University of Manitoba Womyn's Centre

Cuntstitution

Preamble: The U of M Womyn's Centre is queer-positive, pro-choice, feminist and non-hierarchical collective located on the University of Manitoba's Fort Garry campus. We challenge and organize against sexism, racism, ableism, homophobia, classism, ageism, size oppression and other systems of domination effecting women's lives.

Article 1
Name: University of Manitoba Womyn's Centre

Article 11
Purpose: The Womyn's Centre is concerned with focussing attention on Womyn's issues on campus and in the community. Our aim is to create a strong feminist presence here at the University of Manitoba and in our communities. We are a non-hierarchical collective, which strives to be inclusive to all womyn. Our purpose is to organize against the interlocking systems of domination which effect the lives of womyn on campus. The Womyn's Centre provides a number of services to womyn on campus, and is therefore a student service and not a student group.

Article 111
Membership:

A) The Womyn's Centre is a student service group, available to all

B) Two-thirds (2/3) of the membership will be female U of M students

C) One-third (1/3) of the membership can be non-students, or male members. However, the common area and quiet rooms are designated safe spaces, and therefore are reserved for the use of womn only. Male members are encouraged to use the resources provided by the Centre, but are expected to respect the designated safe spaces and must knock before entering the Centre.

D) As a feminist organization the Womyn's Centre reserves the right to revoke the membership of any person whose actions or presence disrupts or damages the organizations intended purpose. The termination of membership will be decided by the collective.

Article IV
Governing Structure: The Womyn's Centre is a feminist collective, and thus decisions will be made by consensus. As such, all will have equal communication and voting rights. Thee will be two facilitators chosen to hold signing authority, and other duties as outlined by the collective.

Article V
Offices and Leaders: As the Womyn's Centre is a non-hierarchical organization, there will be no executive or leadership positions. Spokespersons and representatives will be chosen as needed on a volunteer basis at meetings where consensus is reached.

Article VII
Meetings:

A) Regular meetings are held, the times for these meetings are decided upon collectively.

B) At least one general meeting/open house will be held per year, which will be advertised by a two week run by posters, facebook, listserve, women's studies department and if possible in the Manitoban. This meeting will be open to all Womyn's Centre members and students of the U of M.

Article VIII
Any amendments to this constitution must be reached by consensus at a collective meeting.