Dublin University Central Athletics Club (DUCAC) tonight passed a motion to move the voting for its executive elections online.
A motion to change the wording of the DUCAC constitution to allow for the executive committee to be “elected via an annual online election” was passed at an EGM this evening.
DUCAC Chair Jemil Saidi said that the change would allow for greater inclusivity, since DUCAC members with disabilities may not be able to attend a physical vote.
A total of 41 members voted on the motion, with two spoiling their votes. Some 32 voted in favour of the motion and seven voted against.
In a separate motion, DUCAC voted to transfer responsibility for running the election from the secretary to an election committee comprising the vice chair, the secretary, one ex-officio member and two representatives appointed by the executive, one of which must be a student.
All submissions for a position will go through the committee, and if a position is not filled by election, the election committee will have the power to co-opt a DUCAC member to take the role.
Saidi told The University Times after the meeting: “At the discretion of the overall executive committee they would organise the proceedings for the annual online election, including the process for applications.”
“In the old system, all applications had to be sent to the secretary but with [the new proposal] they are now sent to this election committee. They will have the power to set nomination deadlines and election dates.”
The committee will have the power to co-opt a DUCAC member to any positions that are not filled by election – a practice that is already in place, Saidi said.
David Nash of the Dublin University Boat Club said that the wording around the executive committee’s power to approve a candidate wanting to run for election is eligible was “very vague”, arguing that it should be changed “to see that nominees get vetted”.
The current phrasing, Nash said, allowed the election committee to approve a nominee “ without defining what approving means”.
Saidi and members of the working group that wrote the amendments agreed that this could be an issue and said that it would be addressed at the next DUCAC AGM.
The positions of senior honorary treasurer, char of the Pavilion Bar committee and chair of the Pavilion Member’s committee are open to “general officers”, which include past students of Trinity, the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, members of sports clubs and staff in Trinity, as well as members of DUCAC.
Last year Saidi, previously vice-chair of DUCAC, became the first student to serve as DUCAC chair in its 100 years of existence, winning by 49 votes to 48.
Matt McCann also contributed reporting to this piece.
