YORK COLLEGE OF PENNSYLVANIA

WVYC RADIO

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

 

 

Article I – Name and Call Letters

 

Section 1.  The name of the organization shall be WVYC Radio.

 

Section 2.  The call letters of this station shall be WVYC York, as granted by the Federal Communication Commission.

 

Section 3.  WVYC Radio yields allegiance to York College of Pennsylvania, the College Administration, and Student Senate, within the confines of FCC regulations.

 

Article II – Purpose

 

The purpose of WVYC Radio shall be to promote communication to the students of York College of Pennsylvania and the surrounding community, perform the public service of providing quality non-commercial broadcasting that is both educational and entertaining, maintain a continuous, professional operation both on and off the air, and encourage and promote the various activities at York College.

 

Article III – Membership

 

Section 1.  Any full-time student at York College of Pennsylvania with a college grade point average of 2.5 or better shall be eligible for membership within WVYC Radio.  Part-time students may not be social members of the station unless they pay the student activities fee, or are a Radio Practicum, Radio Production, or Audio Production student.

 

Article VI – Amendments

 

This constitution may be amended by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the WVYC Radio members present and voting in the presence of a quorum.  Seven (7) business days shall have elapsed since the publication of the proposal for amendment.

 

THE BY-LAWS OF THE CONSTITUTION

 

Article I – Elections

 

Section 1.  Any member of the WVYC Radio staff, who has been a member in good standing for period of at least two months and maintains a college grade point average of 2.5 or better shall be considered eligible for the candidacy of an elective position.  Any member shall be considered nominated only by a nomination and seconding by staff members at a general staff meeting.

 

Section 2.  There shall be one election each year to elect the positions mentioned in Article II, Section 1 of the by-laws.  Both the Executive Board and General Staff, as specified in Article I, Sections 3 and 4 of the by-laws, shall elect the positions.  This election shall be held during the end of the spring semester, as decided by the station management.  Any candidate receiving more votes than any other candidate for that position shall be regarded as elected and shall serve a term of one year (September – May) following the election.

 

Section 3.  There shall be the following General Staff elected positions available to head the various departments comprising the station: Library Director, AM Program Director, Copywriting Director, Sports Director, Traffic and Continuity Director, and Administrative Assistant.  The Station Manager and the Executive Board shall determine the duties of these positions.

 

Section 4.  There shall be the following Executive Board elected positions available to head of assist the various departments comprising the station: FM Program Director, Music Director, Production Director, Public Affairs Director, Education Director, Training Director, Promotions Director, News Director, and Underwriting Director.  The Station Manager and the Executive Board shall determine the duties of these positions.  Members of the Executive Board who are participating in the elections shall not be present while their position is up for votes to discriminate against any disruptions or bias.

 

Section 5.  In the event of a vacancy of an elected position, that position shall be filled by the Station Manager and the vacating director, with the approval of the Executive Board during a meeting to take place within one week of the appointment.  The appointed will then fill out the remainder of the term.  In the event the Station Manager cannot meet with the Executive Board, the Station Manager shall be responsible to fill the position.

 

Section 6.  The Station Manager, Assistant Station Manager, FM Program Director, or Faculty Advisor may immediately suspend any staff member violating FCC rules and regulations, public laws, and College and/or WVYC Radio rules.  As a point of clarification, the Station Manager, Assistant Station Manager, FM Program Director, or Faculty Advisor by having the rights expressed in this section of the by-laws are not, in any way, exempt from any FCC rules and regulations, public laws, and College and/or WVYC Radio rules.

 

Section 7. Any person serving in the capacity of any elected position may be subject to removal from office by the Station Manager for violation of any FCC rules and regulations, public laws, and College and/or WVYC Radio rules or failing to fulfill duties and responsibilities specified in the station handbook or other official station texts following the process listed below.

a.             If there comes such a time that the Station Manager observes a breach of faith or abuses of office from an Executive Board member, the Station Manager shall speak directly with the Executive Board member about their actions.  At the initial conference, the Station Manager shall reiterate the responsibilities and duties that the particular Executive Board member is obligated to fulfill and stress the importance of the Executive Board member’s role within the station.  This first conference shall act as a verbal warning.

b.            If, after a period of five (5) business days, the Executive Board member does not elicit some type of improvement on their previous actions, the Station Manager shall consult the Communications Advisory Board, the Assistant Station Manager and the Faculty Advisor to develop some course of action against the Executive Board member.

c.             The course of action that the Station Manager may take includes, but is not limited to, a second, more severe verbal warning, a probationary period, or removal from office.  While the Station Manager must consult with the Assistant Station Manager and the Faculty Advisor prior to any course of action listed, the decision on the course of action taken ultimately lies with the Station Manager.

d.            If the Station Manager concludes that removal from office is the appropriate action to be taken against the Executive Board member, the Station Manager must also, according to Section 5 of this Article, appoint a person to fill the remainder of the position’s term.  This appointment shall be done without cooperation of the vacating director, due to the circumstances of the situation.

e.             The Station Manager must report to the Executive Board within seven (7) business days of the removal of an Executive Board member regarding the reasons for removal and the appointed replacement for the vacated position.  The appointment must be approved by the Executive Board, as it is stated in Section 5 of this Article.

