Who We Are

Women in Cinema was founded at the University of Southern California in 2005, and is a student organization dedicated to celebrating and encouraging the presence of women in cinema.  WIC is comprised of film majors, minors, and enthusiasts alike.  We aim to provide the USC campus with "Women in Cinema"-centered events such as lectures by successful Hollywood women, screenings of work by women and about women, and other enriching activities and events that will promote the presence of women in film.  If you are interested in getting involved with Women in Cinema after reading our Mission Statement and Constitution, click the Membership link above.  And for further information or questions, you can always contact one of our Executive Board members by visiting our Contact page.

Our Mission Statement

The goal of Women In Cinema is to bring awareness to USC of the diverse nature of women’s commitment to the cinema industry, of their active and necessary roles within the industry, and of women’s impact on industry. Furthermore, Women In Cinema will encourage interaction between cinema students, help facilitate relations with USC alumni, organize a speaker series, and will strive to educate and promote women’s function in cinema. We will address how there are so few women active in the cinema industry and that those who are face many problems in the field

    Section A: Name

Part 1. The official name for this organization is Women In Cinema.

Part 2. This organization will use the name, or the acronym WIC, in all publicity and correspondence.

    Section B: Purpose

Part 1. The purpose of this organization is to encourage interaction between female cinema students, help facilitate relations with USC alumni, organize a speaker series, and will strive to educate and promote women’s function in cinema.

    Section A: Requirements

Part 1: All enrolled USC students, both undergraduate and graduate students, are eligible to be voting members.

Part 2: All USC students, staff, faculty, and alumni are eligible to be nonvoting members.

Part 3: All members are required to demonstrate support for the purpose of this organization.

Part 4: Membership will not be decided based on age, race or creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation.

    Section B: Rights

Part 1. All members are eligible to attend all meetings and events of this organization, with exception to executive board meetings.

Part 2. All voting members are eligible to run for office.

    Section C: Withdrawal of Membership

Part 1. Members may have their membership withdrawn for failure to adhere to the requirements for membership as stated above.

Part 2. A 2/3 majority vote of the officers at a regular or special meeting will result in withdrawal of membership.

Part 3: The member may speak in their defense before the vote is cast.

Part 4: The member to be voted upon will be notified by writing and phone a week prior to the meeting at which the vote will be taken.

      Article III: Officers

    Section A: Officer Titles

Part 1. Executive Board:

President

Vice-President

Treasurer

Inter-Campus Communications Chair

Outer-Campus Communications Chair

Part 2. Other Officers

Advertising Coordinator

Website Coordinator

    Section B: Duties

Part 1. The President of WIC will chair all meetings including executive board meetings. The President will also preside and organize the officers.

Part 2. The Vice-President will aid the President in leading WIC. In case of the president’s absence, the Vice-President shall chair meetings and other events/activities.

Part 3. The Treasurer will maintain records and report on the financial transactions of WIC and work to secure funding for the organization.

Part 4. The Communications Chairs will record and archive member contact information, send e-mails informing members of upcoming meetings and events, and document all official meetings. They will also coordinate with alumni and speakers.

Part 5. The Advertising Chair will handle the advertising campaigns for all WIC events. 

Part 6. The Website Coordinator will launch, run and update the official WIC website. The Website Coordinator will also work together with the Communications Chair and the Advertising Chair in order to update the website.    

Part 7. All officers must attend all general meetings. The Executive Board must attend all Executive Board meetings. In case of absence, an officer must notify the President and the Communications Chair in advance. The exceptions are an emergency or extenuating circumstances.     

    Section C: Requirements for Running and Holding Office

Part 1. All officers and candidates must be currently enrolled female USC undergrad or graduate students.

Part 2. All officers must be voting members of WIC.

    Section D: Nominations and Elections

Part 1. Nominations will made three weeks before the end of the spring semester at a meeting for all members.

Part 2. Election voting will occur two weeks prior to the end of the spring semester.

Part 3. Only the President, Treasurer, and the Faculty Advisor are permitted to count the ballots.

    Section E: Removal from Office

Part 1. Officers may be removed from office for failure to perform duties or for violation of a membership clause.

Part 2. A 2/3 majority vote of the officers at an Executive Board meeting will result in withdrawal of membership.

Part 3: The officer may speak in their defense before the vote is cast.

Part 4: The officer to be voted upon will be notified by writing and phone a week prior to the meeting at which the vote will be taken.

    Section F: Terms of Office & Vacancies

Part 1. The term of office shall be from the last meeting of the spring semester until the end of the second-to-last meeting of the subsequent spring semester.

Part 2. Should a vacancy in office occur, there will be another nomination procedure and election at the next meeting.

Part 3. In the meantime, the duties of the missing officer will be taken by the next person in line (i.e. the Vice President for the President).

      Article IV: Meetings

    Section A: Regular meetings for the Executive Board will be held every week.

    Section B: Special meetings may be called by the President or any three officers. Notice of special meetings must be communicated to all members and/or officers at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.

    Section C: Regular meetings for all members will be held at the discretion of the Executive Board.

      Article V: Affiliations

    Section A. USC

Part 1. This organization is a recognized student organization at the University of Southern California, but is not part of the University itself.
Part 2. In all correspondence and business transactions, it may refer to itself as an organization at USC, but not as part of USC itself.

Part 3. WIC accepts full financial and production responsibility for all activities it sponsors.

Part 4. WIC agrees to abide by all pertinent USC policies and regulations. Where USC policies and regulations and those of WIC differ, the policies and regulations of USC will take precedence.

Part 5. This organization recognizes and understands that the University assumes no legal liability for the actions of the organization, and that the University is not providing blanket indemnification insurance coverage for any activities of the organization, unless those activities expressly benefit and further the goals of the University, and have received prior review, approval, and consent of Campus Activities, Risk Management, and/or General Counsel.

      Article VI: Faculty/Staff Advisor

    Section A: Advisor Requirements

Part 1. As a recognized student organization at the University of Southern California, WIC is required to have an official advisor from the USC faculty and/or staff.

    Section B: Duties

Part 1. The advisor must sign the recognition application each year, or whenever officer information changes or amendments are made to the constitution.

Part 2. Officers should meet with the advisor at least three times per semester.

Part 3. An advisor may not vote in WIC matters, hold office or unduly influence decisions of the student organization.

      Article VII: By-Laws & Amendments

    Section A: By-Laws

Part 1. By-laws can be added to this constitution by a simple majority vote of the entire membership at a regular meeting of WIC.

Part 2. This constitution takes precedence over any and all by-laws.

    Section B: Amendments

Part 1. This constitution can be amended by a two-thirds vote of the entire membership at a regular meeting of WIC.

Part 2. Notification of such a motion must be made to members.