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Petition to the Colgate University Board of Trustees

We, alumni of Colgate University, petition the Colgate University Board of Trustees to shepherd an amendment to the Colgate University Corporation By-Laws to allow Colgate University alumni to elect a majority of the members of the Board of Trustees in a free and fair election by a majority vote equal to or greater than 50% plus one of the alumni voting.

One hundred signatures from Colgate University alumni will be required to place a name in nomination. Colgate University must give equal access to its database for all nominated candidates and is prohibited from endorsing individual candidates or a slate of candidates. The remaining minority number of trustees shall be elected by a majority of the membership of the Colgate Board of Trustees. Six of these Trustees shall be individuals who have been nominated by the Board of Directors of the Colgate Alumni Corporation. All other provisions of the current Colgate By-laws remain in effect specific to terms of office, when elections are held, committee membership and chairmanship of committees.

Once the change to the By-Laws is made allowing alumni to elect a majority of the Board of Trustees, the Board of Trustees will be prohibited from changing either an election by alumni, or the composition of the Board, without a vote of the alumni approving such a change.

When the change to the By-Laws is made to allow open elections, monies contributed to the “Accountability to Colgate University Alumni Fund,” managed by Donors Trust, will be distributed to Colgate University for use in academic programs related to economics, math, the physical sciences, American history and civics. If the change to the By-Laws is not in effect by September 1, 2012, contributions to the Fund will go to secondary beneficiaries named by each donor at the time of their initial gift.