[ASU] Membership of African Students Union

[Adu-Kumi, Benjamin]

Thank you Abobo and i agree with you on this.


Graduate Student
Department of African Studies
Research Assistant to Prof Yusuf Kalyango
E W. Scripp School of Journalism
Ohio University
________________________________________
From: asu-l-bounces at listserv.ohio.edu [asu-l-bounces at listserv.ohio.edu] On Behalf Of Kumbalonah, Abobo [wa404309 at ohio.edu]
Sent: Friday, April 06, 2012 1:35 PM
To: Asu-l at listserv.ohio.edu
Subject: [ASU] Membership of African Students Union

Dear Colleagues:

I wish to make a quick intervention regarding who qualifies to be a member of the African Students Union and how it reflects on eligibility for election into the Executive Body. Per Ohio University rules and regulations governing the registration and operation of student organizations, it is unacceptable to have a student organization with exclusive membership. What this means is that every student organization is required by law to be open to everyone interested in joining. No one can be denied membership on the basis of race, national origin, religion, age, etc. In the same way, it is not permissible for a student organization to have in its constitution, laws which discriminate against other people. For example, a group cannot take away a member's right to contest in an election because of racial considerations. Any group which does that could be suspended in accordance with Campus Involvement Center rules and regulations.

 It is precisely for this reason that every student group is required to submit a copy of its constitution and by-laws to Campus Involvement Center as part of the registration/re-registration process which is required to be done every academic year. The purpose is for them to approve every group's constitution. The current ASU constitution clearly conforms to this "open access membership requirement" and that is why the group is still existing as a registered student organization.

Our constition does not bar any individual from contesting an Executive position on the basis of race, or any other consideration, except with being a member in good standing and being a registered student of Ohio University. Concluding on my rather long intervention, I would say that the African Students Union, though might seem to be exclusive to Africans because of the name, it is REQUIRED to and it IS indeed open to every interested individual. And the right to contest or hold an Executive position CANNOT and it IS not discriminatory. Let us take this into consideration in the election process. .

Thank you.

Regards,
Abobo Kumbalonah.