MEE-OW IMPROV AND SKETCH COMEDY CONSTITUTION

Founded at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in 1974 by producers Paul Warshauer ('76) and Josh Lazar ('75). The original Mee-Ow Show was the first performance in the newly constructed McCormick Auditorium in Norris University Center. After extensive creative meetings in the fall of 1973 and winter of 1974, the producers decided to open the creative process to all students. The show was scripted, contained traditional musical and dance numbers, poetry, sketch comedy and was created in reaction to the "closed door policies" of the venerable Waa-Mu, NU's long running annual musical revue. The new open door policy, based on the philosophy of Henry Miller that "Everyman is an Artist," made for a cumbersome and long first production. With a large cast and orchestra, it made for a less than spectacular show but set the stage for what would become one of the longest running student created improvisational shows in history.

In 1976 because of a financial scandal and poor reviews, Mee-Ow was re-conceived by two of its cast members, Bill Nuss ('76) and Eugene "Dusty" Kay ('76), as an improv comedy show with a smaller cast, taking its inspiration from Chicago's The Second City and Kentucky Fried Theatre, which Nuss and Kay had seen perform live while visiting Los Angeles. The name was almost changed to Improv '75, but instead the name and cat logo for Mee-Ow was maintained. Kay and Nuss co-directed the '75 and '76 versions, which put the show back on the campus map.

The show has been a staple of the Northwestern theatre and comedy scene ever since, still using some form of the cat as a logo. Northwestern's mascot is a Wildcat so the logo was a tribute to the school's feline roots.

A great number of Mee-Ow alumni have gone on to perform and teach improv at many of the country's top improv venues, such as Chicago's The Second City, Improv Olympic and the Annoyance Theater, New York's Magnet Theater, The P.I.T. and The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and LA's Groundlings, iO WEST, and UCB West.

ARTICLE I: INTRODUCTION Section I - Name The name of this organization is Mee-Ow Comedy Troupe. This organization will use the name Mee-Ow in all publicity materials and correspondence. Section II - Purpose Mee-Ow is established for the purpose of bringing together talented comedians and musicians and developing their skills for entertainment purposes Section III - Objectives To bring short-form improv, sketch comedy, and live music to Northwestern students.

ARTICLE II: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Section I – Executive Board

The executive board shall consist of three members: a Producer and two directors, all holding their positions for the entire academic year. At the end of the year, a new executive board will be selected. Directors will be decided internally among current members of the group. Then, Arts Alliance and Mee-Ow directors will hold petitions for a new external producer. Each executive board position shall have the following delineated responsibilities and duties.

Producer: The producer will act as both the producer of all Mee-Ow season shows and manage the group throughout the year. The Producer will be in charge of the following:

•! Helping to schedule auditions and recruitment event, booking spaces for these events, and communicating with members about the logistics of these events. •! Organizing gigs for the group and communicating with members about the logistics of these gigs. •! Scheduling regular meetings with the directors to check-in. •! Creating a business and design team for the season shows, and managing these teams to execute a seamless tech week. •! Communicate with Arts Alliance regarding the needs of the group, finances and the status of the season shows. (especially keeping in close communication with the satellite producer of Arts Alliance.) •! Organizing publicity and social media. •! Maintaining a calendar of events.

Directors: The directors will oversee the artistic direction of the group. The Directors will be in charge of the following:

•! Leading the new member selection process with input from the other members of the group. •! Running group rehearsals throughout the year. •! Creating show themes and selecting sketches for the final performances. •! Commutating rehearsal and design needs to the producer. •! Creating and executing artistic goals for the group.

Section II – Advisor The advisor shall serve as a resource person and provide advisory support for the officers and members of the organization. The advisor should attend executive and general meetings; The advisor shall be nominated by the officers and confirmed by a majority vote of the members. The advisor will serve a term of one (1) academic year. In the event that the advisor is unable to continue in their position, officers may nominate a replacement at any time, to be confirmed by a majority vote of the members.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP Section I – Membership Eligibility Membership in this organization is open to all Northwestern University students in Good Academic Standing who have paid their Student Activity Fee. Non-voting membership maybe extended to interested faculty, administrators, staff members, and alumni of the University.

