Intelligent Design and Evolution Awareness (IDEA) Club at UT Dallas

-Constitution-

REVISION 01 – VERSION 01 | 8-16-2004

 

 

Note: All footnotes in Article 2.0 are an elaboration of the IDEA club's statement of purpose.

 

Article 1.     Name

 

1.1.   The name of this organization shall be the Intelligent Design and Evolution Awareness Club, herein referred to as the IDEA club.

 

Article 2.     Statement of Purpose

 

2.1.   Promote, as a scientific theory, the idea that life was designed by an Intelligent Designer(s).1

 

2.2.   Discuss Intelligent Design research.2

 

2.3.   Educate people about scientific problems with purely natural explanations for the origin and evolution of life.3

 

2.4.   Challenge the philosophical assumptions of neo-Darwinism, naturalism, and materialism.4

 

2.5.   Facilitate discussion, debate, and dialogue over these issues, as well as other origins and philosophical topics, in a warm, friendly, and open atmosphere where individuals feel free to speak their personal views.5

 

2.6.   Discuss and exchange ideas with regard to subject matters, such as, metaphysics, morality, religion, spirituality, sociology, theology, the theory of knowledge (epistemology), et cetera, as a means to a multidisciplinary understanding of our biological origins and other life issues.6

 

1.      Intelligent Design (ID) is a potentially powerful theory that may very well be a menace to neo-Darwinism. Arguments for design were once considered metaphysical, superficial, and unempirical. Today, the arguments for design have become increasingly sophisticated. ID theory purports that an intelligent designer(s) was involved in the origin of biologically "information rich" complex structures. In other words, the main conjecture of ID theory is that an intelligent designer(s), not conflated with nature, was involved in the design of biologically "information rich" complex structures.

 

2.      The IDEA club leadership may occasionally discuss Intelligent Design research with IDEA club members.

 

3.      The IDEA club leadership strives to explain the problems of having just a naturalistic and materialistic explanation for the origin and evolution of life. The IDEA club leadership is not out to disprove or shun the theory of Biological Evolution. Moreover, it is not a prime concern of the IDEA club leadership if ID theory isn't viable with the modern day theory of Biological Evolution. The IDEA club leadership understands that naturalism, the scientific methodology of today, doesn't concern itself with proving the existence of inconspicuous Creator(s) or Designer(s). However, considering that naturalism and scientific materialism are not without metaphysical suppositions, it has yet to be determined if ID offers a better explanation for the origin of "information rich" complex systems, as opposed to naturalistic explanations that don't suffice. In other words, stochastic processes and natural selection aren't sufficient to explain the origin of most "information rich" complex biological systems. For your information, the science of ID theory is not about proving the existence of some inconspicuous designer(s), on the contrary, the science of ID theory is about drawing a demarcation line between what constitutes natural and intelligent causes.

 

4.      Neo-Darwinism, naturalism, and materialism are metaphysical and philosophical issues, albeit scientific, and they must be observed with scrutiny, even though academia currently holds such views dogmatically. The IDEA club leadership will examine and discuss the propaganda of neo-Darwinism, naturalism, and materialism; after all, these topics greatly concern the question of our origins and worldview, i.e., belief system, to say the least. Do understand that the IDEA club leadership doesn't believe ID theory is sacrosanct, and therefore, it should be subject to the same scrutiny as well. It is illogical to believe in something, and not expect to receive any objections in return. Although the IDEA club leadership will strive to challenge neo-Darwinism, its objective is not to prove that it must be wrong altogether, as some in the scientific community would have you believe that is what ID theoreticians are trying to do. Also, do understand that ID advocates aren't anti-science, as some would have you believe too. Basically, ID theoreticians are against the iron curtain of materialistic and naturalistic thinking in the scientific community at large. The pressing matter with regards to challenging the metaphysical and philosophical assumptions of neo-Darwinism, naturalism, and materialism is scientific trustworthiness. Please see this PDF document for more information about teaching competing theories against neo-Darwinism, and please see the Frequently Asked Questions web page to learn more about the purpose of the IDEA club at the University of Texas at Dallas.

 

5.      The IDEA club leadership does not engage in propaganda. Most importantly, the club leadership will honestly discuss developments, pertaining to origins science, in the scientific community. We don't impose our beliefs on others, but it is our goal to reason with others and to discuss issues, pertaining to origins, in a non-hostile and open-minded environment. Even though we promote ID, it is in the best of our interest to have an intellectually free environment where constituents of the University can converge and ultimately discuss origins with constructive criticism, instructiveness, and open-mindedness.

