma. This manual may be added or detracted from at the discretion of the current Pledgemaster, but must have the approval of the Executive Council and a majority vote of the sisterhood.

                 B. The requirements for the pledge period set forth in the Official Pledge Manual shall be binding requirements for all new members to become official sisters.

                 C. Pledge pins shall be constructed of three ribbons: green, white, and pink. Pledge pins are to be worn to every Epsilon Sigma event unless excused by the Pledgemaster. A pledge wearing a pledge pin is required to be in pledge pin attire. Pledge pin attire is defined as semi-formal attire in the form of pantyhose and a skirt.  Dress slacks, not khakis, are acceptable, but only if the pledge is wearing pantyhose underneath.

                 D. The pledge class shall elect officers by secret ballot vote. Nominations are to be taken during pledge week and elections are to be held at the conclusion of pledge week. The Pledgemaster and one other sister shall count all votes.  The newly elected pledge class officers shall meet with the Pledgemaster and previous pledge class officers to understand their job descriptions upon their election into the position.    

                 E. The pledge class shall plan and coordinate the annual Green and White Banquet. The banquet must be funded by the pledge class and designed to honor the current seniors in the sorority. Only new members, sweethearts, sisters, and advisors are invited to attend the Green and White Banquet. The Banquet shall take place after the pledge period is complete.

            Section 7. The Pledgemaster shall be responsible for informing the sisterhood of  all Rush and Pledge Events as well as any information given by the Inter-Greek Council. She shall provide a detailed schedule of pledge week events to all sisters       

and sweethearts as well as pledges.

Article IV. Membership

            Section 1. Any girl is eligible for membership who is a student of Shorter College and who is not a member of the other authorized social/service sororities of the college.

            Section 2. If a sister is on Academic Probation for two consecutive semesters she will be permitted to stay active that semester, but will not be allowed to run for an office or represent the sorority in elected or appointed positions. If by the next semester she is still on Academic Probation, she will be asked to go inactive until the time she is removed from the Academic Probation list.

            Section 3. No student shall be individually approached to join the sorority.  However, all sisters, by their behavior and attitudes, are expected to influence as  many students as possible to join the sorority subject to the rules agreed upon by the Inter-Greek Council.

            Section 4. Dues for each semester shall be set at the beginning of that semester by the Executive Council.

            Section 5. It shall be the duty of each member  to live up to the high standards and ideals of the Epsilon Sigma Sorority and to strive for the improvement and growth of the sorority at all times.

Article V. Officers

            Section I. The Executive Officers of the Sorority shall be President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chaplain, Pledgemaster, Historian, and Parliamentarian. They shall be responsible for the well being of  the sisterhood, upholding the Constitution, the conduct of the sisters which could reflect upon the sorority, and the sorority activities.

            Section 2. Basic Requirements for Office

                 A. President

                        The President must have been an active member of Epsilon Sigma for at                        least three semesters (not including pledge). She shall preside at all meetings and            supervise the general business of the sorority. She must also attend Inter-Greek                     Council meetings. The President shall remain in office until all new officers are in place.

     B. First Vice President:  The First Vice President must have been an active member of Epsilon Sigma for at least three semesters (not including pledge). She shall assist the President in her duties and assume the duties of the President in her absence. She shall be in charge of service projects and Boxer Bash (St. Patty’s Day Bash).

    C. Second Vice President:  The Second Vice President must have been an active member of Epsilon Sigma for at least three semesters (not including pledge). She shall assist the President and First Vice President. She shall be responsible for food at each event, the sorority’s annual trip, and ordering jerseys.

 D. Secretary:  The Secretary shall be a member of the sophomore class. She shall keep an updated copy of the Constitution and By-Laws. She shall attend all meetings and record minutes of the proceedings and an accurate roll of all members. She shall distribute minutes to all sisters who request them. She shall also order hats for pledge and distribute sweetheart hats to each family (free of charge). The Secretary shall appoint committee members as well as maintain the organization’s web page.

