David John Neill was appointed Vice-Chair of Dublin University Central Athletic Club (DUCAC), and Roger West was appointed chair of the Pavilion’s Members’ Committee in what were the two major appointments made at the organisation’s AGM tonight.
DUCAC members in total elected four new members to its executive board in what was an entirely uncontested series of elections.
Two new club representatives – third-year Eimear Fahy and postgraduate Shubhangi Karmakar were both elected.
DUCAC chairman Jemil Saidi said that any positions not filled would be appointed on November 19th at an EGM, with any further nominations to be sent to him via email.
Tonight’s meeting was in stark contrast to last year’s contentious AGM at which stalwart of the organisation, former chair of DUCAC Donagh McDonagh, was beaten by current Chair Jemil Saidi, making him the first student to head up the organisation’s executive.
At this year’s AGM, Saidi said that due to the inability to hold a secret ballot online, pinks would not be awarded this term, but those awarded last year will be carried forward to this year.
Also discussed was the reopening of the Pav, with Bar chairperson Cyril Smyth stating that it would not be able to re-open until “Dublin started operating in level two” – a statement meaning closure of the bar is likely until at least the start of 2021. However, estimates of what the budget will look like made by Smyth suggest that the Pav managed to break even for the 2019/20 financial year, despite full closure since mid-March due to the pandemic.
In her briefing at the DUCAC AGM, Head of Trinity Sport Michelle Tanner described this year as “challenging and difficult”.
“COVID has impacted many of us, and has impacted our staff. We have lost a number of core and casual support staff with contracts due for a renewal and there being a recruitment freeze.”
However, she was complimentary of Trinity Sport’s efforts in continuing to carry out sporting programs prior to the recent lockdown: “We have proved that we can run sports events and training safely. Obviously level five impacts us significantly.”
