Our Executive Board
Yonah Wasik, 3L
Executive Chair
Yonah is a 3L with a focus on environmental law and sustainable development. He has specific interests in the treatment of waste and international environmental equity. In his free time, Yonah enjoys, cooking, exercising, and enjoying the outdoors.
Matthew (Matt) Bersin, 3L
Vice Chair
Matt is a 3L who focuses on environmental and animal law, with a special emphasis on fisheries management. Outside his studies, Matt enjoys cooking, fishing, and reading.
Mariana Arbor, 3L
Communications Chair
Mariana is a 3L with a focus on environmental law, international law, family law, and their intersection. She has a deep interest in ocean conservation and water rights and is passionate about protecting marine ecosystems. In her free time, she enjoys reading, swimming, and practicing yoga.
William (Billy) Siefert, 3L
Campus Projects Chair
Billy is a 3L who is interested in international environmental law and justice. He also works with high school students coaching them to debate policy issues related to environmental protections. In his free time, Billy enjoys reading and exploring the city!
Kate Collins Palmer, 2L
Finance Chair
Kate is a 2L with a focus in environmental and animal law. She is originally from Rochester, New York and graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in Environmental Biology. Kate spent her summer interning for the Farmed Animal Advocacy Clinic at Vermont Law School where she learned about the many governmental levers that can be used to effectively advocate for farmed animals. In her free time, she volunteers with animal rescue organizations, gardens, and works on her home composting. She has a dog named Coconut who is an excellent napper and study buddy.
Our Constitution
Environmental Law Society
PREAMBLE
The Environmental Law Society is a student organization dedicated to creating an awareness of current environmental matters and the legal issues surrounding them. Our mission is to encourage students and community members to support environmental initiatives. We accomplish this mission by keeping students and the community informed of important issues in environmental law and policy, promoting environmental scholarship, advocating for environmentally sound decision-making, and by providing opportunities to enjoy our natural environment and its irreplaceable creatures.ARTICLE I. NAME
Section 1.
The name of this student organization is the Environmental Law Society (“ELS”).ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
Section 1.
ELS allows students to explore issues related to environmental law and policy. ELS contributes to the law school community by promoting various educational and networking opportunities for students who aspire to enter the field of environmental law.Section 2.
In recognition of the importance of sustainable development practices, ELS members are encouraged to advocate for the WCL community to engage in sustainable practices, inter alia, energy and water conservation, diet, recycling, and for the reduction of consumption.Section 3.
ELS members may pursue any activity that ELS officers deem relevant and beneficial to furthering the goals of ELS, as long as the activity is not prohibited by any policies of American University or the Washington College of Law.ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Eligibility
Any student or faculty member of the Washington College of Law, or any graduate student of American University, is eligible to be a member of ELS.Section 1.1. Requirments of Membership
Persons who attend one or more ELS events or events sponsored by ELS each academic semester are considered members of ELS. Events include, but are not limited to, general body meetings, hikes, workshops, lectures, or other organized gatherings on or off the WCL campus.
Members or persons eligible to be members may register with ELS by e-mailing els@wcl.american.edu or by signing up at any event at which ELS has prepared a sign-up sheet.
Section 1.2. Benefits of Membership
Members may state their participation in ELS on resumes, applications, cover letters, social media, email signatures, or other identification materials. Members may also enjoy and participate in shared events, materials, and any other benefits offered by ELS.
Section 2. Termination of Membership
Membership in ELS is voluntary and a member can terminate membership at any time.Section 3. Non-discrimination
ELS shall not discriminate on the basis of ancestry, color, race, cultural or ethnic background, economic status, ideological, philosophical, or political beliefs or affiliations, marital or parental status, national or regional origin, physical or mental disability, religion, or religious or denominational affiliation, gender or sexual orientation, dietary habits or environmental practices.ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS & MANAGEMENT
Section 1. The Executive Board
All Board Members cooperatively spearhead the coordinate of events and programs.Chair- Preside at all meetings of the Executive Board, Student Advisors, and General Body.
- Determine and formulate agenda items for Board meetings taking into consideration the recommendations of the Executive Board, Student Advisors and General Body.
- Coordinate the presentation of the Board’s public statements representing the position of the Board and issue statements to the press, when appropriate.
- Keep the Board focused on the mission, vision, and goals set forth in the ELS Constitution.
- Delegate assignments and duties to other Board members
- With the assistance of the Treasurer, develop for the Board’s review, a budget for each semester.
- Attend SBA Finance Committee meetings, as needed.
Vice Chair- Assist the President with every day matters.
- Assume the role of President for an event or meeting when the President is unable to attend.
- When the President is unable to carry out his/her duties, the Vice President will assume the duties of the President.
- Maintain the ELS web page.
- Attend SBA Finance Committee meetings, as needed.
Finance Chair- Call and organize at least one meeting per semester to prepare the budget for the following semester. This meeting should be scheduled at least one week prior to the SBA deadline for budget submission.
- Prepare each semesters’ budget.
- Attend SBA Finance Committee meetings, as needed.
- Keep all budget/financial records.
Communications Chair- Maintain adequate communication between the Executive Board, other members of the Society, and the public. This includes but is not limited to: meeting announcements, announcements regarding special events and functions and communications between the school administration and the society.
- Take minutes at executive board meetings.
- Attend SBA Finance Committee meetings, as needed.
- Send email updates
Section 2. Student Advisor(s).
