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About the CCU:
Carleton Conservative Union (CCU) Charter
Amended February 11, 2005
I.
Purpose of the Organization
The Carleton Conservative Union is a nonpartisan student organization dedicated to expanding the reach and scope of conservative ideas at Carleton College. We affirm the principles of individual liberty, limited government, personal responsibility, free markets and equality of rights as necessary for a just and free society. By mobilizing, organizing and advancing the causes of conservative students at Carleton, we shall shift the center of debate and politics towards the cause of liberty and uphold the ideals upon which Carleton College was founded, so help us God.
II.
Description and Duties of Officers
The officers shall be the President, Vice-President, and Treasurer.
The President and Vice-President are charged with the administration of regular organization operations.
The Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President if he or she is temporarily absent.
The Treasurer shall oversee the budget and report financial concerns to the President and Vice-President. The Treasurer will also be charged with planning the upcoming year's budget through the CSA Spring Allocations process, and requesting monies from the CSA during the year.
III.
Procedure for Officer Election and Removal
The officers shall be elected by the members every spring term. Elections will be held in a meeting called by the current President, and members must be notified that elections will be held at that meeting. All members are eligible to vote.
Officers will assume their positions on the first day of Fall term the following year and their term will last until the last day of Spring term.
The editors of the Carleton Observer shall be selected from among the members every spring term.
IV.
Activities of the Organization
The CCU shall expand the reach and scope of conservative ideas at Carleton by hosting speeches, forums and debates; promoting civic participation; raising campus awareness of conservative ideas; publishing the Carleton Observer; attending events outside the College; and hosting social events.
V.
Publication of the Carleton Observer
The CCU will publish a non-partisan journal of social and political commentary entitled "Carleton Observer" several times a term. The Carleton Observer is not, and shall never be, a strictly conservative publication. The Carleton Observer shall accept submissions for publication regardless of social or political belief or affiliation. The editors do reserve the right to restrict the publishing of submissions that will not contribute to constructive political and social discourse at Carleton.
VI.
Board of Advisors
Though all decisions shall be directed by the student members themselves, the CCU shall seek consultation from a board of faculty, staff and alumni advisors. The purpose of these advisors is to assist the members in carrying out the purpose of the organization by providing guidance and resources.
VII.
Statement on Academic Excellence and Freedom
The CCU intends to uphold traditional standards of academic excellence by insuring that merit is the primary criterion for hiring employees and admitting students to Carleton. The CCU intends to uphold the standard of academic freedom consistent with a liberal arts education by insuring that free, fair and vigorous discussion is maintained and encouraged on campus. Carleton is not, and must not, become a place for social engineering and agenda making.
VIII.
Annual Report
An annual report shall be submitted to the Budget Committee as part of Spring Allocations. The report shall meet the requirements stipulated in the CSA Senate Bylaws.
IX.
Membership Requirement
The organization must have a minimum of ten members at all times. If membership falls below ten without the permission of the Chartering Committee, the organization is inactive. If the organization is inactive for three consecutive terms this charter is invalid and the organization is disbanded.
X.
Amendment
Amendments to this charter require the approval of the Chartering Committee and the CSA Senate.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What does the Carleton Conservative Union do?
The Carleton Conservative Union hosts speakers and political forums on campus, publishes the Observer, Carleton’s only journal of social and political commentary, and holds a number of social dinner events throughout the year as a fun and informal way to discuss politics.
Who can Join the CCU? Is it just conservatives?
Anyone can join the CCU! We welcome anyone with an open mind and friendly attitude. There are many moderates and liberals in our group and we bring a wide range of speakers to campus such as former Soviet Premier Michael Gorbechav, President of Poland and Leader of Solidarity Lech Walesa, and Prime Minister Benjamen Netanyahu of Israel. In addition, there are several moderates and liberals on our Faculty Advisory Board, such as Prof. Roy Grow, Prof. Harry Williams, and Prof. Steven Schier.
Is the Carleton Conservative Union Affiliated with any other groups?
Yes, the Carleton Conservative Union works with other non-partisan groups such as the Center of the American Experiment in Minneapolis, the Taxpayers League of Minnesota, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute in Delaware, the Leadership Institute in D.C., and the Young America's Foundation in Virginia. These groups help bring speakers to Carleton and often invite the members of the Carleton Conservative Union to events and conferences around the country.
Is the Carleton Conservative Union the Republican Party?
No. Actually, the Carleton Conservative Union is a non-partisan institution dedicated to the propagation of conservative ideas on campus. The Carleton Conservative Union neither officially endorses candidates nor participates in specifically campaign related functions/activities.
Is the Carleton Conservative Union Affiliated with the Carleton College Republicans?
No. The Carleton Conservative Union focuses strictly on ideas. The Carleton College Republicans work with the Minnesota State and National College Republican chapters as well as the Republican Party and focus on elections. This is not to say that some in our group don't participate in the Carleton College Republicans, but our missions remain separate.
What does the Carleton Conservative Union Stand For?
Individual Liberty- The right for people to make decisions free of government interference and intervention, provided those decisions do not endanger the life or freedom of anyone else.
Equality of Rights- For Republican Government and Freedom to survive, government must treat everyone equally, regardless of income, race, or sex, or gender. This differs from the notions of equal opportunity and equal outcome in its rejection that government should engineer particular outcomes to suite its social objectives.
Low Taxes & Limited Government- Taxes must be low in order for government to remain small. Government must remain small in order for freedom, prosperity, and justice to survive.
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