Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome)

Lafayette College

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I: Name

 

The name of this organization shall be the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome), also referred to as MAFia.

 

ARTICLE II: Purpose and Scope

 

Section 1: Purpose Statement

The Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) advocates for the performance, sharing, and appreciation of music.  The Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) will also serve as a housing option for anyone with an honest interest in music on the third floor of Ramer Hall.    

 

Section 2: Goals/Objectives

The Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome), as established in 2008, will exist to:

  1. Create a community that encourages the collective enjoyment of music, social activity, and the greater understanding of the musical arts and their places in society   
  2. Advocate for the sharing and broader appreciation of musical performances
  3. Serve as a community space for members gain knowledge through the expression and exchange of their musical interests 
  4. Introduce its members to new musical forms, genres, and artists

 

Section 3: Relationship & Policy Agreement

As a recognized Lafayette College student organization, the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome)  will have access to advising and resources through the Division of Student Life and the Lafayette College Student Government, however, the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) activities are not supervised by Lafayette College staff or Student Government Representatives.  The members of the organization itself are responsible for following all College policies and state laws and for ensuring the safety, security, and appropriate and lawful behavior of the membership as well as any students involved in activities sponsored by the organization.

 

ARTICLE III: Membership

 

Section 1: Nondiscrimination

In keeping with Lafayette College’s policy of nondiscrimination, membership in Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) is open to all students of Lafayette College, regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, religion, age, military or veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or familial status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

 

Section 2: Active Members

Members of the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) shall be divided into two categories, Floor Members and General Body Members.

 

Active general body membership in the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) shall be limited to students who are currently enrolled at Lafayette College. A person is an active member by receiving emails or other forms of communication about events we hold through OurCampus, GroupMe, or other means. Active members must attend at least one event or meeting per semester. Other members of Lafayette College such as faculty, staff, and alumni may participate but only as honorary members.

 

Active floor membership in the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) shall be limited to students who are currently enrolled at Lafayette College. A person is an active floor member by having applied and been accepted and is currently living on Ramer Hall third floor, designated as the Music Appreciation Floor. Students studying abroad are considered active floor members. Active floor members must attend at least 50% of events and all general body and floor meetings. Active floor members are eligible to vote for and hold office. Other members of Lafayette College such as faculty, staff, and alumni may participate but only as non-voting associate or honorary members.

 

Residents of Ramer Hall third floor, designated as the Music Appreciation Floor, who are not affiliated with the Music Appreciation Floor (i.e. via random assignment due to open spaces on the floor) will be classified as Non-Affiliated Residents.  Non-Affiliated Residents have the full voting power of an active floor member with the exception of voting on the acceptance of new members and voting in officer elections.  Non-Affiliated Residents may apply for full active floor membership, the details of which will be decided on a case by case basis.

 

Section 3: Selection of New Members

To obtain active general body member status, prospective members can join the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) OurCampus group or the GroupMe group chat. There is no formal application or interview required. To maintain active membership, members must attend at least one event or meeting each semester.

 

To obtain active floor member status, prospective floor members must apply to live on the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome). Students may apply to live on the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) each semester. Current active floor members are not required to reapply and are guaranteed to live on the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) for the following semester, should they wish to remain. Students who have been previously denied to live on the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) may reapply each semester to live on the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome). Students may live on the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) starting their sophomore Fall semester. Freshmen may not live on the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) during their Fall or Spring semester. Students are not required to be active general body members to apply to be an active floor member. 

 

Each academic school year, a new application will be created by the current executive committee. The application process will take place the semester preceding the semester in which the prospective floor member wishes to live on the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome). New floor member applications will go through a voting process to determine if the prospective floor member is accepted or denied residency on the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome). Current active floor members who plan to reside on the floor at any point in the future are eligible to vote on applicants. The voting process is as follows:

 

Voting members of the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) will receive copies of all prospective floor members’ completed applications for review.

 

Voting members of the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) will receive a poll asking them to rate each prospective floor member on a scale from zero to six.

