RSA Constitution Amendment: The Petition Clause

Purpose of Amendment
To ensure that the current, as well as all future, Residence Hall Councils remain representative of
their residents even when performing at their minimum requirements.

Motion for Petition Clause

Far too often, we hear tales of Residence Hall Councils from the past who have inadequately
performed their duties and have insufficiently represented their resident bodies who elected them
into their positions. This, in turn, would result in a limited voice for past residents and may be
responsible for why today's residents face whatever issues that they do. We must not let
ineffective performance to restrain resident representation. The current RSA Constitution
identifies the duties of Residence Hall Councils and their members, however, the text allows lots
of room for subjectivity in determining whether the duties have been adequately met. Though
this has allowed for positive creativity within Residence Hall Council operations, it has also
allowed for a lack of involvement in some Residence Hall Councils of the past. We wish to
maintain the opportunity for creativity while also establishing a written objective minimum for
representation of residents.
In both our nation and our residence hall, petitions have been an effective method of allowing
individuals in agreement to voice their opinions to those holding significant positions of power.
Throughout the Fall Semester, we openly utilized petitions to bring resident grievances to light.
Through these petitions, their grievances have both been heard and responded to. And since they
were first openly encouraged, our residents have confidently expressed their opinions and
grievances in manners that do not only include petitions.
In the past, we saw the effectiveness of the collective voice when residents of Noble Hall
demanded that peepholes be added to their doors for the sake of their security. In the present, we
have seen its effectiveness from our own Petition for Laundry Facility Improvements, which has
at least elicited a response in that the Assistant Director of Facilities came out to measure our
laundry rooms. And in the future, we see its potential from multiple individuals across campus
who desire to start their own petitions, such as Myah Baird and Trey Vang, two residents of
Harrill Hall who sought our assistance in developing a petition regarding Harrill Hall's fire alarm
issues. The boundless potential of the collective voice provides us now more than ever with the
opportunity to hear, understand, and respond to the true needs of the people.
Therefore, we believe that by establishing legislation that requires Residence Hall Councils to
support resident-led petitions, we will be ensuring that residents will always have an easily-
accessible channel to voice their collective concerns, wants, and needs. We can ensure that
residents will always be represented.
And so, for the purpose of further fulfilling Article XI, Section 1, Item B of the RSA
Constitution, which identifies one of the purposes of the Residence Hall Council Constitution
"To promote cooperation and communication among the area's community and the university
administration.",
We, the Albright-Benton Residence Hall Council motion to amend Article XI of the RSA
Constitution, entitled "Residence Hall Council Constitution", with the addition of a 15 th Section
to be entitled "Petition Clause".
Section 15: Petition Clause will read as follows:
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I. The Petition Clause
a. Any petition that is signed by at least fifteen (15) unique residents of any single
residence hall and is submitted through the Official Petition Submission Process
must be treated as follows by the corresponding Residence Hall Council:
i. The petition must be read and discussed in a meeting by the Residence
Hall Council Executive Board within five (5) school days of receiving the
petition. After the discussion period is concluded, the Executive Board
must vote on whether or not to approve or reject taking up the petition.
ii. If approved, the petition must be read and presented at the next Residence
Hall Council General Meeting. Either an Executive Board member or an
individual selected by the Founding Signer may read and present the
petition.
iii. At the same General Meeting as Item B, an opportunity must be given for
residents to sign the petition.
iv. Within five (5) days of the General Meeting, the Residence Hall Council
must either turn in the petition to the RHC Advisor or submit the petition
to the RSA Executive Board.
b. The Official Petition Submission Process is as follows:
i. Print out a typed petition that identifies: the problem/issue being petitioned
against, the arguments that support why the problem/issue should be
alleviated, and AT LEAST one (1) solution to the problem/issue.
ii. Print out or request from the RA Office an Official Signature Sheet and
acquire AT LEAST fifteen (15) unique signatures in support of the
petition. The Official Signature Sheet should also identify the petition's
"Founding Signer" who will lead the petition's signature efforts and act as
the head representative of the petition.
iii. Turn in the paperclipped copy of the petition and Official Signature Sheet
to either the Residence Hall Council Advisor or the Residence Hall
Council President. If submitted to the President, the Founding Signer
should notify the RHC Advisor for accountability purposes.
 OFFICIAL SIGNATURE SHEET
Directions for Petition Submission
The Official Petition Submission Process is as follows:
1. Print out a typed petition that identifies: the problem/issue being petitioned against, the
arguments that support why the problem/issue should be alleviated, and AT LEAST one
(1) solution to the problem/issue.
2. Print out or request from the RA Office an Official Signature Sheet and acquire AT
LEAST fifteen (15) unique signatures in support of the petition. The Official Signature
Sheet should also identify the petition's "Founding Signer" who will lead the petition's
signature efforts and act as the head representative of the petition.
3. Turn in the paperclipped copy of the petition and Official Signature Sheet to either the
Residence Hall Council Advisor or the Residence Hall Council President. If submitted to
the President, the Founding Signer should notify the RHC Advisor for accountability
purposes.
Founding Signer Information
Note: The Founding Signer Information only needs to be completed on one Official Signature
Sheet. Place the sheet with the completed information first before other Official Signature
Sheets.
Name: ________________________________________________ Date Signed: __________
920#: ____________________ Catamount Email: ____________________________________
Official Signatures
Name 920# Date
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