[LUGSB] LUGSB constitution.

[Ilya Sukhanov (dotCOMmie)]

Hello all.

Please read this email and make any valuable comments you feel are appropriate. 
This is a time sensitive issue, so don't wait to make your voice heard.

The USG government has deemed Article II (quoted below) of our constitution[1] 
as too technical. Our treasurer, Young, describes his interaction with a 
representative of the Special Services Council:
	The person I talked to (from the SSC office) noted that Article II -
	Purpose was too vague, and we should add more details, and explicitly
	explain terms hard to understand by non-technical people, such as
	"Open Source" and "Free Software."

First of all I'd like to make it know that I think the fact the grievance made 
against our constitution is made at a particularly suspect timing. Just one week 
away from finalization of the USG budget, and thus the final approval date of 
our budget. Our constitution has been filed with USG for over a year and a half 
so they have had plenty of opportunities to voice any objections as to wording, 
purpose, or goal of our constitution.

I disagree with the point of the hard to understand terminology. We are a 
special interests club, and as such, for the sake of brevity we do have to refer 
to the concepts which we embrace by their common names (within the field). The 
vast majority of our members come from computer backgrounds where the terms 
"Open Source" and "Free software" are well known and understood. Having to 
explain these terms in our constitution would make it unnecessarily verbose and 
cumbersome.

As for the point of a vague purpose, I think that is something that should be 
addressed. Perhaps add something about what we do to promote Linux, Open Source 
and Free Software.

Current Article II:
The primary purpose of LUGSB is to promote the use of Linux, Open Source, and 
Free (as in freedom) Software among the members of the Stony Brook community. A 
second purpose is to provide an environment open to all who wish to learn how to 
use, and understand free software.

Proposed Article II:
The primary purpose of LUGSB is to raise awareness of the Linux operating 
system, Open Source technologies, and Free (as in Freedom) Software by 
conducting regular colloquia to members of the Stony Brook community. A second 
purpose is to provide an open and supportive environment to all who wish to 
understand, and learn how to use Free Software.

I'm not sure if this is enough to make SSC/USG happy. Again, please send your 
comments.

[1] http://www.lugsb.cs.sunysb.edu/constitution.html