 

The scale will be defined as:

 

  • 0: I have a serious issue with this person, and would consider moving off of the floor if they are selected.
  • 1: I feel that this person would have a negative impact on MAFia, and would prefer that they do not live here.
  • 2: I  do not feel that this person would be a positive addition to MAFia.
  • 3: I feel neutral about this person.
  • 4: I feel that this person would be a positive addition to MAFia.
  • 5: I feel that this person would make a strong addition to MAFia and would very much like them to live here.
  • 6: I would strongly consider moving off of the floor to live with this person.

 

A score will be given to each applicant which is an average of all the current residents given scores. The score will be calculated by the Resident Advisor (RA). Scores should not be disclosed. Applicants whose average score is equal to or above a three will be accepted to live on the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome), given a room is available.  Applicants who do not reach this threshold may not live on the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) in the following semester, however they may apply again in the future.  If the number of applicants exceeds the number of available rooms, applicants with the highest average scores will be accepted.

 

If rooms are not available for all applicants and there is a tie between 2 or more applicants, a tie breaker vote will be conducted. A survey with the names of the contested prospective residents will be given to current residents to vote on which applicant(s) they wish to be accepted. If the tie-breaker vote also results in a tie, a meeting will be held with all current active floor members to discuss and resolve the tie.  

 

A zero does not negate the average score, but current floor members who rated an applicant zero must meet with the current RA to discuss the concern. If the RA, being an impartial individual, validates the concern, the applicant will be denied. If the RA does not validate the concern, the resident who brought up the concern may appeal the RA’s decisions and raise their concern with the current residents and initiate a revote on the applicant.  This appeal for a revote is made to the president, who must offer a revote for that particular candidate if there is sufficient concern from the floor.  The adjusted score will replace the original score.   

 

After the voting process is complete and all applicants have been accepted or denied, applicants must accept or reject their offers to live on the Music appreciation Floor (is awesome).  If an applicant rejects their offer, the offer is no longer valid and they must reapply to live on the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) in the future.  The applicant with the next highest score will be offered the position in their place.  This continues until all spots are filled or there are no more applicants.  An applicant who was accepted but not offered a position due to space restrictions has priority over other eligible Lafayette College students for a position if it opens up before the start of the following semester, and that applicant should be contacted if a position becomes available.   After the following semester begins, they are removed from the waitlist and must reapply to live on the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) in the future.  The next semester’s active floor members must then go through the room selection process. The room selection process is as follows:

 

Room selection order will be determined by a point system.  Each semester a person has lived on the Music  Appreciation Floor (is awesome) will be counted as one point.  A semester spent abroad or in a Greek housing requirement will count as half a point. Room selection order will be done in descending order from highest point value to lowest point value. Students with an equal point value will select rooms in random order. 

 

Section 4: Hazing 

​​Lafayette College requires that no student participate in and that no student organization allow any of its prospective members, new members, members, or others to participate in any ceremony or practice that involves mental or physical exhaustion or abuse, or in any way interferes with the students’ mental or physical ability to perform their work at Lafayette College. These rites must not reflect unfavorably upon either the group or the College or be of a dangerous, rude, or demeaning nature. Hazing, whether it occurs on or off campus, is prohibited and will be subject to sanctioning through the conduct process.

 

Section 5: Voluntary Member Withdrawal

Any member can, at any time, voluntarily withdraw their membership from the organization.

 

Section 6: Non-Voluntary Member Withdrawal

A general body or floor member can be removed from the organization by:

  1. The membership may request that an active member be removed if their conduct violates the College’s Code of Conduct in a manner warranting disciplinary action from the College. The Organization Advisor should serve as a non-voting mediator for these proceedings. The removal of an Executive Officer is described in Article 6, Section 6.
  2. The active member should be given notice of concerns raised by the membership (verbal and in writing) by the Executive Officers with the Advisor present.
  3. A second meeting should be held between the active member, Executive Officers, and Advisor to discuss the concerns and determine the outcome.

 

ARTICLE IV: Organizational Leadership

 

Section 1: Officers

The officers of the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) shall be the President, [the Vice President of Events, the Vice President of Communications, and the Vice President of Treasury], which will serve as the Executive Committee. 

 

The President shall:

  1. Lead and oversee the organization as well as act as a primary event planner 
  2. Act as a liaison to any college officials that need to be contacted.
  3. Act as chair of the board for all organizational meetings. 

 

Any tasks not specified in the following position descriptions will be delegated at the discretion of the President. 

