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Constitution
Founded in the spring of 1999, the Electronic Game Developers
Society was created with the intent of establishing a community
for students and developers at the University of Texas at
Austin. The concept and design of this Society is the result
of the effort of those students who were highly motivated
with the desire to learn about the industry and to network
with local developers and contacts within the industry.
In accordance with these desires we do hereby ordain and
enact the following.
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The Name of this nonprofit organization shall be the Electronic
Game Developers Society, hereafter referred to as the "Society."
Our Mission is to offer opportunities where students may gain
hands-on experience through initiated projects, network with the
local industry, and advance in the art and science of game development.
We hope to serve both professional and public interests by fostering
an open forum, providing a free resource of information, promoting
technical excellence, and inspiring the imagination and dreams
of our members.
Membership in the Society shall be open to all eligible persons
regardless of race, national origin, creed or political affiliation,
sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or veteran's
status. Only students and/or faculty and staff of the University
of Texas at Austin can be considered eligible as members of the
Society.
Any person eligible for membership in accordance with this Constitution
will become a member upon the payment of dues, service in a senior
office, or as an advisor to the Society. Membership dues shall
be decided preceding each fall semester by the Executive Board
with consultation from the Advisor.
Titles of Senior Officers will be the President, VP Finance, VP
Information, VP Industry, VP Academics, and VP Events. The Executive
Board shall include all Senior Officers listed above, hereafter
referred to as the "Board." Decisions of the Board will
be based on votes per member of the Board, not per office held
each member.
All Senior Officers are held to the following requirements:
• Each officer is responsible and accountable
for his or her responsibilities defined within their duties
and must remain active in participating in all organizational
activities.
• Each term of office lasts for one year from the summer
after elections to the end of the next spring semester. An individual
shall hold no office for more than two terms.
• Officers must attend at least one Orientation Session
held by the Campus Community and Involvement, and must be aware
of the rules and guidelines of the organization and the university.
• Officers must not be on scholastic probation from the
university.
• Every officer must also create and develop their own
agendas for themselves and the committees in which they preside
over in order to fulfill their duties to the Society.
Each Senior Officer shall be responsible for their respective
duties as follows:
President
• Sets the organizational agenda and approves the budget
for each year
• Responsible for enforcing the laws and guidelines set
by this Constitution
• Coordinates and maintains communication between the senior
officers
• Acts as the official representative for the organization
in intramural activities
• Presides over any internal conflicts that may occur within
the Society
• Responsible for making sure the organization is progressing
and officers are performing their duties
Information Officer
• Manages and keeps record of all literature and history
for the Society and chronicles organizational activities
• Edits and distributes the newsletter and coordinates
the development of the organization's web site
• Responsible for the promotion and the awareness of the
Society to the local community and recruiting efforts for the
organization
• Handles the design and distribution of all advertisements
of organizational activities, as well as, the exploration of
other channels of advertisement
• Create, organize, and loan out a library of development
books for members and officers of the organization to use.
Academics Officer
• Coordinates workshops to develop member skills and knowledge
• May invite academic speakers to participate in panels
or give lectures
• Organizes certain projects that allowing members to advance
academically
• Helps to promote and develop special interest groups
within the Society
• Should work to build and maintain a strong relationship
with the academic community and to help facilitate the communication
between members of the Society and the faculty and staff
Events Officer
• Coordinates intramural or inter-organizational activities
• Plans and organizes social activities and events for
the members of the organization throughout the year at help
to develop their skills or their appreciation of game development
• Plan an organizational GDC trip for members and apply
for school sponsorship and/or additional sponsorship from industry
companies
Industry Officer
• Establishes and maintains strong corporate relations
• Invites guest speakers and requests for contributions
for the organization
• Maintains an industry contact list for future reference
for the organization
• Handles the planning for industry speaker events and
the requisition of any presentational tools each speaker may
need
• Ask for monetary donations and/or other forms of promotion
and help from Industry speakers
Treasurer
• Handles the collection and allocation of funds, reimbursements,
fundraising, and other standard treasury functions
• Keeps track of the general membership, including dues
and contact information
• Assists the Board in establishing and maintaining a budget
• Responsible for the acquisition and holding of items
both purchased or donated
• Responsible for acquiring donations through the university
Elections for senior offices should be held after the spring break
and before the end of March. All Candidates must have at least
one previous semester of active membership with the Society and
must be able to complete the term as students of the University.
Only students continuing into the next long semester following
the term of office may run for the office of Treasurer.
The organizational Advisor or the Treasurer of
the Society should supervise the election process. The result
of an election must be decided by a popular vote by a ballot system.
