Brownstone Constitution

Amended Fall 2002

  1. Article I: Purpose

    Brownstone is a coed selective living group located in Kilgo Quad on West Campus. Formed in the 1980s, Brownstone was located on East Campus in Brown Dormitory until the 1995 residential policy mandated its relocation, first to Crowell Quad, then to Kilgo in 2002. In offering a social alternative both to independent housing and to other selective living groups, Brownstone fills a unique niche in the Duke residential environment. Brownstone is deeply committed to maintaining a diverse yet cohesive community based on mutual trust, respect, and friendship; we strive to foster an atmosphere of closeness while recognizing the individuality of each Brownstone member. Brownstone encourages all of its residents to participate in a variety of social, intellectual, cultural, intramural, and community service activities.

  2. Article II: Non-Discrimination Statement

    Brownstone does not discriminate on the basis of age, cultural heritage, ethnicity, religion, gender, creed, sexual orientation or political affiliation. The Brownstone House Council is a student-run organization that represents all students residing in the dorm and strives to enhance the quality of life in Brownstone.

  3. Article III: Expectations of Brownstone Residents

    Brownstone expects its residents to strive to meet and exceed the expectations of selective house members as stated by the University: interacting with faculty, hosting a variety of programs, volunteering time for community service, and facilitating responsible social events. In addition, all residents are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with Brownstone's firm commitment to anti-discrimination, as set forth in Article II.

  4. Article IV: House Council

    1. Section I. Description

      The House Council will be composed of the executive officers (president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary) and the coordinators (two social, programming, community service, quad council, intramural, rush, facilities). The House Council will act as the governing body of the dorm and will have the jurisdiction to collect reasonable dorm dues, determine living group judicial and housing policy within university regulations, and set heretofore unmentioned policy.

    2. Section II. Executive Officers.

      a) President. The president will be elected in December for a 1 year term to begin in January. The president will serve as the liaison between the dorm and the administration. The president's duties will include, but are not limited to, the following: coordinating, reviewing, and delegating dorm activities; assisting the resident advisor with room picks, supervising rush, negotiating housing policy, and conducting house council meetings twice a month.

      b) Vice-President. The vice-president will be elected in September for a 1 year term. The vice president will be a general assistant to the president and will assUme the president's responsibilities in the president's absence. The vice- president's duties include, but are not limited to, the following: assisting with the supervision of dorm activities, conducting house council meetings in the president's absence, supervising coordinators, and planning the dorm's annual end-of-year trip in May.

      c) Treasurer. The treasurer will be elected in December for a 1 year term to begin in January. The treasurer is responsible for the dorm's fiscal matters. The treasurer's duties include, but are not limited to, the following: collecting dorm dues, paying for and appealing dorm damages, providing accurate accounting reports, preparing a budget each semester, and reimbursing residents.

      d) Secretary. The secretary will be elected in September for a 1 year term. The secretary will inform the residents of house council proceedings. The secretary's duties include, but are not limited to, the following: taking minutes at house council meetings, promptly posting house council minutes, maintaining the dorm bulletin board, maintaining the dorm calendar, and providing dorm directories at the beginning of each semester and the summer.

    3. Section III. Coordinators.

      a) Social. Two social coordinators will be elected in September for a 1 year term. The social coordinators will organize major social activities. The social coordinators' duties include, but are not limited to, the following: planning and supervising major dorm functions, registering all major dorm events in accordance with university policy, publicizing all university-wide dorm functions, and organizing major social events during rush.

      b) Programming. Two programming coordinators will be elected in September for a 1 year term. The programming coordinators will organize cultural, educational, student-led, and faculty interaction programs as defined by the annual review. The programming coordinators' duties include, but are not limited to, the following: planning and supervising events in the four areas of programming, assuring that the dorm complies with all university standards as outlined in the annual review, publicizing all university-wide programs, and helping organize major programs during rush.

      c) Community Service. The community service coordinator will be elected in September for a 1 year term. The community service coordinator will be the liaison between the dorm and its community service organization. The community service coordinator's duties include, but are not limited to, the following: proposing a community service organization for yearly sponsorship, ensuring that Brownstone residents contribute to the surrounding Duke and Durham communities, supervising events that enable Brownstone to sustain its commitment to its yearly organization, and organizing community service programs during rush.

      d) Quad Council. A quad council representative will be elected in September for a 1 year term. The quad council representative will serve as a liaison between the dorm and the quad leadership. The quad council representative's duties include, but are not limited to, the following: attending quad council meetings, informing Brownstone of quad events, and encouraging Brownstone participation in quad activities.

      e) Intramural. The intramural coordinator will be elected in September for a 1 year term. The intramural coordinator will organize dorm participation in Duke intramural sports competition. The intramural coordinator's duties include, but are not limited to, the following: publicizing opportunities for intramural participation, supervising Brownstone involvement, and registering Brownstone teams.

      f) Rush. The rush coordinator will be elected in September for a 1 year term. The rush coordinator will assist the president in the supervision of rush events. The rush coordinator's duties include, but are not limited to, the following: preparing for the rush process, evaluating rush procedures, supervising rush preparation meetings, and supervising rush events.

