Steve Klass

Vice President External Steve Klass is an unlikely politician.

“”Actually, I’ve been against school politics for a while,”” Klass said. “”Not so much against it, but just not involved.””

His attitude changed after a one-year hiatus from UCSD. When he returned, Klass became involved in several groups.

“”When I came back, I started getting involved in a number of groups,”” Klass said. “”Mainly centering around the Cross Cultural Center and my ethnic studies major.””

Klass lobbied the UC Regents and met with other UC schools about pressing issues. He was approached to become the national affairs director in the A.S. External office.

“”The job entailed meeting on a national level [with other UC schools] to talk about what we need to lobby our senators and congressmen for,”” Klass said. “”I was a representative — I would bring what UCSD’s issues were.””

Those issues included parking and access to campus. Through working in the external office, Klass was asked to run for vice president external on the Students First ticket.

Klass would like to see better communication between students and their elected representatives.

“”What will happen will be a greater use of the information we get from these national and state-wide meetings,”” Klass said. “”We’ll bring that back and make sure students can use it here on campus.””

While Klass has had political success on campus, politics are not his calling.

“”I’d like to be a teacher,”” Klass said. “”I’d like to be a university professor, but making sure that it stays real. Making sure that people actually gain from what happens.””

David Mitchell

Our new commissioner of diversity is just a wee freshman. However, David Mitchell is already trying to make a difference at UCSD.

“”I basically thought I could effect some sort of change,”” Mitchell said. “”Maybe through this position I could really provide support for student organizations, help out with community outreach and improve the climate here on campus.””

While diversity is a hot topic on campus right now, it’s up to Mitchell and others in his office to make sure that diversity is not just a buzz word, but a reality.

“”Diversity is two things,”” Mitchell said. “”Diversity, meaning a variety of people from different cultures and backgrounds. It’s also a diverse amount of ideas.””

Mitchell says that those two areas are what he will be focusing on in the coming year. He says that having more open discussions and events, as well as publicizing those events, can improve diversity on campus.

While Mitchell’s office can impact diversity, he admits that the administration also has a big role. There is a currently a diversity council where anyone can voice their opinion.

Mitchell said these types of forums are crucial.

“”Perhaps more forums like that between the faculty and the administration and the students especially will improve diversity on campus,”” Mitchell said.

While Mitchell, a Thurgood Marshall biology major, came to UCSD thinking about medical school, politics and public service have lately been calling his name. Thus, like many of us, Mitchell is not quite sure where he’ll end up.

But being a freshman, he has plenty of time to think about it.

Robin Shelton

Commissioner of athletics Robin Shelton is one of the few students elected to A.S. Council who did not run on the Students First slate.

“”It took me a while to decide that I was going to run as an independent candidate,”” Shelton said. “”So I think that some of the slates saw it as something that would not detract from their individual slate if I was not running with anybody else.””

Commissioner of athletics is a new position that was created this year. Shelton was promoted from his previous role on A.S. Council, head of the task force on athletics, to fill the position. When it came time for elections, it was clear that Shelton was the only person for the job. Literally. He ran unopposed.

“”I was pretty surprised when I found out that I was running unopposed,”” Shelton said. “”This new position is one with a lot of potential, and I am excited to be able to do it again for another year.””

Like most of this year’s commissioners, Shelton had not always been interested in student government.

“”I have always enjoyed the political arena, but I never had any strong intentions to be part of A.S. at UCSD,”” Shelton said. “”The commissioner of athletics position was created and it was a natural fit for me.””

While some consider UCSD to be without a notable athletics program, Shelton said this is a shortcoming of the student body, not the athletics department.

“”I don’t think that UCSD athletics is lacking anything,”” Shelton said. “”We have great players, tremendous coaches, wonderful teams and a great administrative staff.””

Shelton said that athletics can provide Tritons with a sense of unity and school spirit. “”I feel that the general campus community lacks a sense of spirit and a unifying force that brings everyone together,”” Shelton said. “”I think that athletics can fill this void and help to round out the college experience.””