ASBOD Minutes - A.S. Student Government | A.S.

Meeting Minutes
Associated Students | San Diego State University

Monday, August 25, 2025 - 3:30pm
Council Chambers, Student Union

I. CALL TO ORDER

A.S. President Kareen Holstrom called the meeting to order at 3:37 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Voting Members Present: Kareen Holstrom, Milan Rawls, Abby McLachlan, Aliza Siddiqui (Arrived at 4:15), Nadia Gallarzo, Ava Alvardo, Julia Biesman, Marco Loza, Karen Sawouq (Arrived at:3:43 p.m.), Noah Stuart, Jessica Rentto (left at 4:25 p.m.), Caryl Montero Adams
Voting Members Absent: Jasmin Zeis-Khalil, Brittany Santos-Derieg
Non-Voting Members Present: Araya Williams
Non-Voting Members Absent: Christina Brown
Guests: Patty Rea

II. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

It was moved and seconded to approve the agenda for August 13, 2025.
GALLARZO/LOZA CARRIED (11-0-0)

III. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

It was moved and seconded to approve the previous minutes.
LOZA/MCLACHLAN CARRIED (11-0-0)

IV. PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

V. PRESENTATIONS AND UNIVERSITY REPORTS

Jessica Rentto, Business and Financial Affairs Designee reported on the following:

SDSU has moved approximately 8,657 students into on-campus housing, surpassing the official residential capacity of 8,099. This means that around 985 students are currently housed beyond standard capacity. Since move-in, University Police have responded to 39 service calls, along with additional incidents involving arrests and other safety concerns. Many of these issues have involved individuals who are not affiliated with the SDSU community but enter campus spaces to participate in events and activities, often disrupting the environment.
We have seen a notable decrease in medical and police transports related to alcohol, one of the lowest rates observed in recent years, reflecting improved student conduct and successful preventative efforts.

B. Caryl Montero-Adams, University President’s Designee, reported on the following:
Over the past week, SDSU has hosted several large-scale events to welcome students and their families. New Student and Family Convocation drew over 6,000 attendees across two ceremonies. Given the high attendance and strong ticket claim rate, we may want to consider whether one ceremony could accommodate everyone in the future, or if two remain necessary. Aztec Nights successfully launched the school year with two major events,a carnival attended by 6,000 students the first night and 3,000 the second. These events are designed to offer students engaging, alcohol-free alternatives to socializing, supporting our commitment to student safety.
There were four alcohol-related medical transports during Aztec Nights weekend, indicating the need for ongoing institutional support and intervention. Currently, only four staff members are supporting students during these high-impact events, suggesting a need for increased staffing or resources. On the prevention front, SDSU is finalizing its Prevent Zone modules,online training aimed at addressing hazing and promoting student safety. These modules will be part of a broader, SDSU-specific training rollout that provides more robust and targeted education for our student community.

IV. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION

General Consent Agenda (Action)
It was moved and seconded to approve the General Consent Agenda.
LOZA/MCLACHLAN CARRIED (11-0-0)
General Consent Report (Information) - None.

VII. CLOSED SESSION

It was moved and seconded to move into closed session.
SAWOUQ/BIESMAN CARRIED (11-0-0)

A. Claims Review (Information) - Patty Rea, A.S. Associate Executive Director (Time Certain 3:45 p.m.)

The items were discussed.

It was moved and seconded to end the closed session.
ALVARADO/RAWLS CARRIED (11-0-0)