              E. Treasurer:  The Treasurer must have been an active member of Epsilon Sigma for at       least three semesters (not including pledge). She shall keep an accurate account of the sorority’s  expenditures. She shall make the financial report of the sorority when called upon at each meeting. Only the Treasurer and President shall have the power to make payments for the sorority and, when necessary, may delegate this power to other officers or members. The Treasurer shall be responsible for all fundraisers and projects. The Treasurer shall also present a monthly report of the financial standing to the sisterhood.

                 F. Chaplain:  The Chaplain shall be responsible for encouraging the spiritual growth of the sisters, as well as presenting a devotion at each meeting. The Chaplain does not have to be under any certain classification. She shall oversee the Sister Support Team, compiled of six sisters.

                 G. Pledgemaster:  The Pledgemaster must have been an active member of Epsilon Sigma for at least three semesters (not including pledge). She must also attend Inter-Greek Council meetings, as well as oversee the Leprechaun and Elves. She shall be responsible for coordinating, with the assistance of the other Executive Council members, all Rush and Pledge activities and functions. The Pledgemaster shall plan the White Rose Formal.

                 H. Historian:  The Historian shall be responsible for keeping a scrapbook of the sorority’s activities. She shall also coordinate all photography for events that require it. The Historian shall assist the Secretary in maintaining the sorority’s web page and keep an accurate list of all contact information of alumnae. The Historian does not have to be under any certain classification.

                 I. Parliamentarian:  The Parliamentarian must have been an active member of Epsilon Sigma for at least three semesters (not including pledge). She shall be responsible for upholding and enforcing the constitution and keeping order in each meeting. She shall oversee the voting process in the sorority according to the Epsilon Sigma Constitution and Robert’s Rules of Order Revised. She shall also be a member of the Judicial Board and call Judicial Board meetings if necessary.

Article VI.   Nominations and Elections

            Section 1. Nominations shall come from the floor and must be consistent with   Robert’s Rules of Order Revised.

            Section 2. Nominations shall be held the first week in April and elections shall be held the second week (Spring Break pending). A quorum, consisting of a majority of the sisters, must be present during elections.

            Section 3. All elected office positions shall be voted on by secret ballot. A quorum must be present for elections.

            Section 4. Sisters should be elected to represent the sorority on the Inter-Greek           Council.

            Section 5. Absentee ballots shall be permitted. In order to vote by absentee ballot,  the sister must present her valid excuse to the President one week prior to elections. The ballot shall be presented to the President in a sealed envelope twenty-four hours prior to the election and shall be opened when the votes are   counted. The President (that served the previous year) shall cast a deciding vote in    the event of a tie.

Article VII.  Vacancies in Offices

            Section 1. A vacancy in the office of President shall be fulfilled in order of  succession, going no further than that of First Vice President. A new First Vice  President shall be elected in such a case.

            Section 2. Vacancies in the office of First Vice President , Second Vice President,        Treasurer, Secretary, Chaplain, Pledgemaster, Historian, and Parliamentarian shall be fulfilled by election according to the election requirements as stated in this Constitution.

Article VIII. Sweethearts

            Section 1. Sweethearts may be chosen from any class. Each year, four new sweethearts shall be chosen. Two sweethearts shall be chosen by the sisters before pledge, one by the pledge class, and one by the entire sorority after White Rose.

            Section 2. The election shall follow Robert’s Rules of Order Revised and votes shall be tallied by Executive Council members.

            Section 3. The nominee receiving a majority of votes shall carry the election. In the event of a nominee declining such an honor, the nominee with the next highest number of votes shall be notified.

            Section 4.  The Secretary will head the sweetheart committee.

                        A. The responsibilities of the Sweetheart Committee shall consist of the evaluation of each sweetheart’s attendance, based on attendance of a minimum of half of the school year’s Epsilon Sigma events that they are eligible to attend. The committee shall recommend that those who meet this requirement be invited back into the sorority the following year and recommend that those who do not    meet this requirement not be invited back into the sorority the following year. Ultimately, this decision shall be made by a 2/3 vote of the sorority (just as with the dismissal of a sister). The committee shall be responsible for submitting a mid-year attendance report to each sweetheart reminding him of his status and thanking him for his role as a sweetheart.  The committee shall also be responsible for sending some sort of small encouragement and thanks to the sweethearts each month. The committee shall be responsible for making the heart and invitation that each new sweetheart receives upon invitation into Epsilon Sigma Sorority.