All member of Mee-Ow are selected through an audition process, and will remain members until graduation from Northwestern University. All group members are expected to: •! Be present and on time for rehearsals, unless you have already cleared a conflict with the directors. •! Be present and on time for gigs and tech rehearsals, unless you have already cleared a conflict with the producer. •! Attend auditions, welcome week events, and assist with flyering and publicity during New Student Week, in order to promote the group and attract new members. •! Attend show builds and strike. Section II – Executive Board Eligibility and Qualifications All candidates for the Director position must have maintained active membership for one full year before consideration. Candidates for the Producer position must be full-time Northwestern students. Section III – Executive Board Resignation Under exceptional circumstances, an officer may resign. Two weeks before his or her resignation, the resigning officer must submit in written reasonable reason for resigning to the Executive Board. Resignation only becomes effective after the Executive Board and Srta Alliance approves and a general discussion at the general meeting had taken place.

ARTICLE IV: EXECUTIVE BOARD ELECTIONS/ ELECTION PROCESS Section I – Director Selection The two directors will be selected from within the members of the group by the directors from the season preceding them. A director who is not graduating may choose to remain in the director position and forgo choosing a new director to fill their spot. Section II – Producer Selection The producer for the upcoming season will be chosen at the beginning of the preceding Spring at petitions held by Arts Alliance for the complete Stuco season.

ARTICLE V: MEETINGS Rehearsals will be scheduled by the directors and the stage manager, who will be chosen by the producer. Rehearsals will be mandatory for all members of the group.

ARTICLE VI: HANDLING OF FUNDS Section I—Student Organization Finance Office All funds collected will be deposited in our student organization’s Student Organization Finance Office (SOFO) account. Section II—Treasurer The treasurer shall be the primary officer designated to handle organization finances Section III—Dissolution of organization In the event that the organization is dissolves, all monies left in the treasury, after outstanding debts and claims have been paid, will be left to Arts Alliance.

ARTICLE VII: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS Section I - Amendment Amendments to this constitution may be made at any general meeting provided notice of the proposed amendment was given one week prior to a vote. Amendments require a unanimous vote of the voting members in attendance at the meeting, and are subject to final approval by the Center of Student Involvement. Section II - Ratification This Constitution shall become effective upon its ratification by a unanimous vote of the ballots cast in a general election. Upon ratification of this Constitution, all prior constitutions shall be null and void.

ARTICLE VIII - CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW As a recognized student organization, we will participate in a constitutional review process every three (3) years. It will be updated according to the new sample constitution (if necessary) and will meet with the Center for Student Involvement staff to review it. At the end of the academic year, when the new executive board is selected, official transition meetings must take place between the outgoing and incoming producer and the outgoing and incoming directors. In this meeting, the detailed descriptions of the job requirements will be laid out for the executive board. Following the transitional meetings, the incoming executive board will meet to discuss any desired changes to the current constitution of the group. The board may then draft these changes and propose them to the full group. If the entire group unanimously agrees to these changes, they will be made.

ARTICLE IX – NOT-FOR-PROFIT STATEMENT This is not-for-profit organization. Any funds obtained through fundraising or other means must go back to the organization.

ARTICLE X – STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION As a student group seeking affiliation to Northwestern University, we hereby state that this student organization does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, marital status, age, disability, citizenship or veteran status in matters of admissions, employment, housing or services or in the educational programs or activities it operates. Harassment, whether verbal, physical or visual, that is based on any of these characteristics, is a form of discrimination. This includes harassing conduct affecting tangible job benefits, interfering unreasonably with an individual's academic or work performance, or creating what a reasonable person would sense is an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. While Northwestern University is committed to the principles of free inquiry and free expression, discrimination and harassment identified in this policy are neither legally protected expression nor the proper exercise of academic freedom.

ARTICLE XI – STATEMENT OF NON-HAZING This organization will not engage in or permit hazing. The University forbids hazing and all other activities that interfere with the personal liberty of an individual. The University defines hazing as any action taken or situation created, whether on or off University premises and whether presented as optional or required, to produce mental or physical discomfort, servitude, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule for the purpose of initiation into, affiliation with, or admission to, or as a condition for continued membership in, a group, team, club, or other organization. Hazing activities may also violate the Illinois Hazing Act 720 ILCS §5/12C-50

ARTICLE XII – STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH CAMPUS REGULATIONS This organization shall comply with all Northwestern University policies and procedures, including but not limited to, those policies set forth in the Northwestern University Student Handbook and The Guide to Student Organizations, as well as local, state, and federal laws.

Last Updated: July 29, 2015 Last Ratified: July 30, 2015