Due to the need to facilitate the dialogue among Asian and Asian American student leaders throughout the East Coast and to address all pertinent issues affecting Asians and Asian Americans, it is deemed necessary to establish a network to support and to encourage community building, networking, and education among Asian and Asian American students and their surrounding communities along the East Coast. The East Coast Asian Student Union is hereby established by this constitution.

Article I: Name

A. The name of this network shall be the East Coast Asian Student Union

Article II: Mission

A. Mission Statement

1. Build and strengthen Asian and Asian American student organizations to serve the social, political and educational needs of Asian and Asian American students.
2. Promote the unity of Asians, greater understanding of Asian experiences in America.
3. Pursue social, cultural, economic Asian Americans, and multi-racial Asians from different nationalities and backgrounds through, educational, and political equality of Asians and Asian Americans as an under-represented group in the United States.
4. Strengthen relations and build coalitions between Asians, Asian Americans, and all peoples of color.

Article III: Structure

A. Institutional/University Representatives

1. Each institution shall select one representative who embodies the vision, goals, and philosophies of the institution in relation to ECASU.

2. This representative shall have the responsibility of acting as a liaison between the Asian and Asian American organizations of his or her respective institutions and other Institutional Representatives region-wide.

3. The Institutional Representative shall have the power to form committees and appoint committee members as deemed necessary in accordance with achieving the goals of ECASU.

4. Selection of their representatives shall be left up to the individual institutions.

5. The selection of the university representative should occur with the most representative body of the Asian and Asian American community within the institution.

6. Institutional representatives shall be delegates during the annual ECASU conference and shall cast the vote for their respective institutions for the regional representative.

7. Institutional Representatives must participate in bi-monthly (once every two months) regional meetings of official business at a common, physical location.

8. Each Institutional Representative within a region must provide the Regional Representative with a minimum of one monthly report on the current status of his or her institution.

B. Regional Representative

1. Regional representatives shall represent the following regions:

a. Upper New England – Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire

b. Lower New England – Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut

c. New York

d. Upper Atlantic – Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware

e. Mid-Atlantic – Washington, D.C., Virginias, and Maryland

f. Carolinas – North Carolina, South Carolina

g. South East – Georgia, Florida, Alabama

2. Regional Representatives shall be elected by their Institutional Representatives during the annual ECASU conference and shall serve a term of a full calendar year.

3. Regional Representatives must hold bi-monthly (once every two months) regional meetings of official business at a common, physical location.

4. Each Regional Representative must provide the National at a minimum of one monthly report on the current status of his or her region.

5. Each Regional Representative should also embody and work to achieve the vision, goals, and philosophies of their state in relation to ECASU.

6. Each region shall have the responsibility of acting as a liaison between the institution of his or her region and ECASU among other regional representatives.

7. The Regional Representative shall have the power to appoint committee chairs to facilitate in the development of communities within his or her region.

8. The Regional Representative shall work proactively to increase participation within ECASU.

9. If a particular region does not have representatives, the region shall be left open until the next ECASU conference.

10. In the event of dire circumstances, a Regional Representative may select a fellow Institutional Representative to serve as an acting, interim Regional Representative with all powers and responsibilities of said position. The acting Regional Representative, however, shall not have the privilege of appointing another interim Regional Representative.

C. Executive Board

1. The Executive Board shall be elected from and by the Regional Representatives.

2. Two Regional Representatives from the same region are not allowed to hold two Executive Board positions

3. The Executive Board shall consists of: Chair, Internal Chair, Finance Chair, External Chair, Secretary, Conference Liaison:

a. Chair:

i. sets direction of group

ii. oversees board

iii. non-voting

iv. keeps contacts with advisory board

v. keeps contacts with alumni

b. Internal Chair:

i. oversees responsibilities of Regional Representatives

ii. communications within board

iii. takes duty of chair when he or she is not able to fulfill duties

iv. receives reports from Regional Representatives

v. compiles regional reports and brings them to each exec meeting

c. Finance Chair:

i. keeps records of National Board finances

ii. responsible for giving reports of finances at every Executive and National Board meeting

iii. responsible for proposals of funds and grants writing

iv. responsible for maintaining relations with Corporate Sponsors

v. should work with conference committee about funds

d. External Chair:

