1. Brown University Student Television (BTV)
Constitution
I. Name
We have several identifiers: Our official name is Brown University Student Television (BTV). We also do business as
Brown Television, Brown TV, and Brown Student Television.
II. Mission/Purpose
To provide pre-professional film and television production and management experience for its staff and the student
body. Generally, it provides a forum for issues in the film and television production community at Brown to be
addressed, and to help tv and film production advocacy projects flesh themselves out and find support.
For its staff, it will develop practical leadership skills and foster creative, innovative, and bold ways of going about the
management (including promotions, finance, marketing) and resource production side of film and television. For the
student body, it provides an entertaining outlet for the talent of Brown to be showcased via the powerful art of
moving images, as well as the technical and educational resources to create quality film and television productions.
BTV as an organization, barring some departments, is not a production organization. We do not produce, but
provide the resources for the student body to produce. BTV is in the industry of student service, and as such hold a
responsibility to the student body to provide quality, organized, and accessible opportunities and entertainment. BTV
encourages and facilitates original student productions and the broadcast of those productions. We value the artistic
integrity of the artist’s work beyond all else.
III. Officers
Officers: Application Necessary
The Executive Board
BTV President/Station Manager President of BTVprogramming President of BTVproduction
Vice President of Finance Technical Director
Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing
Vice President of Web Affairs
Secretary (non-voting member)
A. Station B. Programming C. Production E. Production-Technical
Station Manager Programming Director Executive Producer Technical Director
VP Bizdev Chief Control Room Operator Series Production Manager
VP PR&Mktng Web Content Manager Studio Production Manager
VP Web Content Expansion Coordinator Event Production Manager
Secretary News Director Doc-Narrative Production Manager
Historian Event Programming Advertisement Production Manager
For a complete list of job descriptions and department heads, please see the attached document, BTV roles and responsibilities.
Constitution written by roman Gonzalez ’11, President of BTV/Station Manager
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2. IV. Obtaining Office- The Election Cycle and Application Process
BTV is unlike most organizations on campus. Like most student groups it brings together individuals with similar
interests and hosts social and educational programming. However, as a media entity, it lends itself to operation akin
to a small non-profit corporation, with sponsors and clients who pay for BTV’s quality services, generating funds for
the organization. In addition, BTV holds some of the highest net value of capital investments of any student
organization on campus. There are expectations of us, and it is our duty to meet those expectations, and then some.
Therefore, BTV’s operations and official procedure will function to reflect and facilitate this model. It differs from
the non-profit structure in that it does not have an external, constant board.
Almost all BTV official occupations will be decided by an application process by the executive board. One office will
be voted on, and this will be the office of the President/Station Manager. This is done in the spirit of the idea that the
station manager needs to be able to lead with the support and good favor of his/her staff. A very high degree of trust
is put in the station manager, and with this power comes great responsibility.
All BTV Leadership has the right to appoint assistant and form special teams as he/she deems necessary.
a. PRESIDENT/STATION MANAGER
The President/Station Manager will be democratically elected so as to ensure that during his/her term
as president, he/she is given the right by the members to lead as he/she sees most appropriate. The
president, as Chief Executive Officer of BTV, will play a very large and direct role in defining the
character of BTV for his/her term. Because BTV has no stable board of directors to find and elect a
president, there will be an election with BTV active members as the voters. One month before
elections, candidates must submit a letter of intent. The election will take place at the beginning of
reading period. Candidates will give a speech before BTV membership and members of the Executive
Board will give their endorsements, if they wish. A vote will take place.
b. REMAINING EXECUTIVE OFFICES
i. All other members of the Executive Board will apply for their positions to the President of
BTV. The applications will be reviewed and voted on by the existing executive board and
the new station manager. A secretary will be appointed by the Station Manager and will
need to be approved by a majority vote of the executive board.
ii. The Secretary position, a non-voting office of the Executive Board, will be appointed by
the President/Station Manager. No vote needs to take place.
All BTV leadership must sign a Leadership Agreement in order to officially be sworn into office.
c. GENERAL LEADERSHIP APPLICATIONS
General leadership consists of offices in BTV not considered executive board positions, such as
historian, series production manager, news director, and chief control room operator. These
offices play a more direct and influential role within their division than within greater BTV. In the
case of the Production and Programming divisions, those interested in general leadership roles
apply to the President of their division. In the case of the Station division, applicants apply directly
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3. to their departmental leader. For every division, the division leader must confirm their
appointments with the Executive Board.
d. IMPEACHMENT AND TERMINATION OF EXECUTIVE STATUS
Any member of leadership, including the President, can be brought forth immediately for impeachment
on the following grounds: morally distasteful acts in the parameters of his/her work with BTV, stealing from
BTV, illegal, irresponsible, or intentionally detrimental use of BTV facilities, resources, or information, or
perjury in the context of BTV work.