 

Section 8.  The Station Manager will not have a vote in General Staff or Executive Board votes.  The Assistant Station Manager will have a vote in all General Staff and Executive Board votes, however.  In the event of a tie in either a General Staff or Executive Board vote, the Station Manager shall vote, but only as an act to break the tie.  In both the General Staff and Executive Board votes, the Station Manager shall total the votes to discriminate against any disruptions or bias, and must regard an abstention as neither a yes nor a no vote in the total tally of votes.

 

Article II – Officers and Duties

 

Section 1.  The Faculty Advisor is an appointed position by the administration of York College of Pennsylvania.  The term shall be determined by the administration and shall follow the guidelines set forth in the contract.  The Faculty Advisor has no voting powers as part of the Executive Board.

 

Section 2.  The Station Manager is an appointed position by the administration of York College of Pennsylvania.  The term shall be defined by the York College Administration and shall follow the guidelines set forth in the contract.  The Station Manager is responsible, along with the Executive Board and the Constitution Committee Chairperson, to interpret this constitution and by-laws, and has implied powers, not listed, that can be used when deemed necessary, to keep station continuity.  The Station Manager oversees the entire operation of both stations and must report to the Communications Advisory Board.

 

Section 3.  The Assistant Station Manager is an appointed position by the administration of York College of Pennsylvania.  The term shall be defined by the York College Administration and shall follow the guidelines set forth in the contract.  The Assistant Station Manager acts as Public Relations Director of the station and shall fulfill various administrative duties.  The Assistant Station Manager must report directly to the Station Manager and the Communications Advisory Board.

 

Section 4.  There shall be an Executive Board to consist of the Station Manager, Assistant Station Manager, Faculty Advisor, FM Program Director, AM Program Director, Promotions Director, News Director, Music Director, Library Director, Underwriting Director, Production Director, Training Director, Public Affairs Director, Education Director, Copywriting Director, Traffic and Continuity Director, Sports Director, and Administrative Assistant.  Station policy shall be determined and reviewed by the board.  These positions must follow all department guidelines and procedures as listed in the Executive Board Handbook.

 

Article III – Meetings

 

Section 1.  General Staff meetings shall be held as deemed necessary by the Station Manager and/or the Executive Board provided a minimum of forty-eight (48) hours notice of such a meeting.

 

Section 2.  Department meetings shall be held as deemed necessary by an Executive Board member provided a minimum of forty-eight (48) hours notice given of such a meeting.

 

Section 3.  Executive Board meetings shall be held as deemed necessary by the Station Manager or member of the Executive Board provided a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours notice of such a meeting.

 

Article IV – Standing and Special Committees

 

Section 1.  Powers and Duties

a.               All members of committees shall have a vote on the committee.

b.              All chairpersons shall be members of WVYC Radio and shall preside at all their committee meetings.

c.               Members of the committee shall attend all committee meetings and assume responsibilities assigned to them by the chairperson.

d.              All committees shall coordinate efforts with the appropriate Student Senate and/or College Administration officials.

 

Section 2.  Constitution Committee

a.               This standing committee shall be comprised of a minimum of five (5) members; including two (2) Executive Board members, two (2) General Staff members, and a chairperson to be appointed by the Executive Board.

b.              The committee chairperson is responsible to, along with the Station Manager and Executive Board, interpret this constitution, both its written meaning and implied concepts.

c.               The duties of this committee shall be to oversee and deal with matters concerning the constitution and by-laws of WVYC Radio.

d.              This committee shall review, and update if needed, the constitution and by-laws of WVYC Radio on a yearly basis.

 

Section 3.  Special Committees.

a.               Special committees may be established by a majority vote of the Executive Board members present and voting in the presence of a quorum.

b.              Special committees shall serve until the function specified in the action establishing the committee has been carried out and a report made to the Executive Board and General Staff, at which time the committee is dissolved.

 

Article V – Finance

 

Section 1.  A majority of the funds that will be used to finance the operations of WVYC Radio shall come from the budget of the Communications Department of York College of Pennsylvania.  These monies will be allocated to WVYC Radio on an annual basis as determined by the York College Administration.  Stipends for the Faculty Advisor, Station Manager and Assistant Station Manager shall also be determined and allocated by the York College Administration.

 

Section 2.  The Student Senate of York College of Pennsylvania shall allocate funds to WVYC Radio annually based on the status of the organization and the need of the organization, as assessed by the Budget and Finance Committee of Student Senate and its by-laws.  WVYC Radio may also be allocated funds on a special basis for capital expenditures and additional needs.  By accepting the funds from the Student Senate of York College of Pennsylvania, WVYC Radio must accept certain guidelines set forth in the Student Senate constitution and by-laws and Budget and Finance Committee of Student Senate by-laws.

 

Section 3.  To raise additional monies, the Underwriting Department shall be responsible for soliciting funds from local businesses in exchange for airtime or general service announcements.  The Station Manager and the Executive Board shall determine the cost and guidelines for these agreements.  York College Administration has also set guidelines for all organizations to follow when soliciting funds from local business.

 

Article VI – Amendments and Suspension of By-Laws

 

Section 1.  These by-laws may be amended by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the WVYC Radio members present and voting in the presence of a quorum.

 

Section 2.  All by-law revisions shall be referred to the Constitution Committee before the members of WVYC Radio can take any action.

 

Section 3.  These by-laws may be suspended upon approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the WVYC Radio members present and voting in the presence of a quorum.