Jemil Saidi, the outgoing vice-chair of Dublin University Central Athletic Club (DUCAC), has confirmed that he will run to become the organisation’s first-ever student chairperson at this week’s DUCAC AGM.
Saidi will contest a position that is vacant for the first time since the election of current DUCAC Chair Donagh McDonagh in 2016. DUCAC’s constitution allows chairpeople to serve for two three-year terms.
Speaking to The University Times today, Saidi said: “I’ve decided that I will run for the position of chair … I think it is time for a change.”
Saidi, a member of Dublin University Harriers and Athletics Club (DUHAC), added: “I think that if we want to see changes from the student perspective, there needs to be a student leading that – a student spearheading that goal.”
It’s not clear whether McDonagh, a former member of Dublin University Boat Club (DUBC), will run for re-election at the AGM.
Saidi admitted that he was “a bit nervous” about running for chair, adding: “The odds aren’t really in my favour.”
But he said he was also “optimistic”: “I think my development over the years in College, seeing the college sports scene and a lot of support from College administrative staff and the sports department, have helped to develop me and mature me to the point where I’m confident enough to go for this role.”
“I’m hoping that students are in the same mindframe as I am, in that they want to see a student in the seat.”
“They want to see a student lead – someone who’s going to listen to their opinion and take the matters they find important seriously, and make decisions not on what they think the students want, but on what the students are saying”, he said.
Saidi was elected vice-chair of DUCAC at last year’s AGM, after defeating Róisín Harbison by 104 votes to 90.
Last April, The University Times reported that Saidi had called for major changes to DUCAC’s voting structures in an effort to “create a more transparent DUCAC”.
Saidi launched a petition to allow each sports club two votes at DUCAC’s AGM, each cast by elected representatives.
The proposed change was prompted by concerns that bigger clubs were “swaying votes” as a result of their larger membership bases. The current voting system allows for any member of a sports club to vote at the AGM.
Speaking to The University Times last week about the proposed motion, Saidi said that “I wanted us to have equal votes for all clubs, essentially”.
Saidi also called for financial transparency within DUCAC. He proposed an amendment to the club’s constitution, mandating it to publish approved budget allocations online.
Last year, messages in a group chat run by members of the boat club, obtained by The University Times, appeared to show senior members of the club instructing other members to vote for certain candidates.
This year’s AGM – the 100th in the club’s history – will take place at 7pm in the MacNeill Theatre in the Hamilton Building tomorrow, September 26th.