The Vice-President of Events shall:

  1. Act as a primary event planner
  2. Aid in advertising for events

 

The Vice-President of Communications shall:

  1. Keep general records and typed minutes of all meetings that are available to all Executive Officers.
  2. Generate communications with group members using OurCampus emails, GroupMe messages, the MAFia website, and Instagram Posts. These communications include but are not limited to upcoming events, housing related communications, and other information.

 

The Vice President of Treasury shall:

  1. Keep all financial records of the organization 
  2. Collect and manage money when necessary (i.e. merchandising, formal)
  3. Prepare and submits budget requests

 

Section 2: Terms

The terms of all officers of the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) shall be one academic year. Officers may serve multiple consecutive terms. 

 

Section 3: Election Timeline

All officers shall be elected on or before the last day of the spring semester, with their term beginning at the end of the spring semester.

 

Section 4: Officer Criteria

All officers shall be elected from anyone who will be an active floor member residing on the floor in the following semester. Any student seeking to hold office must have and maintain good academic and judicial standing. 

 

Section 5: Election Process

  1. The Executive Committee will announce that elections will be occurring and communicate the process and timeline to the active members. The RA must be present for the election.
  2. All active floor members, barring special circumstances, must be present for elections.
  3. Any active floor member may nominate any member who will reside on the floor during the tenure of the officer, including themselves. Nominations must be seconded. All nominations must be accepted by the nominee in order to be considered.  Nominations will begin with the President and move down the list.
  4. In the event that only one individual accepts a nomination for a position, they will assume the position for the coming year.  If two or more individuals accept the nomination, it will be put to a vote.
  5. Voting Members
    1. Active floor members who will be residing on the floor for at least one semester during the tenure of the officer receive one (1) vote. 
    2. Non floor members who will reside on the floor for at least one semester during the tenure of the officer receive one (1) vote.
    3. Members who have applied and been accepted to live on the floor for at least one semester during the tenure of the officer receive one (1) vote.
  6. Voting Process
    1. Each nominee will be given a chance to explain why they are deserving of their respective role.  
    2. Once each nominee has stated their case, they will be asked to leave the room, and the voting members will be given the opportunity to discuss before voting
    3. The RA will facilitate each vote and does not get a vote
    4. Voting shall be conducted via closing of the eyes and raising of the hands in that order.  After the RA tallies votes, the nominees will re-enter the room and the results will be announced.  A simple majority is required for any position.
    5. If an individual is not elected for any given position they may be nominated for another position on the executive committee.  
    6. In the case that a tie occurs, it will be broken by a round of discussion and a runoff election in which only the 2 candidates who received the most votes will be eligible.  In the case of a tie in the runoff election, the voting members must discuss until they reach a conclusion.
    7. Votes will not be disclosed to nominees.  

 

Section 6: Officer Resignation

Any officer can, at any time, voluntarily resign from their position with proper notice given to the other officers and Resident Advisor.  In this case, a special election will be called with all current voting members as defined in Section 4 Part E.  This vote follows the same pattern as the standard vote. 

 

Section 7: Officer Impeachment

Officers can be impeached by the following process:

  1. Any active floor member may request that an Executive Officer step down from their duties for failing to complete the duties of their office or if their conduct violates the College’s Code of Conduct in a manner warranting disciplinary action from the College. 
  2. To request an impeachment hearing, at least two active floor members must make the request to the RA. The RA serves as a non-voting mediator for these proceedings. The Executive Officer should be given notice of concerns raised by the membership (verbal and written communication) by the RA. The officer must have at least one week to prepare a defense before a hearing with all active floor members present, barring special circumstances.  
  3. Both the Executive Officer and current active floor members requesting impeachment shall be given a chance to present their case. After both parties have expressed their position, the executive officer will be asked to leave the room. The voting members will be given a chance to discuss, then the RA will conduct a vote on whether the Executive Officer should be impeached. Voting shall be conducted via closing of the eyes and raising of the hands, in that order.
  4. A two-thirds (⅔) majority is required for impeachment.  If the vote is successful, a special election will be called for that position using the election process laid out in Article 6 Section 6.  If the vote is unsuccessful, no further action will be taken and the Executive Officer will remain in their position.  An impeachment hearing cannot be called twice for the same reason, but further hearings can occur for the same officer given different reasons.    