Only members may nominate and vote for officers of the Society.
All Candidates must be present at the time ballots are held.
All Senior Officers have the power to create Committees and may
appoint Junior Officers to assist in their duties and for which
they are responsible. The Senior Officer creating a Committee
may preside as Head or appoint a Junior Officer to be the Committee
Head. The Senior Officer organizing the Committee may also design
roles and appoint Junior Officers to those roles, or he or she
may delegate that task to the Committee Head. All appointed Junior
Officers must be members of the organization. The Committee Head
must also set the agenda the delegate tasks to fulfill the intended
mission of the Committee.
Section 6
All senior officers must not have 3 or more absences from general
and officer meetings per semester. If such an event happens the
Board must discuss and vote to remove the person under the officer
removal section. The officer has the right to discuss and explain
their reasons for not attending meetings. Legitimate reasons for
not attending meetings are acceptable and will not count as an
absence.
Legitimate reasons include:
• Exams or tests for school classes
• Has a class during the meeting
time
• Performing other activities
related to the organization
• Sickness
• Family issues
Section 7
Senior Officers may be removed for any of the following reasons:
• The officer has failed to follow
the requirements listed in this Constitution
• The officer has failed to fulfill
the duties assigned to him/her
• The officer has failed to follow
the attendance policy
The officer must be removed from office by a majority
vote from the Board. A quorum of 2/3rds must exist to initiate
a vote. Senior Officers may resign at any time during his or her
term upon written notice of his or her resignation to the Board.
In case of removal or resignation of any elected Officer, the
Board must elect a replacement by majority vote of the Officers
at an officers meeting within three weeks following the creation
of such a vacancy.
The President may appoint an organizational Advisor. This decision
may be overridden by a 2/3rds vote from the Board upon dissension.
This Advisor must be a part of the faculty or staff of the University.
This person shall be considered an Associate Member of the Society.
This Advisor may declare and even prevent inappropriate actions
of the Board and the organization based on rules and regulations
set by the University and on the terms set within this Constitution.
The organizational Advisor may also give a tiebreaker vote in
all majority-based decisions of the Board listed within this Constitution.
Officers may also appoint one or more Student Advisors, who must
be former officers of the Society. This act may also be overridden
by a 2/3rds vote from the Board. These Advisors may be considered
Associate Members of the organization, but they are not involved
in the decision-making process of the Board.
Advisors may resign at any time during his or her term upon written
notice of his or her resignation to the Board. An Advisor may
also be removed by 2/3rds vote from the Board.
All meeting dates and respective times as part of the organizational
Agenda shall be decided by the President with majority approval
by the Board. This includes dates and times for regular meetings,
regular officers meeting, and all special events. Any Senior Officer
may call a general meeting or an emergency officers meeting as
needed. All Senior Officers must be able to attend all officers
meetings and should be accounted for at those times. All decisions
of the Society shall be made at officers meetings where all Senior
Officers are present.
Projects and events may proposed by anyone from Board or the General
Membership and must be approved by the President as part as the
Agenda. The President may assign these activities to be organized
by the most appropriate Senior Officer.
Special Interest Groups may also be proposed by anyone from Board
or the General Membership and must be approved by a majority vote
of the Board. In turn, the General Membership may nominate a candidate
and elect a President of the Special Interest Group. The President
of the group shall be given all ranks, privileges, and duties
of a Senior Officer, and may be included on the Board of Officers
of this organization. The office of this President also shares
all requirements, limitations, and powers of a senior office,
including the processes of election and removal.
An Amendment or Revision of the Constitution may be drafted by
anyone from the Board or the General Membership. When a proposal
is submitted, a Revision Committee must be formed and meet before
the end of April and during the term of the Board receiving the
submission. This Committee must consist of the Board and the Advisor
and may include anyone from the General Membership.
The ratification and adoption of an Amendment or Revision of the
Constitution must be decided by a 2/3rds vote from the Board.
Only the President of the Society or the organizational Advisor
may make amendments or Revisions to the Constitution. Upon adoption
by the Society, all Amendments and Revisions shall become effective
immediately unless otherwise stated. This Constitution, including
all Amendments and Revisions shall be the Supreme Law of the Society,
and all actions shall be bound thereby.
Should the Society dissolve, the Treasurer shall
disburse funds in concordance with both the entire Board and the
organizational Advisor.
| Ariel Comstock |
| Michael Agustin |
| Andrew Huff |
| Samir Lakdawala |
| Jason Mollner |
| Sandeep Chandran |
| Carl Larsson |
| Emanuel
Masciarelli |