At the discretion of the Executive Board, former Executive Board members, and/or 1Ls, may be retained in an advisory role.Section 3. Faculty Advisor
ELS shall have a Faculty Advisor selected from the Environmental Law faculty at the Washington College of Law.ARTICLE V. ELECTION AND SELECTION PROCESS
Section 1. Candidates
Each candidate for office must submit a statement of interest.Section 2. Voting Procedure
If a vote is necessary, the Executive Board shall determine the appropriate means of voting. Candidates shall be elected by a majority of ELS members.Section 3. Date of Election
Election of the Executive Board shall be no earlier than March 15 and no later than April 15 of each academic year.Section 4. Term of Office
The term of office shall be one academic year or in the case of mid-year replacement, from the time of the replacement until the new officers are elected at the Spring election.Section 5. Impeachment
Impeachment proceedings shall be at the discretion of the Executive Board. A three-fourths vote shall be required to replace an Executive Board member.ARTICLE VI. FINANCES
Section 1.
ELS may solicit funds in any manner consistent with Washington College of Law policies and procedures.Section 2.
The financial management of ELS is the responsibility of the Treasurer.ARTICLE VII. EVENTS
Section 1.
In accordance with our mission to foster awareness of current environmental matters and the legal issues surrounding them—all ELS events must serve food that is environmentally sustainable. Mammals are inefficient convertors; their production is environmentally costly in terms of water used and greenhouse gases [GHG] generated. The production of one pound of beef consumes over 2000 gallon of water, whereas gran production consumes 200 gallons, and vegetables 100 gallons. Cattle contribute about 60 million tons of GHG per year. Therefore, our executive board shall order food that is efficient and unrelated to animal agriculture.ARTICLE VIII. CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
Section 1. Constitution
All proposed amendments to the ELS Constitution shall be made in written or electronic form and submitted to the Executive Board by any member, officer, or advisor of ELS.Section 2. Authority of Elected and Appointed Officers
Elected officers and student advisors have full authority to implement and interpret the mandate of this Constitution. That implementation and interpretation shall be binding to the extent of its constitutionality. However, any questions of the constitutionality of the actions of the elected officers or student advisors shall be settled at a general meeting of the membership with a simple majority vote.Section 3. Bylaws
The operation of ELS shall be in accordance with any bylaws.Section 4. Amendments
Any amendment to the Constitution must be approved by a majority of the Executive Board when all members of the Executive Board are present, in person or by telephonic or other electronic means deemed appropriate by the Board as a whole.ELS E-Board Position Descriptions
Executive Chair
The Executive Chair is responsible for the following:
Serve as ELS’ official faculty/staff liaison.
Preside at all meetings of the Executive Board and General Body meetings.
Determine and formulate agenda items for Board meetings, taking into consideration the recommendations of the Executive Board and General Body.
Coordinate all special events with the appropriate American University and Washington College of Law officials.
Receive and acknowledge communications, petitions, and requests on behalf of the Executive Board.
Coordinate the presentation of the Society’s public statements representing the position of the Society.
Serve as the organizer and facilitator of the ELS election process.
Keep the Executive Board and General Body focused on the mission, vision, and goals set forth in the ELS constitution.
Delegate assignments and duties to other Board members.
Create any ancillary positions as deemed necessary to fulfill the mandate of this constitution.
Perform all other duties as deemed necessary.
Vice Chair
The Vice Chair is responsible for the following:
Assist the Executive Chair with every day matters.
Assist in the coordination of all special events with the appropriate American University and Washington College of Law officials.
Register all social events involving alcohol with the appropriate University officials (i.e. the Dean of the Washington College of Law and the President of American University).
Assume the role of Executive Chair for an event or meeting when the Executive Chair is unable to attend.
When the Executive Chair is unable to carry out his/her duties, the Vice Chair is to assume the duties of the Executive Chair.
Performs all other duties as deemed necessary.
Communications Chair
The Communications Chair is responsible for the following:
Maintain adequate communication between the Executive Board, other members of the ELS, and the public. This includes, but is not limited to: meeting announcements, announcements regarding special events and functions, and communications between the school administration and the society.
Handle all incoming and outgoing email through ELS’ WCL email account while ensuring that the Executive Chair is included in such correspondences.
Take minutes at Executive Board meetings, send to all Board members, and/or post the minutes on a centralized forum to which all Board members have access.
Maintain ELS’ external webpage and social media accounts with upcoming events and relevant news.
Compile announcements and send to the ELS membership a newsletter containing pertinent information. This newsletter should be sent no less than frequent than every two weeks (bi-weekly).
Perform all other duties as deemed necessary.
Finance Chair
The Finance Chair is responsible for the following:
Prepare the budget for the immediately following semester regardless of the date of election of new officers.
Keep all budget/financial records. The Finance Chair must produce budget/financial records and/or reports upon the written request of any officer within a week from the date of request submission. This responsibility is extended to SBA budgets.
Serve as principle check signer, with the Executive Chair serving as secondary check signer.
Obtain approval of the Executive Board for all financial matters, including reimbursements and payment to approved vendors.
Present budget proposals for contingency grants to the SBA Finance Committee and SBA Senate, if applicable. The Executive Chair must be present. Other ELS members may accompany the Finance Chair and participate in the presentation.
Call and organize a meeting to prepare the budget proposal for the following academic year. This meeting must be scheduled at least one week prior to the SBA deadline for budget submission.
Attend SBA Finance Committee meetings, as needed.
Perform all other duties as deemed necessary.
Campus Projects Chair
The Campus Projects Chair is responsible for the following:
Schedule at least one community service event/project per academic year and encourage students to satisfy the pro bono honors pledge.
Coordinate annual student events such as the Fall and Spring Hikes.
Serve as liaison with 1L Section Representatives.
Take and maintain pictures of ELS events and functions.
Perform all other duties as deemed necessary.
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