    4. Section IV. Eligibility.

      Any member of Brownstone living group will be eligible for house council, excluding second semester seniors who desire the presidency or treasury positions. A member may only hold 1 house council position at a time. Friends of the house who will not be required to participate in rush to remain in the dorm in subsequent years are eligible for house council. Independents are encouraged to elect a representative to the house council; the representative will serve as a liaison and will vote only on non-selective group issues.

    5. Section V. Elections.

      September elections will be conducted by the president. December elections will be conducted by the immediate past president. All vacated positions will be sufficiently publicized and elections will be held at a mandatory house meeting. Mid-semester elections may be held when necessary. The president, with guidance from the resident advisor, has discretionary power over the procedures for mid-semester elections.

    6. Section VI. Amendments.

      A unanimous decision of the executive officers, a majority decision in the house council, or a majority decision at a house meeting may create temporary additional house council positions. Positions will be filled according to the election procedures outlined in Section V.

    7. Section VII. Non-voting Members.

      a) Mailing List Coordinator. A mailing list coordinator will be chosen by election or by appointment at the house council's discretion. The mailing list coordinator will supervise the "brownies@acpub.duke.edu" e-mail list.

      b) Web Page Supervisor. A web page supervisor will be chosen by election or by appointment at the house council's discretion. The web page supervisor will update and monitor the Brownstone Living Group web page.

      c) Historian. The historian will be chosen by election or by appointment at the house council's discretion. The historian will document the history of Brownstone Living Group. The house council may budget dorm funds to subsidize the historian.

      d) Eligibility. Brownstone members are eligible for all non-voting positions according to the guidelines in Section III. Any house council member may hold a non-voting position, and any resident can hold more than 1 non-voting position.

    8. Section VIII. Expectations.

      All members of the house council are responsible for the proper execution of their enumerated duties. A house council member is allowed two unexcused absences from house council meetings each semester.

  5. Article V: Selection

    1. Section I. Rush Committee.

      The rush committee will consist of any interested members of Brownstone and will be co-chaired by the president and the rush coordinator. The committee will determine the rush calendar, coordinate rush events, and create the application.

    2. Section II. Selection Method.

      The selection committee will consist of any interested members of Brownstone. The committee will be co-chaired by the president and the rush coordinator and, on a yearly basis, will determine the procedure for the selection meeting and the method of evaluating rush candidates. A secret ballot will be used in the selection meeting. All proceedings of the selection meeting will remain strictly confidential. The president has discretion to determine the chair for the selection meeting. The chair must remain impartial during the selection meeting.

    3. Section III. Notification of Housing Intentions.

      Three (3) days prior to the selection meeting, each non-graduating member must notify the president of his/her housing intentions for the following year. Students will be designated as returning, leaving, or questionable. A student will be designated as "Questionable" if his/her acceptance into a study abroad program or a resident advisor position is still pending.

    4. Section IV. Criteria for Rush Candidates.

      The following four (4) criteria will be employed to evaluate rush candidates: (a) attendance at rush activities; (b) written application; (c) enthusiasm during rush; and (d) the candidate's anticipated contribution to the dorm.

    5. Section V. Eligibility.

      Any Brownstone selective living group resident is eligible to vote in the selection meeting. Residents are expected objectively to judge their ability to evaluate the rush candidates. Residents who feel unqualified to evaluate a particular rush candidate should abstain from voting on that candidate.

    6. Section VI. Interpretation of Rush Results.

      The House Council, under supervision of the resident advisor, will interpret data to determine the new member list following the selection meeting. The House Council will not accept more students than the number of current members designated as "Leaving". If a Brownstone resident designated as "Leaving" decides to return to the dorm after new members have been selected, the Brownstone member will be placed at the top of the wait list.

    7. Section VII. Wait List.

      The House Council will create a ranked wait list following release of initial rush results. This will then be sorted by gender immediately following the room pick lottery. Wait list rankings will remain confidential subject to the president's discretion.

    8. Section VIII. Friends of the House.

      Friends of the House selected on the merits of their rush performance will be extended membership privileges and will not be required to re-rush. Other Friends of the House will be required to rush to be placed on the membership roster.

  6. Article VI: Room Picks

    1. Section I. Lottery Priority.

      All Brownstone members with in-house status, including those studying abroad, will have priority over all members with out-of-house status. Within these two groups, lottery priority is determined according to the University's Residential Housing Policy regarding seniority: seniors will have priority over juniors and juniors will have priority over sophomores. Within each class, in-house members will be ordered according to the amount of semesters they have resided in the dorm. All semesters spent abroad or as a resident advisor are considered semesters in the dorm. Within the previous groups, each member whose NST ((Number of Semesters residing in a Triple that is a maximized double (i.e. a triple expanded from a double) )) exceeds two shall be given priority over members with lower NSTs.