The penal code is a three strike policy, and is based according to compliance with the Leadership
Agreement. For Executive Board members, a warning before the first strike may be necessary. Strikes must be
given formally and clearly in some evidencable form (email, note, etc.), and can only be administered by the
President of BTV. If an executive board member does not keep in contact with the executive board, is not
fulfilling his/her duties or delegating his/her responsibilities so that that those duties are fulfilled, is not driving
his/her department/division forward, or has misused his/her official authority, all of these are grounds for
administering a strike. There must be at least seven days between the administering of each strike, and after the
third strike, the BTV official will be formally asked to resign. If they do not after one week, impeachment
proceedings should ensue and their BTV authority shall be suspended until the proceedings are completed.
In order to terminate the executive status an executive board member, four of the six available votes on
the e-board must vote for the termination of an individual’s executive status. An individual cannot vote on
his/her own termination.
The President undergoes different terms for impeachment. The President is not subject to a three
strikes rule, but is subject to impeachment at any time, if the Executive Board can evidence a continued abuse of
power, perjury, abuse of BTV resources, facilities, and information, theft or laundering from BTV, etc.
Impeachment is also an option if the President is not fulfilling his/her duties for a consistent period of time. The
Executive Board can meet at any time and bring forth and impeachment proposal of the President. It is
recommended they discuss this with him/her beforehand. Two weeks will be given before the impeachment trial
to correct any wrongs. Five of the six available votes are needed to terminate the Presidential and Executive
status of the President. The Vice Chair of the Eboard will assume Presidential status while the election for the
new President/Station Manager is being conducted.
A President or Executive Board member may appeal the impeachment by bringing it before the BTV
Active Membership for a full staff vote. A 2/3 vote of the entire staff will be required. The termination of
executive status binds an individual to the terms of an active membership, unless otherwise decided by the
Executive Board.
V. Staff Membership (Active Membership)
There are two kind of membership: BTV membership and BTV Active Membership. Active membership
entails being a part of the BTV Staff. From here on out, equate “Active membership” with “Staff
Membership.”
General BTV Membership is given to any individual that is involved in a BTV production or on a BTV
listserv at a given time. Privileges entail all the privileges that come with using BTV equipment,
resources, and information.
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4. a. Applying
i. All potential members of BTV must fill out an application form to join BTV.
ii. Due to University rules, no one may be denied membership to BTV upon review of their
application.
iii. The Executive Board reserves the right to delay the evaluation of an application if they
believe that they do not have the resources to facilitate those members.
iv. The Executive Board may not delay evaluation of an application based on sex, gender,
race, ethnicity, culture, nationality, or geographical background
b. Becoming an Active Member and Maintaining Active Status
i. All members are entitled to BTV, divisional, and departmental orientation and training,
which will be led by their division/department leader.
ii. When first joining BTV, an individual must attend at least two consecutive meetings
before becoming an active member.
iii. BTV Active Members are expected to attend every departmental/divisional meeting.
Thinktank attendance is optional unless a member of the Eboard summons a department.
iv. Active members must notify their department/divisional leader if they are not able to
make a meeting, and send an update of their progress in place of their absence.
v. Active members must show progress on their projects on a weekly basis. If they do not
c. Privileges of an active member
i. Only an active member can be granted access to the BTV Studio.
ii. Active members can work in any as many departments/divisions as they would like.
iii. Active members can request funds and expenditures.
iv. Active members have a vote in departmental and divisional affairs; a voice in BTV affairs.
v. Active members have priority in equipment rental for competitions.
vi. Active members receive priority attention in the BTV application process.
vii. Active Members are the first to know about BTV hosted events and paid opportunities.
They can also help host these and get behind-the-scenes access.
viii. Active members are invited to staff social functions and receive priority seating at BTV
hosted events.
ix. Active members can get free entry to some campus events with a press pass.
x. Active members may sit in on Executive Board meetings
d. Termination of Membership
i. These termination policies apply to Active Members. For impeachment procedures for
BTV leaders, see section IV.D. of this constitution.
ii. Membership to BTV may be lost immediately, and for an indefinite amount of time, under
any of the following conditions: equipment is stolen, illegal or indecent use of BTV
equipment, facilities, or resources, physical abuse of another individual in a BTV context,
sexual abuse of another individual in a BTV context, or any offense within reason that
applies within the context of BTV.
iii. In additional reference to immediate termination, only a divisional leader may terminate
the membership of a BTV member, and only within his/her division. The President of
BTV can terminate the membership of any active member in any division with reasonable
cause.
iv. Non-immediate termination operates under a three strikes policy. A warning may be
issued by a department head or divisional leader as a formal warning. A second warning
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5. follows, given formally in tandem with the President of BTV. A third strike results in a
termination of membership by the division leader. The President of BTV must be notified
of this.
v. The termination may be appealed by any member of BTV in an allotted time of the
Executive Board meeting. A termination can be repealed by a majority vote.
vi. Termination can result in indefinite suspension from activity with BTV, depending on the
decision of the division leader and President of BTV who authorized the termination.
e. Honorary Membership
i. The President/Station Manager may grant honorary membership to an individual and
notify the Executive Board of this. This does not require an Eboard vote.
