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--- house_documents:constitutions:howland [2023/10/29 18:02] – eo_howland
+++ house_documents:constitutions:howland [2024/09/23 17:28] (current) – [Purpose] eo_howland
@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 The house is named for Arthur Howland, a former MSU extension specialist who from 1927–57 played a major role in revitalizing Michigan's farm cooperatives and reorganizing them along more democratic lines.
-Howland House Cooperative was founded in 19XX. As part of its members’ agreement when joining the MSU Student Housing Cooperative, its members shall fulfill the following requirements in perpetuity:
+Howland House Cooperative was founded in 1948. As part of its members’ agreement when joining the MSU Student Housing Cooperative, its members shall fulfill the following requirements in perpetuity:
   * The name shall remain “Howland House Cooperative.”
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 ====Purpose====
-  - **Section I.I:** The primary purpose of this organization is to provide sustainable low cost housing for its members.
+  - **The primary purpose** of this organization is to provide sustainable low cost housing for its members.
-  - **Section I.II:** The Secondary purposes of this organization shall be promoting the social and educational goals of its members.
+  - **The Secondary purpose** of this organization shall be promoting the social and educational goals of its members.
-  - **Section I.II:** The Third purpose of this organization is to be inclusive of the underrepresented and provide security for all that live in Howland Cooperative House.
+  - **The Third purpose** of this organization is to be inclusive of the underrepresented and provide security for all that live in Howland Cooperative House.
 ====Article I: Member Rights====
@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
   - **Section II.I:** Members of Howland House Cooperative shall fulfill the requirements defined by the Spartan Housing Cooperative
-  - **Section II.II:** No person shall be granted membership to Howland House Cooperative without first being approved by the majority of the current members of Howland House
+  - **Section II.II:** No person shall take over a current member spot without going through the membership requirements defined by the MSU Student Housing Cooperative
-  - **Section II.III:** No person shall take over a current member spot without going through the membership requirements defined by the MSU Student Housing Cooperative
+  - **Section II.III:** Friendship Clause: If any prospective member is friends with a current housemate who will be renewing their contract for the same year as the prospective member, the house holds the right to deny this potential member on the basis of the friendship clause. Additionally, if two or more prospective members are friends, the house holds the right to approve membership to the prospective member who contacted the membership officer first, and then deny the other potential members. Friendship is determined by the house and these situations will be voted on a case by case basis. This is to preserve the community style culture cultivated in Howland, and to prevent clicking or “house take-overs”.
 ====Article III: Member Labor Contribution====
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     - **3.**  For members that have not lived in Howland House but have lived in other MSU Spartan Housing Cooperatives, seniority will be determined by how many semesters lived in the other sister cooperatives.
   - **Section V.II:**  If a member obtains a contract release for part of the contract period or after the beginning of the contract period, the room that the member has chosen will stand, and they may offer it to the person who fills the release. The person who fills the release does not keep the former member’s seniority.
-  - **Section V.III:** If a member obtains a contract release for part of the contract period or after the beginning of the contract period, the room that the member has chosen will stand, and they may offer it to the person who fills the release. The person who fills the release does not keep the former member’s seniority.
 ====Article VI: Room Picks====
   - **Section VI.I:** Room Assignments in Howland House will be based on seniority.
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 Howland House has a parking lot of 16 designated spaces. An additional 17th spot is available in the southwest corner that will be kept as an “emergency spot.” This spot will be given out to a member in times when a car is necessary, such as injury or family emergencies. The member who uses this spot shall be made aware that the spot is not recognized by the Police Department and they may be subject to fines. This fine shall be the car owner’s sole responsibility.
-  - **Section VII.I:** At the start of the contract period, parking will be decided for the remainder of the contract period. The members who get cars will be determined by senior, as seniority is defined by ARTICLE V. In order, Members with the highest seniority will claim the spot they wish to have for the contract period until there are no spots remaining.
+  - **Section VII.I:** At the start of the contract period, parking will be decided for the remainder of the contract period. The members who get cars will be determined by seniority, as defined by ARTICLE V. In order, Members with the highest seniority will claim the spot they wish to have for the contract period until there are no spots remaining.
   - **Section VII.II:** A member is responsible for contacting the membership officer if they will yield the rights to their parking spot. Any member who is moving out yields their right to a parking spot when they leave.
   - **Section VII.III:** If a member no longer needs their parking spot, the membership officer will announce the opening of the spot at a meeting. Members wanting to claim this spot must announce their interest at the same meeting. The parking spot will be awarded to the person who has the highest seniority and is interested in claiming the spot.
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   - **Appendix A.III** Smoking cigarettes, parties, guests, pets, member room damages, lofts, and PACE violations are all addressed in the House Operations title.