 

Section 8: Officer Succession

Should any office be vacant via resignation, impeachment, or temporary inability to perform duties, it is the responsibility of the rest of the Executive Committee to fulfill their duties until the officer in question returns or a special election occurs. In a special election, current Executive Committee members may be nominated and voted into the open position. If this occurs, another special election must be held for their previous position immediately following the previous vote.

 

ARTICLE V: Advisor

 

Section 1: Role of the Advisor

The Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome)  will be advised by a Lafayette College faculty, staff, or a full-time employee.  The organization is free to select any eligible employee to serve as the advisor to the organization.  Upon selection, the advisor must be approved by the Director of Student Involvement.  The advisor may end their term at any time.  

 

Section 2: Advisor Requirements

  1. Provide guidance and support
  2. Advise the group on College policies and procedures and risk management
  3. Attend meetings and major functions of the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome)

 

ARTICLE VI: Meetings and Programs

 

Section 1: General Body Meetings

The first general body meeting of the fall semester shall be within two weeks after the involvement fair.  At least one general body meeting should be held per month. A general body meeting is defined as an official publicly advertised meeting with quorum present and minutes recorded.  A member of the executive board must be present to conduct the meeting.  The president will conduct all meetings unless they are unable to, in which case another board member will temporarily assume the role of president for the duration of the meeting.

 

Quorum:  A simple majority of the active floor membership is required to conduct a general body meeting (half plus one).

 

Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern meetings in all cases except when in conflict with this constitution and with general College regulations. 

 

Special Committees may be created for events or specific tasks. Special committees will be created and guided at the discretion of the executive committee.

 

Section 2: Album of the Week 

  1. The album is chosen by an Album Master, who will have 30 minutes to play and discuss their album. 
  1. The album master may play songs in any order, and spend as much or as little time discussing the album as they wish. 
  2. Questions are always allowed but try not to be disruptive to the Album Master. 
  1. Album of the Week will occur every Sunday of the semester, at 3:00 PM, in the MAFia common room, starting after the first week of classes, with the following exceptions:
  1. Over breaks such as fall, thanksgiving, and spring, there will be no album, and the following album will be a double album
  2. Album of the week can be moved earlier or later in the day if there is an event which would require most of the attending members to miss album
  1. The first Album Master will be a randomly selected senior floor member.  At the conclusion of an album, anyone present (member or not) can opt to be the next Album Master, and the Album Master will be chosen at random from those willing, with the following limitations 
  1. Album Masters cannot be repeated in an academic year, unless everyone present has gone, in which case the cycle can repeat, this time starting with seniors, then juniors, etc.  If someone present has not done an album in an academic year, they will always get precedence over someone who has.
  2. The last albums of the spring semester will be reserved for as many senior floor members as there are.  These are in no particular order and they may decide amongst themselves who goes when.  
  1.  
  1. The Album Master may pick ANY album, with the following limitations
  1. Don’t repeat artists on the wall – past 4 semesters (see archive)
  2. Albums from the archive may be repeated if they are from 4+ years ago (i.e. before the current seniors’ freshman year)
  3. No cover/best of albums (be reasonable – 2 or 3 covers is cool)
  4. Movie soundtracks are allowed, both original and compilations.

Section 3: Music Movie of the Month (MMOM)

  1. The MMOM for a given month will be voted on at that month’s General Body Meeting.  Voting occurs following this process:
  1. The president will ask attendees for suggestions and a brief description of the movie 
  2. After a reasonable amount of movies has been suggested, the president will conduct a vote in which each attendee has 2 votes, and can cast them as they wish (eg. both on one movie, or split them).  Voting is conducted by the president via the closing of the eyes,and the raising of the hands in that order.
  3. The 2 movies that receive the most votes will move on to a second round of voting, in which all attendees receive one vote.  Voting is conducted by the president via closing of the eyes and raising of the hands in that order. The movie with more votes moves on.  
  4. The president may vote in these votes as a normal member.
  5. In the case of a tie, a revote will be conducted among the tied movies.  A second tie defaults to the president.  
  1. A Music Movie is defined as the following:
  1. About a band or musician
  2. Musical
  3. Important to the characterization of characters / plot
  1. Do not repeat movies, unless they are from 4+ years ago (i.e. before the current seniors’ freshman year) – See archive