VI. Finance
a. Funding Sources and spirit:
i. At the time of writing this, BTV’s funds are held by the Student Activities Office. Our
primary source of funding is the Undergraduate Finance Board. BTV will strive to become
financially independent of the University, and seek funding from university departments,
alumnae, and through its videography, ad production, and advertising services, among
other fundraising initiatives.
b. Management
i. Funds will be monitored and managed by the Vice President of Business Development. It
is the responsibility of the Vice President of Business Development to ensure all of the
below procedures are carried out correctly, and to refine them as times and needs change.
ii. At the beginning of each semester, the Executive Board will meet to discuss UFB budgeted
funds, and re-evaluate the allotment. They will vote on the budget. Divisional leaders are
ultimately responsible for their division’s expenditures, and are the primary advocates for
the expansion of their divisions budget to the Eboard.
iii. The budget may be revised on a weekly basis if agreed upon by the majority of the Eboard.
c. Approval of Purchases
i. All purchases must be approved by the Vice President of Business Development, the
President of BTV, and the division leader of the division to which the funds are going. It
must also have the signature of the individual proposing the budget supplement or
expenditure.
ii. Any active member can request a purchase at any time for anything. The Vice President of
Business Development is to provide the staff with a publicly accessible form for this. The
active member proposes the expenditure to the divisional leader, and if the divisional
leader believes it should be considered, takes it to the President of BTV and the Vice
President of Business Development for evaluation. If all parties agree on the expenditure,
and it is within the budget determined by the Executive Board at the beginning of the
year, then the expenditure can be made immediately.
d. Supplemental Funding
i. Any active member can request funding at any time for anything. The active member
proposes the funding request to the divisional leader, and if the divisional leader believes it
should be considered, takes it to the executive board for evaluation. The Eboard discusses
the funding request and denies it or approves it. It is approved to do one of four things:
voted for immediate purchase with a revision to the budget, voted for supplemental
funding request, voted to be put on the Spring Budget proposal, or voted to have a
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6. fundraising campaign directed toward it. The active member who proposes the
expenditure will also be the primary representative of BTV in any supplemental budget
request proceedings, and take the lead on any initiatives related to the funding request.
VII. Meetings
BTV is required to have three general body meetings within the semester for organizational updates and
socializing. These meetings will be funded with baseline funding. At the end of each semester there
should be a staff party, either in a booked university building or at a non-Brown venue. Each division is
required to meet weekly and work within its departments.
Divisional/departmental meetings should be held weekly. Thinktank meetings are also held every week
before Executive Board meetings. Part of the BTV mission is to provide a forum to address campus issues
in tv and film production. The Thinktank meeting will have an agenda and an allotted time for new
business, where anyone, even non-BTV members, can present an issue to the BTV general body.
Executive Board attendance to the Thinktank meeting is mandatory, as it creates a unity between the
Eboard and the larger staff by having the Eboard hear staff concerns and opinions on issues that will be
voted on in the Eboard meetings.
The executive board must meet once a week, without exception, and is encouraged to find a midweek
time to meet so that any necessary votes may be conducted.
General body: 3x a semester
Divisional/Departmental: weekly
Executive Board: at least weekly
Thinktank: usually non-mandatory, weekly
VIII. Amendments
In order to make amendments to this constitution, a Thinktank meeting must be announced that
explicitly states that amendments to the constitution are being proposed. At least one week’s notice
must be given about this meeting. All active members present at this Thinktank meeting will vote on
the proposed amendments. If the vote is in majority favor of the proposed amendments, this vote must
then be approved by the E-board by a 2/3 vote.
IX. Adviser
BTV is an entirely student-run organization, with no advising board.
X. Ratification
The ratification of this constitution may be conducted by the current leaders of BTV, as decided among
them. A 2/3 vote of all members at this convention will be needed in order to ratify this constitution.
This ratification of this constitution terminates all previous constitutions to it.
XI. Affiliations
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7. a. Partnerships: Brown University Student Television (BTV) will make every effort to build
partnerships in the Brown, Providence, Ivy League, collegiate, and national community to enhance
its products and services.
b. The president of Brown University Student Television (BTV) sits on the Student Union board.
c. Brown University Student Television has a seat on the Brown University Multimedia Consortium,
which at the time of this writing consists of Brown Student Radio, BTV, and the College Hill
Independent.
d. Brown University Student Television (BTV), the Brown Film Society, and the Ivy Film Festival
maintain a firm friendship and share common goals.
e. Some organizations that BTV has worked with in the past: CIS, RISD, SAO, IFF
XII. Credits
This constitution was written by Roman Gonzalez ’11, President of BTV/Station Manager. Revised by
BTV staff 2008-2010, with note to Joseph Bendana, ’11, Calvin Main, ’12, Mariya Perelyubskaya ’10,
Nicole Carty ’10, David Notis ’10, William Vinci ’10, Benjamin Howard ’10, Samuel Eilertsen ’12.
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