Tonight saw UCDSU hold a blended in-person council with members of council unable to attend in-person participating via Zoom.
Beginning with a near unanimous vote to change all gendered language in the UCDSU Council standing orders to gender neutral language, Council was informed of the upcoming Campaigns Forum and ENTS Forum elections for the roles of International Student Campaign Coordinator, Mature Students Campaign Coordinator, Residences Campaign Coordinator, and First Year Promotions officer on the ENTS forum. Returning Officer Stephen Crosby also informed that as there were no valid nominations for the position of College Officer for Business, that it was now at the discretion of Council as to how and when the position could be filled.
All reports from members of the Executive, Campaigns Forum, and Ents Forum put to council were accepted, with all questions asked being of a technical nature rather than criticism. The Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) College Officers discussed the possibility of splitting their constituency, which is currently a single constituency of two seats, into two single seat constituencies, one for Arts, and one for Social Sciences.
Difficulties with online voting were also mentioned during reports, with Campaigns and Engagement Officer Darryl Horan mentioning that a meeting with Crosby to discuss the use of online voting platforms had been arranged.
There were no motions on the agenda for the council, however UCDSU President Ruairí Power scheduled an item for discussion on housing activism. Several members of council gave personal accounts of their experiences in sub-par accommodation, difficulties finding a home, and couchsurfing while homelessness while studying. Power encouraged all members of council to mobilise their constituents to attend UCDSU’s protest outside DCC at 1pm on Wednesday.