      The NST will be calculated every year at the time of room picks and will include any semester (or portion of semester exceeding three weeks) spent as a Brownstone member (or as a Friend of the House selected on the basis of rush performance) living in a triple that is a maximized double and that is in the Brownstone living space. The count will include the current semester (i.e. the semester in which the count is taken).

      The NST policy will not enter into effect until the room picks for the 2000-01 academic year (which will occur in spring 2000). The NST count will include the Fall 1998 semester and all semesters thereafter.

    2. Section II. Room Pick Postings.

      The room pick order will be determined by random lottery according to the guidelines in Section 1. The lottery drawing will occur under the supervision of the resident advisor by a senior Brownstone member. The room pick order will not distinguish between type of room; all residents on the official membership roster will be placed on the room pick order posting. Eight (8) days prior to room picks the order will be posted in a visible commons area of the dorm.

    3. Section III. Notification of Room Type Preference.

      Four (4) days before room picks, all residents must inform the president of their preference for housing: single, double, or triple. Four (4) days prior to room picks the preferences are solidified and the president will post a list of residents who will receive singles.

    4. Section IV. Preventing Co-ed Rooms.

      Each year, the House Council will agree upon a method to adjust room picks as necessary to ensure that no room will be co-ed. They may do this by designating the last single or the last triple to be flexible with regard to the sex of its occupants, then adjusting this room (along with the last one or two doubles and perhaps additional rooms, if necessary) to accommodate the breakdown of the sexes. This adjustment should interfere with the existing room pick order as little as possible.

    5. Section V. Selecting Rooms by Proxy.

      If a resident is unable to attend the room pick meeting, he/she must provide a representative with a prioritized list of rooms in the dorm. The representative, in the resident's absence, will use the prioritized list to choose the highest ranking available room for the absent resident; the representative's decision is final.

    6. Section VI. Friends of the House.

      Friends of the House who are placed in Brownstone based on their performance during rush will be included in the lottery as residents with out-of-house status. All other Friends of the House will be placed after residents with out-of-house status. All students placed in Brownstone after the room pick meeting will be placed according to the remaining bed spaces in the dorm.

  7. Article VII: Alcohol

    1. Section I. Policy.

      Brownstone aspires to offer its residents a social atmosphere that respects each person's convictions regarding alcohol. No member is expected to consume alcoholic beverages and all members should feel comfortable with their choices about alcohol. In keeping with these principles, we wish to provide a mature and respectful social atmosphere for all our members. Brownstone will not purchase or subsidize alcoholic beverages with dorm funds; defined as funds allocated by the university, transferred to the dorm as a whole, and funds collected from the entire membership of the dorm, e.g. semester dorm dues. Nor will alcohol be officially associated with dorm functions, with the single exception of allowing a cash bar to be present at one dorm formal or semiformal per semester, held jointly with at least one other organization. In this case, the cash bar must not be subsidized by dorm funds but only by private funds, collected before the social chair commits to the formal or semiformal, and funds provided by the other organization(s). The proportion of the cash bar paid for by private funds must be greater than or equal to the proportion of the Brownstone dorm funds spent on the other portions of the event. Nor will members or guests be encouraged by the dorm to bring alcoholic beverages to dorm functions. Individual residents may purchase and consume alcohol in compliance with North Carolina law and Duke University Alcohol Policy.

    2. Section II. Special Amendment Procedure.

      Article VII, given its importance to the Brownstone living environment, has its own amendment procedure. Amendments to Article VII shall be proposed and presented in accordance with the procedure delineated in Section II of Article VIII, but must be ratified by 4/5 of dorm residents. Amendments to Article VII must be ratified by an official dorm vote.

  8. Article VIII: Constitutional Review

    1. Section I. Public Access.

      The Constitution will be placed in a visible commons area at the beginning of each semester.

    2. Section II. Amendment Procedure.

      Any Brownstone resident may recommend an amendment to the Constitution. The amendment should be presented to the House Council. After sufficient discussion among the House Council, the amendment will be presented to all Brownstone residents. At the House Council's discretion, the amendment can be passed by 3/5 of all dorm residents at a dorm meeting or, after sufficient publicity for two (2) weeks, if less than 1/5 of the dorm voices an objection to the House Council. If over 1/5 of the dorm voices an objection, a dorm meeting will be called at which time a 3/5 vote will pass the amendment. Article VII is subject to a special amendment procedure as outlined in Article VII, Section II.

    3. Section III. Yearly Review.

      The Constitution will be subject to yearly review by the House Council.

Ratified September 1997

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Drew Dropkin, President 		_______________________
Andrew Gonce, Vice-President
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Rich Rubin, Secretary 		_______________________
Jenn Bell, Treasurer
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Susannah Nicholson, Programming 		_______________________
Jenn Sills, Community Service
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Sarah Wolff, Social 		_______________________
Kevin McGowan, Social
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Alan Bester, Intramural 		_______________________
Scott Michelman, Rush
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Meghan Johnson, Facilities 		_______________________
Melanie Shirley, Quad