                        B. Invitation:  An elected Sweetheart shall receive a call of invitation the night he is voted into the sorority and be honored the following day (usually at lunch) through gifts including a heart, white rose, and a formal invitation into the sorority. The call of invitation is to inform him of the request of the honor of his participation and presence in Epsilon Sigma, to inform him of our one request of his participation and the role of our sweethearts, and to give him the opportunity to commit to the honor of being a Sweetheart.

                        C. Gifts:  The new Sweetheart shall be given a jersey upon acceptance of         invitation and shall receive a hat after he has successfully met attendance requirements during his first semester. (The Sweetheart’s family shall make his hat.) All Sweethearts receive free t-shirts and trips with the sorority.

BY-LAWS

Article I. Membership

            Section 1. Any member who no longer attends Shorter College may continue to be an active member in the sorority. She shall be subject to the same privileges and restrictions, as long as dues are paid.

            Section 2. Any member who has become inactive may return to an active status            upon payment of dues. However, if a sister is inactive because of too many  unexcused absences, she must wait until the following semester to become an active member. Any sister who is put on Academic Probation must go inactive if deemed necessary by the Dean of the College and the Judicial Board.

Article II. Powers and Duties

            Section 1. It is the duty of every member to read, become familiar with, and uphold this Constitution.

Article III. Committees

            Section 1. The Executive Council shall be composed of the nine officers.

            Section 2. The Secretary may appoint special committees when necessary. These         appointments must be approved by the Executive Council.

            Section 3. The standard committees are chosen by the new and old Executive Council the night of elections.

Article IV. Parliamentary Authority

            Section 1. The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order Revised shall govern all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these By-Laws and Constitution.

            Section 2. A majority of all active sisters shall constitute a quorum. A quorum   shall consist of 2/3 of all active members.

Article V. Constitutional Changes

            Section 1. These By-Laws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the members present       provided there is a quorum present at any regular or special meeting.

Article VI.   Meetings

            Section 1. Meetings shall be held weekly except during exams.

            Section 2. Only the President shall have the power to order meetings for the sisterhood.

Article VII. Leprechaun

            Section 1. A Leprechaun shall be chosen each year by the new and old Executive         Council, along with the old Elves and Leprechaun. She shall be selected from the present pledge class on the basis of being the new sister who best exemplifies the ideals of Epsilon Sigma.

            Section 2. In the event of the Leprechaun being unable to complete her year, the           officers shall choose another from the same pledge class.

Article VIII. Irish Elves

            Section 1. The Irish Elves shall be chosen from the present pledge class and shall be responsible for promoting Epsilon Sigma Spirit on campus.

            Section 2. The Irish Elves shall be chosen by the new and old Executive Council and the old Elves and Leprechaun. They shall choose all six Elves and the Leprechaun.

            Section 3. The Irish Elves shall choose from among themselves a leader.

Article IX. Pledge Class Officers

            Section 1.

                        The Pledge Class Officers are to be nominated and elected by the entire            pledge class. Voting shall be done by secret ballot. Votes shall be counted by the Pledgemaster and another sister. The Pledgemaster shall cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie.

            Section 2. Basic Requirement for Office

                 A. President

                        The President shall preside over all pledge class meetings. She shall coordinate the Green and White banquet. She shall work closely with the Pledgemaster to ensure proper procedures and policies. She shall give a speech at the White Rose Ceremony and the Green and White Banquet.

                 B. Vice President

                        The Vice President shall assist the President in her duties and assume the           duties of the President in her absence. She shall coordinate all service projects of the pledge class.

                 C. Secretary

                        The Secretary shall keep a copy of the pledge manual and constitution. She shall attend all meetings and keep minutes of the proceedings and an accurate attendance of members. She shall provide the Pledgemaster with a copy of weekly minutes and attendance. She shall keep attendance of sweethearts at all sisterhood functions and submit an attendance report to Epsilon Sigma’s Secretary at the end of each semester.

     D. Treasurer

                        The Treasurer shall plan and coordinate all fundraising activities. The treasurer is responsible for all money and expenditures. She shall work closely with the Treasurer of Epsilon Sigma for budget allotments.

