Local Chapter Constitution – Change Magazine at Dartmouth
This document provides for the local governance of Change Magazine at Dartmouth and
is subject to the provisions of the Change Magazine National Organization Constitution.
Article I: Mission Statement
Change Magazine at Dartmouth is the Dartmouth affiliate of Change Magazine,
an intercampus online magazine that identifies, analyzes, and profiles grassroots efforts
to effect change in society. Change Magazine differs from other magazines in that it
reports activist efforts from the bottom-up, local perspective. The magazine’s domain
name is ‘change-magazine.org’.
Article II: Purpose and On-Campus Involvement
Dartmouth Change Magazine provides a platform for undergraduates interested in
politics, social activism, and journalism to interact and to learn. Many of our writers
come with significant experience and knowledge of a specific issue. Other political
enthusiasts are interested in process, or what goes into implementing policy. Some
writers will investigate activist issues that range across demographics and geographies.
The magazine is organized into three sections to provide a comprehensive,
analytical look at activist efforts. ‘Process Analysis’ explores the methods by which
organizations or individuals influence public opinion and action. ‘Issue Awareness’
identifies problems in local communities. ‘Profiles’ highlights the stories and narratives
of local leaders and groups.
On campus, Dartmouth Change Magazine serves academic and social functions.
The magazine offers a platform for students to reflect on their involvement in the
community, and to report observations, research, actions, and experiences from fieldwork.
In a social setting, Dartmouth Change Magazine forms a community of activist-minded
individuals through club dinners, parties, charity events, and volunteer efforts.
…
From this point on in this document, the title Change Magazine refers to the local
Dartmouth branch and not to the national organization unless specified otherwise.
Article III: Organization and Membership
1. Two Campus Managing Editors shall oversee all components of Change
Magazine.
a. The two Campus Managing Editors shall oversee all components of the
magazine from content development and posting online, to financial
sustainability and initiatives, to coordinating efforts and a clear vision (as
agreed upon by the President and the Managing Board) on Dartmouth’s
campus. In addition, the Campus Managing Editors represent Dartmouth
on the magazine’s Managing Board, and are responsible that Dartmouth’s
financial activity is reported to the Finance Team in an accurate and timely
manner.
2. An Editorial Board will oversee the content of Change Magazine (See Articles
IV). The Editorial Board will report to two Campus Managing Editors.
a. To join the Editorial Staff, students must have two articles published
online in one quarter, solicit one article from members of the Dartmouth
community or among Dartmouth’s undergraduate student body in the
same quarter, and attend meetings throughout the quarter (as determined
by the Campus Managing Editors).
3. Membership in this organization shall be open to all students in good standing
currently enrolled in Dartmouth College, regardless of race, creed, color, sex,
gender identity, sexual orientation, or physical disability.
4. Members must be students of Dartmouth College.
Article IV: The Editorial Board (Purpose and Responsibility Breakdown)*
1. The Editorial Board of Change Magazine is responsible for editing content to be
published on the website, soliciting a consistent stream of articles, and
maintaining the focus of the magazine for articles emanating from Dartmouth.
The Editorial Board will meet at the discretion of the Campus Managing Editors.
a. Elected Officials on the Editorial Board include three Section Editors
(corresponding to the magazine’s three sections) and a Social Outreach
Leader.
2. The Editorial Board:
a. Section Editors are responsible for selecting writers and soliciting articles
for their respective sections, assisting writers throughout the writing
process, and editing articles for content and style.1 Authors must approve
edits to their articles before a Campus Editor can publish content online. It
is up to the discretion of each Section Editor to delegate responsibility for
acquiring pictures for publication.
b. The Social Outreach Leader is responsible for locating students, people,
and organizations at Dartmouth or in Hanover to write or be subjects of
articles for Change Magazine (National Organization). The Outreach
Leader is also responsible for publicizing Change Magazine on and off
campus in order to target readers and bolster the national organization’s
website traffic. The Leader will be responsible for creating, overseeing
and maintaining Change Magazine twitter account.