VIII. BOARD OF DIRECTOR STUDENT AT LARGE REPORTS

Student-at-Large, Ava Alvarado:
Working on bylaws and expressed that she had an amazing time at the College Life Council breakout session.
Student-at-Large, Julia Biesman:
There is enthusiasm around improving resources for students, particularly the development of a student-centered app, including enhancements to the Safe Ride program. This service will now fall under Parking and Transportation Services rather than the campus police department. The goal is to create a system that functions similarly to Uber, offering students a more accessible and user-friendly transportation option.
Kareen will be assisting with this initiative to help clarify what the implementation will look like. Additionally, the Board of Directors has the potential to make a significant impact by organizing mixers and supporting collaborative events beyond the scope of regular meetings, further strengthening student engagement and community.
Student-at-Large, Marco Loza:
Master of Business Administration (MBA) orientation was last week. Spoke with students about classes and pushed for them to go to Associated students to get experience and utilize their resumes.
Student-at-Large, Karen Sawouq:
Expressed her gratitude to Milan for organizing a successful retreat. She recently met with Marie to discuss the assessment questions that will be included in an upcoming survey to be shared with students. In addition, she is continuing her work on a resolution that is currently in progress.
Student-at-Large, Noah Stuart:
One member has been actively supporting various roles as needed, including contributing to the development of the SWANA Center, which is anticipated to be finalized by October. Their flexibility and commitment to filling in across different areas have been valuable to ongoing initiatives.
Student-at-Large, Jasmin Zeis-Khalil: No Report.

IX. EXECUTIVE REPORTS

A.S. President, Kareen Holstrom reported on the following:
Two student representatives need to be submitted by the end of this week for the Aztec Shops Board of Directors position, which is a two-year commitment involving monthly meetings.
Regarding this Thursday’s football game at 7:00 PM, Associated Students will be hosting a balcony event for the Rowing Team’s 100th anniversary, which will also include donor recognition. A limited number of tickets will be reserved exclusively for council members.
Additionally, Noah and Karen met today to discuss follow-up efforts with the Southwest Asian and North African heritage community. Members who have access to broader networks are encouraged to leverage those connections to support initiatives. Please remember to wear your Associated students polo to all meetings to maintain a professional standard. As council members, you may be approached by students with specific or niche concerns,when that happens, either bring these matters to the Executive Board or guide the students to the appropriate contact for follow-up.
Executive Vice President, Milan Rawls reported on the following:
Invites everyone to attend the A.S. Expo Mixer this Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Vice President of External Relations, Abby McLachlan reported on the following:
Working on a form for the California State Student Association policy agenda centered on high-level topics and student feedback; she encourages the council to complete the input form.
She has also been preparing over the summer for Rock the Vote and planning effective ways to educate students on civic engagement. Students are welcome to visit her office, which is located on the third floor of the Student Union in the Associated Students area.
Lastly, she encourages everyone to help reach the goal of 13,000 followers on the A.S. website, as the current count stands at 12,000.
Vice President of Financial Affairs, Aliza Siddiqui reported on the following:
There is an upcoming KPBS Meet and Greet event on September 9th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, and council members may bring one or two students to attend. This event presents a valuable opportunity to connect with the San Diego community, especially as KPBS has recently experienced funding cuts and is working to promote its role and visibility. The event will include food, a guest speaker who is a prominent woman leader, and will require business attire. Additionally, the Audit Committee, which meets twice a semester to review SDSU-related financial information, is seeking student members, particularly those studying business.
The next audit committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 4th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, with Zoom options available for those unable to attend in person. The leadership team will be finalized by this Friday, and there are open marketing positions for students interested in joining. There are also opportunities for non-business students to contribute through roles that support financial resource planning and management.
Vice President of University Affairs, Nadia Gallarzo reported on the following:

The next Associated Students’ Audit Committee meeting will be held on Thursday, September 4th.
That same day will also mark the first Academic Affairs Council meeting.
During recent outreach efforts, around 80 new students expressed interest in joining the University Affairs Board, which is a strong indicator of growing engagement.
Council members should save the date for the upcoming College Council Retreat, which will take place on September 27th. The retreat will begin on campus and then transition to an off-campus location. There are also ongoing discussions around student career concerns, and any relevant points should be shared with the Board of Directors to ensure they are addressed appropriately. Lastly, wishing everyone a strong and successful first day of school.

X. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ADVISOR REPORT:

Patty Rea, Associate Executive Director, reported on behalf of Christina Brown:

The Associated Students DEI Plan currently has three key components. We are collaborating with the Student Development Committee to finalize and enhance the plan to better serve those under Associated Students. The plan was initially drafted with input from the steering committee, which will convene soon to review and provide feedback. After incorporating their edits, the revised plan will be presented for approval at the upcoming Board of Directors meeting.

XI. ANNOUNCEMENTS