University of Oregon Jam Squad By-laws

(Established Fall 2005-2006, Updated for 2011-2012)

I. State of Program Purpose and Goals

A. University of Oregon’s Jam Squad

            B. Established in Fall 2004, by Prajkta Ingle and taken over by Brittany McGrath in the Fall of 2005 to act as another form of a extracurricular dance activity for college students.

            C. To provide an extracurricular/non-competitive hip hop dance team in order to enhance school spirit and to give students the opportunity to get involved, gain friends and peers, work toward success in school and lead a healthy lifestyle. The activity will also provide great promotion for prospective U of O students by dancing at a variety of events in and out of school.

II. Membership

A. Membership is open to all students:

            1. Exec. R 88.1 Membership: No individual can be excluded from the program on the basis of political ideology, but every individual in the program must be sincere to the goals of the program. Members must have dance ability, but it is not required that members have prior dance experience. Members must be willing to perform at most events and be willing to work with all individuals equally on the team. Members may also employ some leadership opportunities (see job description).

            2. Exec. R 83.1 Elections: Membership in the program must allow an equal opportunity for all students to participate and there must be no violation of the rules of the ASUO, the University of Oregon, or State of Oregon. Elections of team members will be based on two tryouts per year: Fall term and Spring term. Tryouts will be based on dance ability, motivation and effort toward the team, willingness to work with a team and willingness to perform at events. Grades in school will also be looked at. In case of very poor school standing (D’s and F’s), applicants will be talked to and may possibly need a teacher recommendation to join the team. All students of any race, gender, body type, age/year in school will be allowed to tryout. All tryout applicants will be treated equally and treated fairly for a spot on the team. Up to 30-35 members will be taken each term, with previous members still trying out for the following term. Applicants are allowed to tryout consecutively, as many times as they want. Co-captains will also tryout for the captain position. At least one term of dancing on the team is needed and the ability to utilize a higher responsibility. Co-captains will tryout before the team tryouts, but they will stay under the same by-law (see job description).

B. Equal Opportunity Statement 

            3. Exec. R 82.1 Equal Opportunity: The ASUO affirms the right of all individuals to equal opportunity education, employment and access to indicate fee-funded or non-fee-funded programs and their activities, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, different ability, national origin, marital status, veteran’s status, or any other considerations not directly and substantially related to effective participation. All applicants will be treated equally and with respect and fairness for a spot on the team.

C. Authority and Responsibility of Members

            Applicants and team members will have the duty to act responsibly and treat all other members with respect and equality. All members by the coach and captains will be treated fairly and equally. Members will be required to make the meetings, practices and performances unless excused by the coach for a valid reason including school, family, health or important personal reasons. Members have the authority to address any issue of concern with the coach, captains or an ASUO member.

III. Leaders and Their Job Descriptions and Responsibilities

A. Each position of leadership in the organization

            1. Coach: Organizes performances, practices/practice times, fundraising events, tryouts, uniforms and meetings for each term. The coach will make sure the program is fitting to all the by-laws and that all the members are being treated equally. The coach will lead practices along with choreographing most of the dance routines and designing the performances in terms of formations, music and uniforms. The coach will address issues, concerns and questions to the team and members will be encouraged to go to the coach with issues or concerns to be addressed to the team or privately. The coach will work with the ASUO to make sure the program is staying honest to the team by-laws, rules of the ASUO, rules of the University of Oregon, and rules of the State of Oregon.

            2. Co-Captains: Co-captains will assist the coach with team responsibilities. Co-captains will assist with organization of performances, practices, fundraising events, tryouts, uniforms and meetings for each term. Co-captains will be treated as equally as all team members, but hold a higher responsibility on the team. Co-captains will assist in choreographing the dance routines and assist with designing the performances in terms of formations, music and uniforms. Co-captains will lead practices in case the coach cannot be present. Co-captains will make sure the by-laws, and rules of the ASUO, University of Oregon and State of Oregon are being implemented. Co-captains will tryout separately for the higher responsibility. They will be treated as equally as any other applicant and under the same Exec. R 83.1 Elections by-law. They will assist in the tryout of team members with teaching the routine, helping applicants with any concerns or questions and providing the applicants with all their information.

            3. Members: All members of the team also have a leadership opportunity. Members of the team will be able to tryout as a captain each term only after dancing for at least one term with the U of O Jam Squad as a member. While on the team, members will also be given the equal opportunity to choreograph routines and help in the design of the performance with suggestions of music, formations and uniforms. Members are also given the equal opportunity to address the team of concerns, ideas and/or requests.

