CONSTITUTION OF THE OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
STUDENT INTEREST GROUP (Last updated 9/14/08)
Article I. Name of organization.
This organization shall be known as the Obstetrics and Gynecology Student Interest Group and
may be hereinafter referred to as OB/GYN SIG.
Article II. Object of the organization.
The object of OB/GYN SIG is to bring together the students at the Indiana University School of
Medicine (IUSM) with an interest in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology and women’s health
to partake in educational, philanthropic, and social events.
Article III. Qualification for membership and non-discrimination policy.
OB/GYN SIG membership is open to any student currently enrolled at IUSM in accordance with
the OB/GYN SIG by-laws. No student may be denied access to membership on the basis of
race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or
status as Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran as detailed in the OB/GYN SIG by-laws.
Article IV. Officers, their election and duties.
A Chair, Treasurer, Recruitment and Education Coordinator, Community Outreach
Coordinator(s), Philanthropy Coordinator(s), Journal Club Coordinator(s), and an Orientation
Coordinator will be elected at the annual election of officers. Students will hold each position for
12 months and the election for all offices shall be held in the spring of each year in accordance
with OB/GYN SIG by-laws. Duties include but are not limited to those listed in the OB/GYN
SIG by-laws.
Article V. Advisor(s) selection and duties.
Advisor(s) will volunteer or be appointed through the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
at Indiana University. Their duties include but are not limited to those listed in the OB/GYN
SIG by-laws.
Article VI. Meetings.
Meetings shall be scheduled as needed with at least two occurring each academic term excluding
the summer. They can also be called by request of three quarters of the active members on
record, the Chair, the Executive Committee, or the Advisor.
Article VII. Ethical conduct and hazing policy.
All activities of the OB/GYN SIG shall be conducted in accordance with the Indiana University
Code of Student Ethics. Hazing as defined by the OB/GYN SIG by-laws is strictly forbidden.
Article VIII. Amendment of the constitution.
The constitution can be amended at any time by vote of three quarters of the active members on
record, as outlined in the by-laws of the organization.
BY-LAWS OF THE OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
STUDENT INTEREST GROUP (Last updated 9/14/08)
Article I. Name of the organization.
Section I., Paragraph I. This organization shall be known as the Obstetrics and Gynecology
Student Interest Group and may be hereinafter referred to as OB/GYN SIG.
Section I., Paragraph II. This name shall be considered permanent but can be changed by vote of
three quarters of the active members on record.
Article II. Object of the organization.
Section I., Paragraph I. The object of OB/GYN SIG is to bring together the students at the
Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) with an interest in the field of Obstetrics and
Gynecology and women’s health to partake in educational, philanthropic, and social events.
Section I., Paragraph II. This purpose shall be considered permanent but can be changed or
amended by vote of three quarters of the active members on record.
Article III. Qualification for membership and non-discrimination policy.
Section I., Paragraph I. Membership is open to any student currently enrolled at IUSM.
Section I., Paragraph II. The OB/GYN SIG will encourage involvement at our meetings and
events of others with a special interest in the field including faculty and residents. They can
become non-voting members in the OB/GYN SIG.
Section I., Paragraph III. OB/GYN SIG membership shall not be limited in number.
Section I., Paragraph IV. Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972 along with other
aspects of Indiana University’s Affirmative Action Plan mandates that no student may on the
basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age,
disability, or status as Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran be denied access to membership
or to the prerogatives of membership in any student organization which uses University facilities,
publicizes on state property, accepts University funding, or appears in any University
publication. These stipulations of non-discrimination pertain within an organization, to equal
access to any financial assistance, officers’ position, and all other benefits received for being a
member of the organization. Further, no student may be denied organization membership for any
of the above reasons.
Section II., Paragraph I. This article shall be considered permanent but can be changed by vote
of three quarters of the active members on record.
Article IV. Officers, their election and duties.
Section I., Paragraph I. All officers shall serve a term of twelve months from the date of their
election except when elected to fill a vacant position.
Section I., Paragraph II. No officer shall serve in the same office for more than 2 consecutive
terms.
Section I., Paragraph III. Election for all officers shall be held in the spring at the last regular
meeting prior to the end of the academic year. Nominations will be accepted from the floor at
the meeting immediately prior to the election as well as up to a week prior to the meeting.
Election will be by simple majority vote by the active members on record in attendance.
Section I., Paragraph IV. A Chair, Treasurer, Recruitment and Education Coordinator,
Community Outreach Coordinator(s), Philanthropy Coordinator(s), Journal Club Coordinator(s),
and an Orientation Coordinator will be elected at the annual election of officers. These officers
comprise the Executive Committee.