Article V: The Business Board (Purpose and Responsibility Breakdown)
1. The Business Board is responsible for the short-term development and long-term
sustainability of Change Magazine. The Board will oversee the club’s local
finances—its members shall apply for grants, oversee local fundraising efforts,
and locate potential donors and sponsors to fund the social activities and
developments of the club. The Business Board is also responsible for publicizing
Change Magazine on and off campus through Social Media initiatives and
1
Ideas here are taken directly from the Constitution of the Harvard Political Review.
programs. The Business Board will meet at the discretion of the Business
Manager, but meetings should occur at least once every two weeks.
2. The Business Board will include two Business Board Heads, two Fundraising
Managers, and one Publicist.
a. The Business Board Heads will oversee the other members
of the Business Board and be in charge for working closely with the
National Change Magazine Managing Board to obtain and allocate
financial resources and to ensure that Change Magazine is publicized
throughout Dartmouth College and the Town of Hanover.
b. The Fundraising Managers will be in charge of overseeing
any social events whose goal is fundraising for Change Magazine.
c. The Publicist will be in charge of publicizing change
through social media, where they will work closely with the Social
Outreach leader to allocate resources so that Change Magazine is
publicized throughout Dartmouth College and the town of Hanover.
* The breakdown of responsibilities will be further determined throughout the fall
semester of 2013 through applications processes overseen by the campus editors.
Positions will be added and removed as the need develops to form a complete and stable
masthead by the spring term.
Article VII: Acquiring an Officer Position
1. Terms for positions on the Change Magazine Editorial Board or Business Board
shall last from the end of a formal application process through the subsequent
quarter.
2. Members of the Change Magazine Editorial Boards shall be chosen through a
formal application process run by the Campus Managing Editors.
a. Students will be eligible to participate in the application process once they
have fulfilled the prerequisite listed in Article III section 2.
b. The application process will include a written application, and a formal
interview.
Article VIII: Acquiring a Campus Editor Position
1. Any member of Change Magazine who has been a member for one full term (not
including the term they applied), and has met all of their responsibilities as listed in
Article VI or Article V is eligible to be a Campus Editor.
2. Terms for positions as a campus editor will last one calendar year.
3. The Campus Editors will be selected in an election that will occur at the
beginning of each fall quarter. The election will include votes from all members of
Change Magazine, and each vote will be given equal weight, including those of the
current Campus Editors.
a. Any potential candidates must notify the current campus editors by
the end of the spring term before the election.
Article VIII: Relation to Change Magazine (National Organization)
1. Change Magazine (National Organization) is led by a Managing Board (the
President, two Managing Editors, and two Campus Managing Editors from each
affiliate school) and an Operating Board. The Operating Board includes the
magazine’s Website Team, Social Media Team, and Finance Team. (See the
National Change Magazine Constitution on the website, www.changemagazine.org, for more detail on the managing structure and practices of the
broad magazine.)
2. All members of Dartmouth Change Magazine are eligible to join any of the three
teams of the Operating Board. Specific requirements to join are listed in Article
VII of the National Change Magazine Constitution.
Article IX: Club Meetings and Constitutional Amendments
1. Entire club meetings should take place at least once a month. Their date and
location will be at the discretion of the Campus Managing Editors. Club Meetings
are opportunities for members to interact, to discuss the vision and direction of
Change Magazine as well as that of the broader magazine, and to allow members
to propose Constitutional Amendments.
Constitutional Amendments: All members of Change Magazine may
propose constitutional amendments at the closing time of club meetings.
Constitutional amendments shall be deliberated, and then voted upon by
all members of the club by show of hands. Members’ positions cannot be
communicated or counted through email. A two-thirds majority of the club
during a single vote is needed for a constitutional amendment to take
effect. A Campus Managing Editors veto of a constitutional amendment
can take effect only if both Campus Managing Editors agree.