IV. Elections

Programs may elect their directors and other staff provided the following criteria are met. All candidates must be afforded the same opportunity to disseminate information to the electorate. The electoral process must insure that every constituent has an equal opportunity to vote, and that every constituent’s vote has equal weight in determining the outcome of the election. Only student members of the program may vote in an election for any position having authority in an ASUO program. Membership in a program may be defined by the program as long as the member rules allow an equal opportunity for all students to participate in the program and there is no other violation of the rules of the ASUO, the University of Oregon, or the State of Oregon. Membership rules must be filled with the ASUO Programs Coordinator, and either the Programs Coordinator or Elections Coordinator must oversee the elections.

A. Elections will include member tryouts and co-captain tryouts.

            Tryouts will available for members of the program and also co-captains. Both tryouts will be voted upon equally, fairly, and with the consent and by the rules of the ASUO. Tryouts will not violate any rules under the ASUO, University of Oregon, or the State of Oregon.

V. Leader/Member Transition

A. Members will tryout each term.

            Members of the previous term will need to tryout for the following term under the same by-laws and treated as equally as all other applicants. Members who danced previously may also make the team again, having the same role and equality as the other teammates.

B. Co-captains will tryout each term.

            Co-captains of the previous term will need to tryout for the following term under the same by-laws as team member tryouts and as equally as all other applicants. All members have the opportunity, with one term background on the U of O Jam Squad. Previous co-captains may make the position again, having the same equality and role as the other teammates, but higher responsibility.

C. Coach

            The coach will remain, while in school, until concerns are raised or issue are posed. An equal weighted vote will be needed to decide in favor of changing the coach. Those who decide this will take the issue to the ASUO. With a coach resignation or with the choice of the end of the coach’s career, an equally weighted vote among team members and co-captains will determine the following coach. The coach will be chosen from co-captains, members or voluntary advisors. Other issues with the transition of a coach will be taken directly to the ASUO and handled by the ASUO.

VI. There will be no hired staff

VII. Meetings

A. Meetings will be once a week during on-season of the dance team (Fall-Spring term).

B. Practices will be held from 1-3 times a week, depending on event schedule. Weeks such as finals week, holidays and other desired weeks will have no practices.

C. All members must attend the meetings and practices unless they have a valid excuse, which they will give to the coach. Valid excuses are for example: family, school, health and/or important personal reasons. The objectives of meetings and practices are to learn and perfect routines, discuss schedule/events and discuss designing of performance, such as uniforms and music. Other issues, concerns and requests will be posed at meetings.

D. Decision-making process: All members and co-captains are encouraged and allowed to vote with equal weight. The coach will take the consensus vote of 50% or more to decide upon the factor. All members and co-captains also have the right to pose any issues, concerns or topics in which they would like to have a vote. The coach will have to give the teammate or co-captain approval to vote upon a certain topic or concern. Problems and issues concerning the voting process, if not solved by the coach, should be taken to the ASUO.

VIII. Grievances

A. A concern or issue can be taken to and dealt by the coach first, and unless it provokes or involves other members, will be taken further including talking with the other members and/or the co-captains. Reasonable punishment should be first provided by the coach and those involved.

B. In the case that a concern or issue should involve punishment and cannot be dealt by just the coach, the reasoning for punishment or resolving will be voted upon by the coaches and co-captains. Only if the issue/complaint cannot be handled by the coaches and co-captains, will it be open for discussion and a consensus vote by the whole team.

C. By-laws will be read by the coach and/or co-captains to help resolve the concern.

D. A complaint that cannot be resolved by the coach or a consensus agreement by the co-captains and coach or the whole team should be taken to the ASUO.

IX. Amending the By-Laws

A. A meeting with all current members of the team, including the coach and co-captains, will vote and a consensus agreement will be made for or against the by-laws. Those for the by-laws will sign, as well as those opposing (see end of packet).

B. Members will be notified at meetings of any by-law changes, concerns or issues. Those changes, concerns or issues that can be resolved by the team will be by a team consensus agreement.

C. New amendments will only take effect if the coach, co-captains, team members or the ASUO propose they do so. In this case, the new amendments will be looked over and the team will sign for or opposing the new amendments.

D. Any copy of the by-laws, including changes or new amendments needs to be reviewed by the ASUO and kept on file by the ASUO.