Section II., Paragraph I. The Chair shall preside at meetings and shall be the spokesperson for
OB/GYN SIG both within and outside of the university community. The Chair will serve as the
leader of the Executive Committee and will oversee the activities coordinated by other members.
The Chair will prepare meeting agendas and will keep minutes of OB/GYN SIG meetings to
distribute at the following meeting and will be responsible for OB/GYN SIG correspondence.
Section II., Paragraph II. If the Chair is unavailable temporarily or in the event of the resignation
or removal of the Chair, the Treasurer with act as Chair until the position can be filled.
Section II., Paragraph III. The Treasurer will handle all financial matters relating to OB/GYN
SIG. All income and expenditures will be recorded in a timely manner and reported to the
Executive Committee and other OB/GYN SIG members. The Treasurer will work in
conjunction with the Advisor to determine the budget for the academic year.
Section II., Paragraph IV. The Recruitment and Education Coordinator will be in charge of new
member recruitment during 1st year orientation and throughout the year as well as updating the
group membership/email list. He/she will also handle the planning of educational activities for
the group and should provide members with information regarding local, regional, and national
educational meetings.
Section II., Paragraph V. The Community Outreach Coordinator(s) will be responsible for
providing opportunities for members to get involved throughout the community by researching
and educating members on existing options as well as creating new ones.
Section II., Paragraph VI. The Philanthropy Coordinator(s) will be responsible for keeping
members informed of philanthropic events in the area, organizing involvement of the SIG in
local health fairs and other events, as well as planning any SIG specific fundraisers/drives.
Section II., Paragraph VII. The Journal Club Coordinator(s) will be responsible for organizing
journal club meetings at least once every two months throughout the academic year to give
members and others in the OB/GYN community a chance to discuss current research in the field.
Section II., Paragraph VIII. The Orientation Coordinator will be responsible for planning the
orientation at the start of each 3rd year OB/GYN clinical rotation. His/her duties include but are
not limited to finding volunteers for each orientation, making sure handouts are available and
ready for each station, and revising handouts as needed to keep information up-to-date.
Section II., Paragraph IX. In the event of the resignation of a member of the executive council all
active members will have the opportunity to apply for the position. As necessary there will be a
simple majority vote to elect who will fill the vacancy.
Section III., Paragraph I. This article shall be considered permanent but can be changed by vote
of three quarters of the active members on record.
Article V. Advisor selection and duties.
Section I., Paragraph I. The Advisor(s) should be faculty in the Obstetrics and Gynecology
department at Indiana University. They should volunteer or be appointed by the department for
the position.
Section I., Paragraph II. The Advisor(s) should hold a meeting with all of the SIG officers
following their election to discuss goals for the upcoming year. They should also be available
for other meetings throughout the year.
Section I., Paragraph III. The Advisor(s) should work closely with the Chair to provide advice
and assistance throughout the year in regards to OB/GYN SIG policies, procedures, and events.
Section I., Paragraph IV. The Advisor(s) should be available throughout the year to field
questions and concerns from any member of the OB/GYN SIG.
Section II., Paragraph I. This article shall be considered permanent but can be changed by vote
of three quarters of the active members on record.
Article VI. Meetings.
Section I., Paragraph I. Meetings shall be scheduled as needed with at least two occurring each
academic term excluding the summer. They can also be called by request of three quarters of the
membership of record, the Chair, the Executive Committee, or the Advisor.
Section I., Paragraph II. Business cannot be transacted, including the call to order unless a
quorum is present. A quorum shall be considered thirty percent (30%) of the active membership
on record.
Section II., Paragraph I. This article shall be considered permanent but can be changed by vote
of three quarters of the active members on record.
Article VII. Ethical conduct and hazing policy.
Section I., Paragraph I. All activities of the OB/GYN SIG shall be conducted in accordance with
the Indiana University Code of Student Ethics.
Section I., Paragraph II. Hazing by members of this organization is strictly forbidden. Hazing
activities are defined as “any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off
university premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or
ridicule.”
Section II., Paragraph I. This article shall be considered permanent but can be changed by vote
of three quarters of the active members on record.
Article VIII. Amendment of the constitution.
Section I., Paragraph I. The constitution can be amended at any time by vote of three quarters of
the active members on record. Any proposed constitutional change must be submitted to
members eligible to vote at least seven (7) days prior to the vote being taken.
Article IX. Amendment of the by-laws.
Section I., Paragraph I. The by-laws can be amended at any time by vote of three quarters of the
active members on record. Any proposed by-law change must be submitted to members eligible
to vote at least seven (7) days prior to vote being taken.