i. maintains public relations with the ECASU general body

ii. responsible for annual ECASU directory

iii. maintain any ECASU listserv

e. Secretary/Historian:

i. takes detailed minutes of board meetings

ii. maintains records of board meetings for archives

iii. distributes minutes to the National Board once approved by the acting Chair

iv. keeps archives as a physical copy, by disk, and on the webpage

f. Conference Liaison:

i. must be selected by the Conference committee

D. National Board

1. The National Board shall be comprised of the Regional Representatives and Executive Board officers.

2. Technology/Webmaster: in charge of putting information on website and maintaining any technological aspect of ECASU

E. Conference Committee

1. The Conference Committee shall be established by the group that wins the bid during the annual ECASU Conference.

Article IV: Voting Procedures

A. Conference Bid Process

1. Eligibility

a. Any Asian Pacific American student organization at a college or university in an ECASU region may enter a bid for the ECASU Spring Conference. States in the ECASU region are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, District of Columbia, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

b. The present hosting organization is ineligible for a bid for the ECASU Spring Conference.

2. Procedure to Bid

a. In order to become the institution to host the next annual ECASU Conference, the institution must declare its intention to bid at least three weeks prior to the immediate ECASU Conference to the immediate ECASU Conference Committee and to the Executive Board.

b. In order to further their eligibility, the institution must send in the following profile one week before the conference to the ECASU chair or the ECASU conference chair. A declaration of contention to be the next annual ECASU Conference must include the following:

i. College/University Profile: college/university location, student body size and make-up, general attributes

ii. Organization Profile: name of sponsoring organization, mailing address, link to website, brief history, past programs

iii. Possible dates for ECASU (generally in late February)

iv. Essay of 500 words about why the next conference should be hosted by the applying school, a statement of 250 words about their purpose and primary goals, and a statement of 250 words explaining the themes. All word limits are the upper bound.

v. Sample conference program: potential keynote speakers, performers, workshops, and panels

vi. List of potential facilities for ECASU, including capacities

vii. Line-item conference budget, including estimated funding, sources of funding, and registration fee

viii. Contact information for the chair and executive planning committee including phone number, e-mail address, mailing address, etc.

c. Copies of this declaration of contention must be available for review during the immediate ECASU conference in paper and to those attending bid procedures. A two-paragraph summary of the bid is also due to the immediate conference board.

3. Electorate of Conference Host Institution

a. Each ECASU institution in attendance shall have one vote to decide the conference host location.

b. The voting process shall be overseen by one pre-determined members of the ECASU Conference committee and one pre-determined member of the ECASU National Board.

i. These overseers shall not be eligible to vote.

c. In the event of a tie, the current national board shall hold the single tie-breaking vote.

i. Any National Board member attending a bidding university shall be ineligible to vote.

d. The bid institution receiving the most votes shall be the following year’s Conference Host Institution.

4. Responsibilities of Elected Conference Host Institution

a. Select a location to host the ECASU conference.

b. Implement programming pertaining to the visions, goals, and philosophies of the East Coast Asian Student Union

c. Organize a conference with duration of two-day

d. The host institution is solely responsible for all conference financial gains and losses.

B. Voting Privileges of National Board

1. Institutional Representatives shall hold the power to vote upon:

a. The annual conference host site

b. Their respective Regional Representatives

c. Any collective direction, purpose, and/or goal of the member institutions within that region.

2. Regional Representatives shall hold the power to vote upon:

a. Executive officers of the Executive Board

b. Constitutional Revisions

c. Initiatives that maintain or support the goals of ECASU

C. Amendments to the standing rules, by-laws, and Constitution of ECASU

1. Can be suggested by any member of ECASU

2. The National Board shall vote on amendments

3. A three-fourths vote to approve such changes shall be required of that quorum present

a. Quorum must be 50% +1.

D. Impeachment

1. Each Regional Representative of ECASU shall have the power to bring impeachment charges against any other representative of ECASU;

2. At the next meeting of the National Board, the representative in question shall be presented and he or she may defend his or her case;

3. Quorum of the meeting is 50% +1;

4. Impeachment requires a two-thirds vote of the quorum;

5. If the charged representative is impeached, the National Board shall appoint a new individual from that Region within two weeks to be the new Regional Representative.

