ORDER OF OMEGA, TAU GAMMACHAPTER

Of Washington and LeeUniversity

CONSTITUTION

Article I– Name

Section 1The name of this organization shall be “Order of Omega, Tau Gamma Chapter,” referred to in this Constitution as “Order of Omega”.

Section 2Order of Omega is a Greek Leadership Honor Society.

Article II– Purpose

Section 1The purpose of the Order of Omega shall be threefold:

First, to recognize those students who have attained a high standard of leadership in inter-Greek activities, to encourage them to continue along this line, and to inspire others to strive for similar conspicuous attainment.

Second, to bring together the most representative fraternity and sorority members, and to create an organization which will help mold the sentiment of Washington and Lee on questions of local and intercollegiate affairs.

Third, to bring together members of the faculty, alumni, and student members of Washington and Lee’s fraternities and sororities on a basis of mutual interest, understanding, and cooperation.

Article III – Membership

Section 1The membership of the Order of Omega shall be confined to members of Greek-letter social organizations.

Section 2There shall be three classes of members: first, student; second, honorary; and third, alumni.

Student members shall be those selected to membership as undergraduate students by Order of Omega Tau Gamma Chapter and they shall be so designated during the remaining period of their undergraduate and graduate enrollment.

Honorary members shall be those selected honoris causa by Tau Gamma Chapter. These members shall include faculty, staff, alumni, and other community members who are not undergraduate students.

Alumni members shall be all former student members after their graduation or the termination of their collegiate enrollment.

Section 3Membership in Order of Omega entitles the initiated to the rights and privileges of life membership. Only student members may vote and hold office.

Section 4Transfer members may affiliate or be eligible for selection to membership according to the following:

a. Initiated transfer student may be affiliated with Tau Gamma Chapter at the discretion of its members. It is recommended that Tau Gamma Chapter verify Order of Omega membership with the Executive Office

b. A student transferring from another institution shall be eligible for selection to membership in Order of Omega. Such transfer students are subject to the eligibility requirements defined in Article IV.

Section 5Tau Gamma Chapter may select into membership a student who was initiated into a Greek organization at another institution that is not represented at the campus to which he/she has transferred. It is recommended that Tau Gamma Chapter verify the affiliation with the National Office of the fraternity or sorority. In the case of membership in a local Greek organization, the membership should be verified with the Greek Advisor at the student’s former institution.

Section 6Should a student’s fraternal organization close or lose official institution recognition the student may be eligible for membership or may maintain membership in Order of Omega as long as eligibility requirements of Article IV are met.

Article IV– Eligibility

Section 1The qualifications for membership in Order of Omega shall be character, scholarship, service, and leadership.

Section 2Exemplary character shall be the primary consideration for membership in Order of Omega.

Section 3To be eligible for membership in Order of Omega, a student shall meet the following minimum requirements:

a. One full academic year of residence at Washington and Lee

b. Junior or Senior (undergraduate) standing

c. Rank academicallyabove the all-Greek average, that average being attainable through the office of Greek Life.

d. Be in good standing with the initiate’s fraternal organization.

e. At least one-third of each group of initiates shall be of Junior standing at the time of initiation.

Section 4The selection of student members shall consider the following areas of a candidate’s collegiate record:

  1. Character
  2. Scholarship
  3. Greek offices held
  4. Greek participation
  5. Service to the University
  6. Service to the local community

Article V– Officers

Section 1The officers of Order of Omega shall be president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. All officers shall be elected in accordance with the bylaws. An officer shall be eligible for reelection or reappointment. Chapter officers shall be installed in accordance with the Order of Omega National Constitution and bylaws.

Article VI – Advisors

Section 1The official advisor will be the Director of the JohnW.ElrodUniversityCommons and Campus Activites Staff.

Section 2Two other advisors who will provide supporting roles will be the Director of Student Activities and Greek Life and the Assistant Director of Student Activities and Greek Life.

Article VII– Meetings

Section 1Executive Council Meetings shall be called by the president at least monthly.

Section 2Official decisions of Order of Omega require approval at a General meeting.

Article IX – Suspension and Expulsion

Section 1Any member found responsible of conduct unbecoming of Order of Omega shall be deprived of membership and required to surrender the pin and certificate.

Written notification shall be sent to the individual in question and the Executive Office. A three-fourths (3/4) vote of the active members of the local chapter is required to deprive an individual of membership and shall be subject to review by the Executive Council before it shall be made finally effective.

Section 2Resignation or expulsion from a fraternal organization may subject one to termination of membership in Order of Omega. Such termination may be subject to review by the Executive Council before it shall be made finally effective.

BYLAWS

Article 1 – Membership Selection

Section 1The executive council shall bring forth membership recommendations at a General meeting. Those recommendations shall be accepted unless there is compelling reason to alter them.

Section 2Initiation is limited to three percent of the undergraduate Greek population. Effort should be made to have representation from each Greek organization each year, if appropriate.

Section 3The main initiation will occur during winter term, though a fall term initiation may occur.

Article 2 – Mandatory/Minimum Activities

Section 1Attendance at initiations absent extenuating circumstances.

Section 2Active support for activities identified by the Executive Council absent extenuating circumstances (* indicates expected attendance).

Currently identified activities include:

  1. Greek Halloween Carnival
  2. Day of Dialogue*
  3. Greek Summit if occurring*

Article 3 – Dues

Section 1Each member shall be responsible for their own national dues, currently set at $40.

Article 4–Executive Council

Section 1The executive council consists of the president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. They shall be primarily responsible for the direction of Order of Omega.

Section 2The president shall be responsible for calling meetings, creating an agenda, keeping the advisor informed, and other duties as necessary.

Section 3The vice president represents the president in their absence. The vice president shall be responsible for keeping Tau Gamma in good standing with the national organization by submitting initiation forms, the chapter roster,or other requirements.

Section 4The secretary shall be responsible for taking minutes at meetings, e-mailing those minutes to the membership and advisor, and updating the website.

Section 5The treasurer shall be responsible for collecting the national dues.

Article 5 – Website

Section 1The website shall include the constitution, current membership and updated minutes.

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