 

6.      This is an amendment intended to increase the appeal of the IDEA club, as the IDEA club will frequently discuss various life issues besides origins science. Hopefully, doing this will encourage more non-members to come to IDEA club meetings and events.

 

Article 1.     Statement of Goals

 

1.1.   Fulfill the Statement of Purpose through hosting discussion meetings.

 

1.2.   Fulfill the Statement of Purpose by hosting debates, speakers, and other events as opportunities and resources avail themselves.

 

1.3.   Fulfill the Statement of Purpose through creating a website to post articles of interest, post papers written by club members, notify club membership of meetings and events, and provide general forum reviewing events in the local community and the general scientific community.

 

1.4.   Fulfill the Statement of Purpose by providing literature to students to help them better understand the creation-evolution issue.

 

1.5.   Fulfill the Statement of Purpose by doing whatever is necessary to make any person of any viewpoint, belief, or ethnicity feel welcome at IDEA club activities.

 

Article 2.     Affiliation

 

2.1.   The IDEA club shall be an official chapter of the Intelligent Design and Evolution Awareness Center at San Diego, herein referred to as the IDEA Center.

 

2.2.   Through this affiliation, the IDEA club is entitled to all rights and benefits conferred upon it by the IDEA Center as an official IDEA club chapter of the IDEA Center including:

 

2.2.1.Recognition by the IDEA Center as an officially affiliated IDEA club chapter.

 

2.2.2.Legal rights to use the name "Intelligent Design and Evolution Awareness" and "IDEA".

 

2.2.3.Permission to use materials copyrighted by the IDEA Center and/or provided by the IDEA Center at IDEA club functions.

 

2.2.4.The right to promote the IDEA Center and other IDEA club chapters at their functions.

 

2.2.5.Entitlement to funding from the IDEA Center as proper need and resources avail.

 

2.2.6.Advice and help in running the IDEA club.

 

2.3.   As long as the IDEA club is affiliated with the IDEA Center, all materials provided to the IDEA club by the IDEA Center shall become property of the IDEA club, and shall remain in the possession of current members of the leadership of the IDEA club.

 

2.4.   The IDEA club shall undergo an annual evaluation at the end of each academic year at the University of Texas at Dallas to determine the extent to which the activities of the IDEA club, during the past academic year, have or have not upheld the Mission Statement of the IDEA Center and the Statement of Purpose of the IDEA club.

 

2.5.   The acting president of the IDEA club shall present the IDEA Center with a report at the end of each academic year at the University of Texas at Dallas.

 

2.5.1.The report shall detail the activities of the IDEA club during that academic year, and explain how those activities do or do not uphold the Mission Statement of the IDEA Center and the Statement of Purpose and Statement of Goals of the IDEA club.

 

2.5.2.The report must be either electronically mailed or mailed via the postal service within one month of the end of the academic year. Electronically mailed reports should be sent to info@ideacenter.org. Reports mailed via the postal service should be sent to:

 

·         IDEA Center

·         P.O. Box 17424

·         San Diego, California 92177

 

2.6.   The IDEA Center Board of Directors shall have the authority to revoke affiliation with the IDEA club, at their discretion, should:

 

2.6.1.The activities of the IDEA club leadership at any time violate the Mission Statement of the IDEA Center or the Statement of Purpose of the IDEA club.

 

2.6.2.The president of the IDEA club fails to submit a report within one month of the end of each academic year at University of Texas at Dallas as outlined in Article 4.0, Section 4.4 of this constitution.

 

2.6.3.The annual review of the IDEA club concludes that the leadership of the IDEA club is not upholding or is not prepared to uphold the Mission Statement of the IDEA Center or the Statement of Purpose of the IDEA club.

 

2.6.4.New leadership take over the IDEA club and previous leadership fail to notify the IDEA Center of this change within three months of the change in leadership.

 

2.7.   Should affiliation with the IDEA Center be revoked by either party at any time, the IDEA club shall no longer have any of the rights and benefits conferred upon as an official IDEA club chapter of the IDEA Center including:

 

2.7.1.Recognition by the IDEA Center as an officially affiliated IDEA club chapter.

