Constitution of Dischords Article lz Name of Organization Tlre name

Constitution of Dischords
Article lz Name of Organization
Tlre name of this organization will be Dischords.
Article Il: Purpose of Organization
The purpose of the organizationis to expandthe number of a cappella singing groups on
the Colgate campus,to foster good relations with Colgate's Music Department. The
Dischords will be basedon a merit systemto foster a learning environment. The group
will perform a cappellamusic of all genres.
Article lll: M embership
Members of this group shall include men and women of the Colgate studentbody limited
to the following requirements:
1. All membersof the group must be able to read music.
2. All membersof the group must be affrliated with the Colgate Music
Department. Departmentd affiliation includes,but is not limited to: Colgate
performing groups, such as the University Chorus, University Orchestra,Jaz,z.
Band, private instruction, andlor departmentalclasses. Members of Dischords
are strong encouragedto participate in University Chorus. The Music
Department and the Musical Director of Dischords must approve all other
departmentalaffi liations.
a. New membersmay take a semestergraceperiod from the Music
Departmentrequirement. This graceoption may only be taken in their
first semesterof membershipin the Dischords.
b. A member may take a one-semesterhiatus from the Dischords if
he/shecannot completethe Music Department requirement and return
to the group without an audition. The member may not rehearseor
perform with the Dischords during their hiatus.
c. If a member choosesto take more than a one-semesterDischords
hiatus becauseof the Music Department requirement,they may not
return without an audition, and the unanimousapproval of the group.
Their spacewill not be held after their first semesteron hiatus'
d. If a mernberdoes not completethe Music Department requirementtwo
semestersin a row, without taking a formal hiatus, the Administrative
Officer must notiff that person of their discontinued statusin the
Dischords. This person may not return to the group on any grounds.
3. Membership in the group will be determinedby audition, the prospective
member's ability to meet the aboverequirements,and the approval of a
reasonablemajority of tfr" current members.Reasonablemajority will be
determinedeach semesterby the Administrative Officer.
Auditions take two rounds:
D
An audition for one offrcer and one other member of the
grouP,
iil
An audition for all current Dischords members.
4. Membership in the group shall not exceed20 memberstotal.
5. Membership, performances,and offrcers are all basedon a systemof merit.
All memberswill perform-in all concertsimmediately after their acceptance
into the group, except due to extenuating circumstances such as studying
abroad,other absencesfrom the campus,and illness.
6 . Failure to participate in the group and attendrehearsalswill be considered
grounds for the removal of a member fromperformances as determinedby a
majority vote in the group. The group may also review a member's attendance
and participation and with a majority vote decidetheir continued statusin the
group.
Article lY: Officers
Dischords' officers will consist of a Musical Director and an Administrative
Offrcer. All positions will be filled for an entire year. At the end of each year, the
Musical Director and Administrative Officer must meet with the new Musical Director
and Administrative Officer and the Chair of the Music Departmentto review the group's
use of Department facilities.
Apprentices may fill the role for only one semesterif traveling abroad, or taking a
hiatus from the Dischords, or for any other prior approved reasonexcept a Music
Departmenthiatus.
A. Role of Officers:
Musical Director: the role of the Music Director is to facilitate rehearsals,
coordinateperformancetimes and placeswith the Administrative Officer,
coordinatethe arrangementof music for the group, organize concerts,to train
the Musical Apprentices,and to updatethe Music Department on the
Dischords statusto continueto foster good relations.
Administrative Officer: the role of the Administrative Officer is to schedule
rehearsalspace,coordinateperformancetimes and placeswith the Musical
Director, to act as Treasurerin procuring funds for Dischords' events,to
overseePublicity and the Dischords webpage,to hain Administrative
Apprentices, and to work with the Musical Director to assurethat the
qualifications of the constitution are being met by every memberB. Election of Offrcers
L Qualifications: Musical Directors must have completed an
apprenticeshipprograrn,and then be electedby a reasonablemajority.
Administrative Offrcers must be electedby a reasonablemajority and
will also complete an apprenticeshipin their frst year or semesteras
an administrative officer. No officer position can be held for more
than one year without re-election. Positions rnust be filled for an
entire year.
2. ApprenticeshiPProgram:
Musical Apprenticeship:
a. Upperclassmen:if an upperclassman(a junior) is elected into
the apprenticeshipprogram they will apprenticethe current
Musical Director. Juniors, or a sophomoreelectedto the
program from the previous year, must be electedby a
majority vote. After the junior has completed the
apprenticeshipprogram, they will becomethe next Musical
Director.
b. In order to give an opportunity for more experienceto
underclassmen,freshmenand sophomoresmay be electedby
a majority vote to the apprenticeshipprogram and will serve
one school year, or semesteras an apprenticeto the Musical
Director. The underclassmanMusical Apprentice must be
electedeach year, or eachtime the position is vacated,and
cannot be held without re-election. The underclassman
Musical Apprentice is not guaranteedto becomethe next
Musical Director, but may use it as a qualification during
elections for Musical Director. This position is strongly
encouragedto be a full year one, but may be a semesterlong
position due to any hiatus from the Dischords excepta Music
Departmenthiatus.
Administrative Apprentice ship:
The administrative apprenticeshipwill be completed in the first
year after being electedto the position. The administrative apprentice
will study under the tutelage of the current Administrative Offrcer, and
will becomethe next Administrative Offrcer in the following year.
a
J.
Provisions for the election of freshman,sophomores,juniors, and
seniorsto the Officer positions: If an underclassmanis electedto the
apprenticeshipprograrn, either Musical or Administrative, then they
will fillthe apprenticeshipprogram for one year, unlesstaking an
approvedhiatus. upon completion of their apprenticeship,following
the guidelines set out by each department,the Apprentice may then be
electedto the Offrcer position.
a. Musical: statedabove in the description of the
apprenticeship.
b. Administrative: If, after the year servedas Officer, the
underclassmanwishes to continue as an Offrcer, then he/she
--
must be re-electedto the position in a vote between
themsel.vesand the apprenticefrom the following year.
Article Y: Amendmentof Bylaws
The bylaws may be amendedby a majority vote of the membersof the group.