                 E. Chaplain

                        The Chaplain shall be responsible for encouraging the spiritual growth of the pledge class, as well as presenting a devotion at each meeting. She shall also prepare a devotion for one sisterhood meeting during the pledge period.

Article X. Judicial Board

                 A. The Judicial Board of Epsilon Sigma shall be composed of the Parliamentarian and one elected sister from each pledge class, including the current year’s pledge class. The Judicial Board shall investigate and determine any possible infraction of the policies outlined in the Constitution or any incident in which a sister does not uphold the founding principles of the chapter.

                 B. If it is found that the standards of the Epsilon Sigma Constitution are not being upheld, it is the responsibility of the Judicial Board to review with the sister the expectations of Epsilon Sigma and to proceed with an appropriate course of action in order to uphold the Constitution and standards of Epsilon Sigma. The Judicial Board is able to, but not limited to, dispense the following courses of action: warning, probation, requested resignation of office or from the sisterhood, community service, dismissal, or taking no action.

                 C. The Judicial Board shall approach anyone who is in violation of attendance           requirements and financial requirements, as well as expectation requirements as outlined in this Constitution. 

                 D. If the approached sister would like to appeal her approach or the sentence given by the Judicial Board, an appeal may be made to the advisor(s) of Epsilon Sigma Sorority, who shall speak with both the sister and the Judicial Board. The decision of the advisor(s) will stand.

AMENDMENTS

Amendment I. Attendance

                        The only excused absences to any Epsilon Sigma event or meeting are a bed-ridden sickness, class, work, or an emergency as approved by the discretion of the Secretary. Each sister or pledge is allowed two unexcused absences without penalty. Upon the third absence the sister/pledge is required to pay $5.00 within one week of the absence. If the absence is not paid for, the sister/pledge shall go inactive for the rest of the semester. Upon the fourth absence, the sister shall go inactive or may choose to present an apology with the reason before the sorority. The sorority shall then decide how to further handle the absences by a 2/3 vote. An excuse will only be accepted before or within 24 hours following an event or meeting.

Amendment II. Drinking and Use of Drugs

                 A. There shall be no use or possession of alcoholic beverages or any kind of             illegal drug at any sorority function or while wearing the sorority letters.

                 B. No one shall be allowed to attend any sorority sponsored function while under the influence of alcohol or any illegal drug.

Amendment III. Coronation Court Members

                        All court members must be active the semester prior to and following Coronation except in cases brought before the Executive Council.

Amendment IV. Work and Service Projects

                        No one shall miss a work or service project without a previous excused             absence from the President or Secretary. If a sister fails to participate and/or attend, a fine of $5.00 shall be enforced.

Amendment V.  Constitutional Changes

                        When a recommendation is made for a Constitutional change, the          recommendation shall be tabled for one week before voting.

Amendment VI.  Academic Probation

                        If a person is on academic warning or academic probation, she cannot   become an official sister, and therefore cannot hold a leadership position or be           nominated for Irish Elf or Leprechaun.

Amendment VII.   White Rose

                        Any student attending Shorter College may not be allowed to participate in Epsilon Sigma’s White Rose Formal unless they are an active, paid member (or sweetheart). Only those girls who have participated and completed Epsilon Sigma pledge activities, whether it be previous years or that past fall, may attend White Rose.

                        Any sister of Epsilon Sigma who has withdrawn from the school or        become an inactive sister must reinstate activity by paying current semester dues           in order to attend Epsilon Sigma’s White Rose Formal. Those sisters of Epsilon         Sigma that have graduated from Shorter College may have the privilege of         attending Epsilon Sigma’s White Rose Formal without becoming an active             member.

Amendment VIII.    Irish Elves

                        Each Elf is required to participate in 2/3 of all meetings and events. These          meetings or events shall be called by either the Pledgemaster or the Leprechaun.     The Leprechaun shall be responsible for taking attendance at meetings and events.     Each Elf shall maintain the spirit for which she was chosen. In the event that an   Elf does not meet the attendance or spirit requirements, appropriate action shall be            taken by the Pledgemaster.