 

2.7.2.Legal rights to use the name "Intelligent Design and Evolution Awareness" and "IDEA" for their organization.

 

2.7.3.Permission to use materials copyrighted and provided by the IDEA Center at IDEA club functions.

 

2.7.4.The right to promote the IDEA Center and other IDEA club chapters at their functions.

 

2.7.5.Entitlement to any funding from the IDEA Center.

 

2.7.6.Advice and help in running their organization.

 

2.8.   Should the IDEA club ever cease to exist for any reasons other than revocation of affiliation <see Article IX> on the part of the IDEA Center, such as a sudden absence of leadership for the IDEA club, then, the previous leadership of the IDEA club must contact the IDEA Center in order to discuss terms of the IDEA club's dissolution.

 

Article 3.     Membership

 

3.1.   Membership shall be open to students of The University of Texas at Dallas regardless of sex, race, color, religion, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Anyone, including registered UTD students, faculty members, or staff members may attend meetings and events hosted by this organization.

 

3.2.   Only official student members may vote in club elections and hold office.

 

Article 4.     Events, Meetings, and Promotion of Views

 

4.1.   The IDEA club shall meet no less than once per month during the academic year.

 

4.2.   Meetings will be of an informal nature, and will consist primarily of discussions of various topics.

 

4.3.   Meetings will be a friendly and respectful environment, and order shall be maintained by the IDEA club leadership.

 

4.4.   Topics discussed at meetings, events, and on the website shall include, but not limited to: intelligent design theory (both biological and cosmic design), evolutionary theory, the origins of life, philosophy of science, philosophical implications (especially of evolution, intelligent design, naturalism, materialism, scientism, theism, and atheism), and the teaching of origins science.

 

4.5.   When the IDEA club promotes its views to the campus or has any activities on campus, it shall do so in a respectful manner and abide by all campus policies at University of Texas at Dallas.

 

4.6.   Further details about events, meetings, and promotions of views shall be delineated as necessary in the IDEA club constitution or IDEA club bylaws, to be created by IDEA club leadership.

 

Article 5.     Officers & Administration

 

5.1.   The IDEA club shall have at least two officers, one of which must have the title of President.

 

5.2.   All IDEA club officers shall:

 

5.2.1.Publicly adhere to and abide by the Statement of Purpose of the IDEA club.

 

5.2.2.Be committed to a fair and respectful presentation of origins science.

 

5.2.3.Be willing to donate time to the IDEA club in order to facilitate IDEA club activities.

 

5.3.   Election guidelines, delineated as necessary in the IDEA club constitution or IDEA club bylaws (to be created by IDEA club leadership), shall determine how IDEA club officers are chosen.

 

5.4.   This organization shall have three Executive (Major) Club Officers:

 

5.4.1.The President – Shall also be known as First Officer and Director of Scientific Affairs.

 

5.4.1.1.    Shall publicly adhere to and abide by the statement of purpose of this organization.

 

5.4.1.2.    Shall have a good understanding of scientific inquiry and how it operates.

 

5.4.1.3.    Shall use and convey this knowledge whenever necessary at events, meetings, and promotions of this organization.

 

5.4.1.4.    Shall be the official spokesperson for this organization on issues related to origins science.

 

5.4.1.5.    Shall from time to time make appointments, and delegate tasks to the other club officers.

 

5.4.1.6.    Shall present to IDEA Center a report within one month of the end of each academic year at University of Texas at Dallas as described in Article IV, Section 4.4 of this constitution.

 

5.4.2.The Vice President – Shall also be known as Second Officer and Director of Philosophical Issues.

 

5.4.2.1.    Shall publicly adhere to and abide by the statement of purpose of this organization.

 

5.4.2.2.    Shall have a good understanding of the current philosophical state of science and a good knowledge of the history of science.

 

5.4.2.3.    Shall use and convey this knowledge whenever necessary at events, meetings, and promotions of this organization.

 

5.4.2.4.    Shall be the official spokesperson for this organization on issues related to philosophy.

 

5.4.3.The Secretary – Shall also be known as Third Officer and Director of Public Relations.

 

5.4.3.1.    Shall publicly adhere to and abide by the statement of purpose of this organization.

 

5.4.3.2.    Shall coordinate and facilitate the publicity of all events and meetings of this organization.

 

5.4.3.3.    Shall abide by all UTD campus policies when promoting this organization or its views.

 

5.4.3.4.    Shall report to the President on issues related to club progress and activities.

 

5.4.4.Club Administrative Assistants.

