The A.S. Council filled the two new commissioner offices it voted to create earlier this quarter, appointing Cathy Medrano the commissioner of diversity affairs and Robin Shelton commissioner of athletics.

Medrano was unanimously appointed at Wednesday’s A.S. Council meeting, after a long application period.

“”She was the most qualified and motivated candidate for the position,”” said A.S. President Jeff Dodge.

Medrano will hold the position until the next council takes office fifth week of spring quarter.

Medrano was the labor relations representative in the A.S. external office last year, has served two years as an executive board member of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, is a core member of Students for Economic Justice, and has worked with Asian Pacific Student Alliance, Queer People of Color, Summer Bridge and the Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services.

“”Cathy is an experienced organizer on our campus and within the community,”” Dodge said. “”She’s been active in all sorts of rallies and campaigns to raise awareness, increase diversity and support outreach and retention efforts. She’s a grounded, organized person who can encompass a wide array of issues relevant to diversity affairs on our campus.””

Dodge said the reason Medrano stood out from other applicants was “”her ability to understand the fluidity of diversity on our campus.””

Medrano’s duties will include establishing the Student Initiated Outreach program and the Recruitment Commission, working with the Alliance Program and writing a charter outlining how her office works and what positions will be within it.

Student activists David Brown Mitchell and Stephanie Akpa, both of Thurgood Marshall College, will assist Medrano with her duties, she said.

Medrano said she has several hopes for her short term in office.

“”Right now what we would like to see accomplished is that a good system of communications be set up with [Student Affirmative Action Committee] organizations, the [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender] office and organizations, and other groups on campus dedicated to supporting justice and diversity,”” she said. “”Since this is the first year to have an office for diversity affairs, we hope to set a good precedent for how the office will interact with and support other organizations.””

The diversity affairs office is currently working on an April 17 “”diversity fair.”” Civil Rights Commissioner Mary Berry is scheduled to speak.

The office is also working to educate the campus about the Race Privacy Initiative.

“”We are working on ways to educate UCSD students on the negative impacts this policy will have for people of color, institutions and race relations in California,”” Medrano said.

She said there were many factors in her decision to apply for the position.

“”With such low numbers of people of color on this campus, recent propositions like Propositions 21 and 22, the events of Sept. 11 and subsequent acts of racial profiling and violent hate crimes, UCSD is in a state of crisis,”” Medrano said. “”In fact, this nation is in a state of crisis. I think it was a wise and just decision to create this position in order to make sure this crisis, at least at UCSD, is being addressed and taken seriously. I applied for this position with the UCSD community in mind.””

Shelton has been working as the commissioner of athletics since his unanimous appointment by the council Jan. 16. His charter was approved Feb. 6.

Shelton said his office should encompass not just working with the athletics programs on campus, but also working with other people and organizations to increase spirit and enthusiasm for athletics.

“”The general goal is to try to increase the level of campus spirit through athletics,”” Shelton said.

Some of the office of the commissioner of athletics’ projects include increasing the visibility of the spirit organization Triton Tide, advertising more events such as next Friday’s basketball game against UC Davis (hence the signs campuswide that read “”7 days to cowtipping””), pushing for blue and gold awnings in the Price Center, and working to put up signs to invoke Triton spirit at the RIMAC weight room.

Shelton also headed the Task Force on Intercollegiate Athletic Funding Issues, which submitted a recommendation to the A.S. Council on the problem of funding facing the athletics programs.

Shelton said he ran for the position because he “”can make more of a difference doing this than doing anything else.”” Dodge said he believes Shelton is the best person for the job.

Shelton served as the director of athletics relations in the chancellor’s office prior to the creation of the commissioner position.

Dodge said that Shelton was the natural choice.

“”Robin is a motivated, experienced individual who has a strong reputation in the A.S. and within the athletics community,”” he said. “”He works hard and gets whatever he needs to done in order to better the campus. Serving as the director of athletic relations previous to his commissioner of athletics move, Robin has proved himself a leader to match all leaders.””

Shelton, a Warren junior, played for UCSD’s men’s golf team for two years. He stopped playing for various reasons.

One reason he gave was the time commitment involved with his A.S. Council positions. As for the time he used to spend playing golf, he said, “”it’s been taken up by all this stuff.””

“”Robin is incredibly motivated and always thinks of new ways to approach events, issues and programs,”” Dodge said.

“”From his psychotic passion to have the awnings in the Price Center changed to blue and gold, to his crazed prank calls to UC Davis, our new rival, Robin is the perfect fit for this position.””