E. Possibility of Question

1. All those rules in question with procedure can refer to Robert’s Rules of Order.

2. All questions regarding any aspect of the constitution should be addressed to the Executive Board for interpretation.

2. Promote the unity of Asians, Asian Pacific Americans, and Eurasians from different nationalities and backgrounds through greater understanding of the Asian experience in America.

3. Pursue social, cultural, economic, educational, and political equality of Asians as an under-represented group in the United States.

4. Strengthen relations and build coalitions between Asians, Asian Pacific Americans, and all peoples of color.

As ECASU enters the new millenium, we can proudly look back at a decade of organizing for social change. Over the years, we have made many gains, suffered setbacks, but always remained committed to our vision of social justice and equality that has inspired and touched the lives of thousands of Asian American students. We have a wealth of knowledge and experience from which to build and tackle tomorrow's challenges. Together, we will shape our own future and build a more lust and democratic society for all.

Founded in the late 70's in the midst of a conservative backlash ECASU has withstood the test of time with its ups and down's and proven itself to be a viable and effective vehicle for Asian American sudent activism, networking, and empowerment. While ECASU was a product of the 70's, it was the 60's that gave its original spirit and vision.

The 60's was a period of profound social transformation of U.S. society, driven forth by the Civil Rights struggles and the anti-war movement, and fueled by the awakening to the injustice and inequality rooted deep in the contractions of U.S. society. Asian Americans began to critically reexamine our own experiences. Disillusioned and outraged at the U.S. war of aggression in Vietnam, Asian American students were among the first to organize anti-war protests; realizing that we shouldn't be fighting abroad but here at home to better our conditions.

Inspired by the civil rights struggles, Asian American students fought alongside other Third World students at San Francisco State and across the country to demand that the university serve the people and open its doors to students of color. After exhausting all channels of communications, Third World students resorted to rallies, sit-ins, and takeovers that forced the University to open its doors. For the first time in U.S. history, we won the right to a quality education and enter universities and colleges in significant numbers. Ethnic studies and other supportive programs were established to made education relevant to us.

During the early 70's, Asian American organizations were established to deal concretely with the needs and concerns of our people. Asian American student organizations (ASO's) were formed on campuses throughout the East Coast to address the issues of identity and educational rights. Some Asian American students went back "to serve our community" and formed community organizations to address basic issues of housing and health services.

Just when we felt we had made progress, efforts were already underway to turn back the clock to the pre-60's "good old days." In 1977, the Supreme Court upheld Allen Bakke's claim that he had not been admitted to UC Davis medical school due to "reverse discrimination."  This decision symbolized an all-out attack on the gains made in the 60's. It also sparked a huge struggle led by Third World students against this decision. The decision was a statewide challenge that required a new level of organization. Rallying against the Bakke Decision, Asian American students recognized the need for a network capable of providing a broader perspective, mutual support, and the capacity for collective action. This led to the founding of the West Coast Asian Pacific Student Union (APSU), the Midwest Asian Pacific American Student Organization network, and ECASU, with regions in the Mid-Atlantic and New England.

The 80's was a period of conservatism with the Right on the move in attacking not only Affirmative Action, but also questioning: reproductive rights, language rights, freedom of speech, social services, environment, and "back to basics" in education. It was the "me" generation bombarded with "careerism" without any sense of social responsibility. As Asian Americans, we were touted as the "successful" "model minority in Newsweek and Time so that perhaps we would turn our back on our community and other people of color. All this came in the midst of wording economy and declining U.S. influences globally.

This decade has seen a plethora of changes, winding from the sudden surges in Asian American populations in colleges nationwide, to the fevered scapegoating of Asians in the Clinton campaign scandal and the Lawrence Labs debacle. Even more recently, the Wen Ho Lee incident has shown that no Asian-American is safe from racial profiling and stereotyping. In the past eight years, Asian populations in juvenile systems have doubled in parts of the country, and by all accounts the fissure between the haves and the have-nots within our very own community has widened too far. We have also seen a resurgence of Asian American activism, from the gradual strengthening of collegiate groups to the bold organizing of the 80-20 Initiative. With our eyes on these trends, ECASU looks to strengthen the East Coast Asian student community, and to bring us to new heights of awareness, activism, and pride in our people.