 

5.4.4.1.    Shall be limited to 3 persons.

 

5.4.4.2.    One of each shall help the President, Vice President, and Secretary with regards to their respective tasks.

 

5.4.5.Club Adviser(s).

 

5.4.5.1.    Shall be limited to 3 persons.

 

5.4.5.2.    Shall advise club officers [President, Vice President, and Secretary] on administrative duties, make recommendations for club improvement, be accessible for signature on official University forms, and be willing to attend meetings and functions sponsored by this organization. An adviser shall provide continuity and stability while officers and membership is continually changing.

 

5.5.   This organization shall have three Auxiliary (Minor) Club Officers:

 

5.5.1.The Historian - Shall also be known as the Fourth Officer.

 

5.5.1.1.    Shall publicly adhere to and abide by the statement of purpose of this organization.

 

5.5.1.2.    Shall keep a concise history of all club meeting events, administrative assignments, and correspondence done by all the club officers.

 

5.5.1.3.    Shall work with the President in compiling an end-of-year written report to the IDEA Center.

 

5.5.1.4.    Shall, from time to time, report to the executive club officers on the history of all club activities, and give advice for club improvement.

 

5.5.1.5.    Upon cessation of his/her term, he/she must give up all e-mail printouts, notes, and records on file to the new historian.

 

5.5.2.The Treasurer - Shall also be known as the Fifth Officer.

 

5.5.2.1.    Shall publicly adhere to and abide by the statement of purpose of this organization.

 

5.5.2.2.    Shall keep a detailed record of all financial assets.

 

5.5.2.3.    Shall make sure that money from financial assets is delegated solely to activities permitted by the executive club officers.

 

5.5.2.4.    Shall work with the UTD SOF (Student Organization Forum) to get funds.

 

5.5.2.5.    Shall give a detailed report, toward the end of each semester, to the President on all financial transactions.

 

5.5.2.6.    Upon cessation of his/her term, he/she must give up all available financial records to the new treasurer.

 

5.5.3.The Webmaster - Shall also be known as the Sixth Officer.

 

5.5.3.1.    Shall publicly adhere to and abide by the statement of purpose of this organization.

 

5.5.3.2.    Shall be experienced in website creation.

 

5.5.3.3.    Shall be the official web designer for this organization’s website.

 

5.5.3.4.    Shall cooperate with the executive club officers in developing the website.

 

5.5.3.5.    Upon cessation of his/her term, he/she must give up control and ownership of the website to the new webmaster.

 

5.5.4.Any changes in officers or leadership of the IDEA club must be reported to the IDEA Center.

 

5.5.5.Further details about the titles, positions, and specific duties of all IDEA club officers shall be described as necessary in the IDEA club bylaws.

 

5.5.6.Failure of any executive club officer or auxiliary club officer to faithfully uphold the duties of his/her office are grounds for removal. See bylaws for information on removal process, if available.

 

Article 6.     Criteria For Holding Office

 

6.1.   All individuals holding office must be registered UTD students and official members of the IDEA club, and they must be elected by a majority vote of the official student members of this organization, or the executive club officers can appoint new officers—major and minor—without membership approval. Appointees must support the statement of purpose. See bylaws for information on appointment procedure, if available.

 

6.2.   The election meeting shall occur during the first week of April.

 

6.3.   In the case that a club officer resigns from office, a special election meeting may be held (to be called by the President), or a new officer may be appointed by the President to fill the office until the election meeting in April.

 

6.4.   All club officers shall hold their position until the beginning of the next school year.

 

6.5.   No club officer may hold an office for more than four school years.

 

6.6.   No individual may hold more than one office at any given time.

 

Article 7.     Dissolution Clause

 

7.1.   Should the executive club officers be unable to perform their duties, should the appointment of new executive club officers not be possible, should all constituents of the club leadership (the titles of the leadership positions are listed in the bylaws; the club officers shall be the IDEA club's “core group” of members) refuse to willingly abide by the club's statement of purpose or follow through with their duties, or should the activities of this club go astray from the statement of purpose, then, this club shall cease to exist. A notification should be sent to the IDEA Center in San Diego. See bylaws for other information on club dissolution.