 

Section 4: Major Events

The Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) shall host; 

  1. a Lip Sync and Air Band Competition (est. 2009) in one semester, and
  2. a Laf’s Got Talent talent show in the other semester

 

ARTICLE VII: Constitutional Amendments

 

Section 1: Proposals 

Amendments to the Constitution must be proposed in writing by an active floor member of the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) at any meeting at which two-thirds (⅔) of the active floor members are present.  Proposed amendments shall be presented to all active floor members by the member who proposed it. At the request of the member, the executive committee may propose amendments on behalf of the member. Amendments will be voted on immediately following the discussion of the proposed amendment.  

 

Section 2: Voting Procedure 

Voting will be conducted by the President or any member of the Executive Committee via closing of the eyes and raising of the hands in that order.  The facilitator of the vote does receive a vote. The proposed amendments will become effective following a three-fourths (¾) affirmative vote of the active floor members or members who have been confirmed and accepted their floor membership for the following semester.  

 

ARTICLE VIII: Bathrooms

 

Section 1: Voting Timeline and Participants

Every academic year, the residents of the Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) will vote to determine whether or not the showers, stalls, and sinks in each of the bathrooms will be gender-neutral or single-gender.  A vote will be conducted with every resident of Ramer Hall 3rd floor (both floor members and non-affiliated residents) as soon as possible following the arrival of all residents to campus for the fall semester.

 

Section 2: Voting Procedure 

The vote will be conducted by the Resident Advisor.  The following questions will be asked regarding each bathroom, referred to as WEST 305 and EAST 318, with the following answers read off after each question.  Voting on each answer will be conducted via the closing of the eyes and the raising of the hands in that order.  It should be abundantly clear to all voting members which bathroom is which.

 

Do you want [bathroom west 305 or east 318] showers to be gender-neutral, or do you want showers to be single-gender?

  1. I want showers to be gender-neutral.
  2. I want showers to be single-gender.
  3. I abstain.

Do you want [bathroom west 305 or east 318] stalls to be gender-neutral, or do you want stalls to be single-gender?

  1. I want showers to be gender-neutral.
  2. I want showers to be single-gender.
  3. I abstain.

Do you want [bathroom west 305 or east 318] sinks to be gender-neutral, or do you want sinks to be single-gender?

  1. I want sinks to be gender-neutral.
  2. I want sinks to be single-gender.
  3. I abstain.

 

Each resident may select one answer choice for each question. Responses will be kept anonymous.  

 

Section 3: Outcomes 

If at least one resident selects the option, “I want showers to be single-gender,” then showers will be single-gender. The showers in the East Bathroom 316 will be used only by men and the showers in the West Bathroom 305 will be used only by women. Otherwise, showers will be gender-neutral.

 

If at least one resident selects the option, “I want stalls to be single-gender,” then stalls will be single-gender. The stalls in the East Bathroom 316 will be used only by men and the stalls in the West Bathroom 305 will be used only by women. Otherwise, stalls will be gender-neutral.

 

If at least one resident selects the option, “I want sinks to be single-gender,” then sinks will be single-gender. The sinks in the East Bathroom 316 will be used only by men and the sinks in the West Bathroom 305 will be used only by women. Otherwise, sinks will be gender-neutral.

 

Regardless of the outcome of the votes, a resident or guest who identifies as transgender or does not identify as either male or female is permitted to use either set of showers, stalls, and sinks.

 

ARTICLE IX: Court Cases 

 

Section 1: Indubitables

In all court cases that occur on Music Appreciation Floor (is awesome) Property, in which all participants are certified by a MAFia Floorboard Member, Emma Martin wins all cases she participates in immediately.  

 

DOCUMENT HISTORY:

  • Created  September 26, 2023
  • Amendment 24W06A added February 5, 2024
  • Amendment 25W06A added February 3, 2025
  • Amendment 25W43A added October 24, 2025
  • Amendment 26W10A added March 2, 2026 
  • Amendment 26W10B added March 2, 2026 
  • Amendment 26W10C added March 2, 2026 

 

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