Meeting Minutes
Associated Students | San Diego State University
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 - 3:30pm
Council Chambers, Student Union 3rd floor
I. CALL TO ORDER
A.S. Vice President of University Affairs, Nadia Gallarzo, called the meeting to order at 3:33 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
- Voting Members Present: Nadia Gallarzo, Kareen Holstrom, Milan Rawls, Abby Mclachlan, Aliza Siddiqui, Celina Ramirez, Leo Formighieri Pereira, John Ferris, Mila Valdivia, Caroline Walton, Kate Bylsma, Quentin Hansen, Grace Muldoon, Jake Camacho, Jack Dubos, Sabrina Esteban, Ari Cohen, Tatum Vittitoe, Eric Krog, Everett Richards, Elena Zarnecki, Erin Rushing, Alex McMurray, Marco Loza, Noah Stuart, Karen Sawouq, Andy Lopez
- Voting Members Absent: Peter Athey, Jackson Patterson, Myah Moreno, Jesus Guzman
- Non-Voting Members Present: Christina Brown, Carlie Scott for Araya Williams
- Non-Voting Members Absent: Araya Williams, Dr. Taharka Ade, Christine Molina
- Guests: Olivera Jovanovic, Janice Dils, Shruti Sharma, Scarlett Walker, Samuel Ramtin, Jared Blackwell
III. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
It was moved and seconded to approve the agenda for September 3, 2025.
ESTEBAN/RAMIREZ CARRIED (27-0-0)
IV. APPROVAL OF THE PREVIOUS MINUTES
None.
-
V. PUBLIC COMMENT:
None.
-
VI. PRESENTATIONS AND UNIVERSITY REPORTS
- University Senate Designee: No Report.
- Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity Designee: No Report.
VII. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION
- Icebreaker/Introduction
Nadia led an icebreaker for everyone to introduce themselves. - Role of Representative Presentation - Noah Stuart, Marco Loza, & Karen Sawouq, A.S. Board of Directors
Noah, Marco, and Karen, the A.S. Board of Directors Student-at-Large representatives, provided information on being an A.S. Leaders. Shared information about Gloria Romero Open Meetings Law Act of 2000, and parliamentary procedure. - Shared Governance Presentation - Shruti Sharma, A.S. Shared Governance Assistant
Shruti Sharma provided information on shared governance and how it pertains to the University Council. A link to sign up for their committee will be sent after the meeting. - Justice Affairs Council Presentation - Scarlett Walker, A.S. Chief Justice (Time Certain 4:30 p.m.)
Scarlett provided information on what the A.S. Judicial Affairs Council is and their responsibilities. - General Consent Agenda (Action)
It was moved and seconded to approve the General Consent Agenda.
LOZA/BYLSMA CARRIED (27-0-0)
F. General Consent Report (Information)
The General Consent Report was reviewed.
VIII. INTRODUCTION OF NEW LEGISLATIVE MATTERS: None
-
IX. REPORTS OF UNIVERSITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
- Karen Sawouq, ASBOD Student-At-Large:
Working closely with Yucef, the Student Diversity Commission Representative, on drafting a resolution focused on institutional accountability and advancing student concerns. Additionally, Noah, Kareen, and Vice President Chris Manning are collaborating on efforts to establish a South West Asian and North African student organization, aimed at fostering representation and community for students from the region. - Marco Loza, ASBOD Student-At-Large:
Efforts are being made to create more opportunities for graduate students to engage with and participate in the Associated Students. Representatives have been asked to reach out to their graduate student communities to help publicize these opportunities and encourage greater involvement. - Noah Stuart, ASBOD Student-At-Large:
There is an ongoing effort to assess the need for a South West Asian and North African cultural center on campus. Work is being done in collaboration with Christopher Manning to explore possibilities and next steps. Currently, data is being collected to support the initiative and better understand student interest and needs. - College of Arts and Letters:
We are currently working on organizing a collaborative job fair with the Professional Students and Fine Arts, with more details to be confirmed soon. In addition, a special election will be held to fill the vacant Vice President of Community Engagement position; information regarding the nomination process and election timeline will be shared in the coming days.
Planning a registered student organization tabling event on October 1st specifically for College of Arts and Letters registered student organization, aimed at providing these organizations with an opportunity to promote their missions and connect with the wider student body. - College of Business:
We have secured access to EpicHire, an app designed to support student organizations by streamlining communication and event coordination. The platform allows clubs to send notifications directly to members, share important information, and even add guest speakers to their club’s profile. EpicHire is free to use for all SDSU students and officially recognized clubs. Additionally, the CBC Club Rush is scheduled for September 4th, providing another great opportunity for outreach and member engagement. - College of Education:
On Tuesday, September 2nd, the Executive Officers held a bonding meeting, which also included taking council headshots in preparation for the upcoming term. We are excited to announce that our first official council meeting will take place next Tuesday, marking the start of our programming and initiatives for the semester. - College of Engineering:
There will be an event at Earl’s this Friday, during which the new Executive Board will be introduced to the Registered Student Organization. Additionally, there is ongoing advocacy to extend library after-hours access, with efforts focused on potentially bringing back 24-hour access to better support student study needs. - College of Health and Human Services:
Regular meetings are held on Mondays; however, there will be no meeting this week due to the Labor Day holiday.
Efforts are currently underway to organize a career fair later this semester, aimed at providing students with professional development opportunities and connections to potential employers. - College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts:
Next week, there will be a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion mixer taking place on Monday, September 9th from 6:00–9:00 PM in Montezuma Hall. This event is a great opportunity to connect with fellow students and campus leaders around shared values of inclusivity and community. Free pizza will be provided for all attendees. - College of Sciences:
The First-Gen STEM Event will be held on Monday, September 16th from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the Student Union. This event is designed to support and celebrate first-generation students pursuing careers in STEM, with resources, networking opportunities, and community engagement available throughout the day. - Graduate Student Association:
There is an ongoing effort to establish a Graduate Student Association Travel Fund, noting that current funding is insufficient to meet the high volume of applications from graduate students seeking support for conference travel and research-related expenses.
Additionally, the Graduate Student Association Mixer will take place on Monday, September 9th from 5:00–7:00 PM in the Student Union, offering graduate students an opportunity to network and build community. - Undeclared College Council: No report.
X. UNIVERSITY SENATE COMMITTEE REPORTS -
None.
-
XI. CAREER ADVANTAGE REPORTS/UPDATES -
None.
-
XII. EXECUTIVE REPORTS AND A.S. ADVISOR REPORT
- Nadia Gallarzo, Vice President of University Affairs:
The College Council Retreat is scheduled for September 27th and serves as a space for collaboration and engagement. Programming will take place in the morning on campus, followed by optional bonding activities at Mission Bay in the afternoon.
Regarding the Academic Policy Agreement, it is currently in the process of being adopted by the Senate Committee, moving one step closer to an official vote. It was emphasized that members in these positions have the potential to make a significant impact, as this agreement was originally created by individuals holding similar roles. - Kareen Holstrom, President:
The Aztec Scholarship application deadline is approaching and will close on September 5th; members are encouraged to inform their councils. Additionally, the Flex and Fast Track program applications will close on September 6th.
The add/drop deadline is also coming up soon, so students should be reminded to review their schedules accordingly. Lastly, a new attendance policy is being implemented to align with federal regulations requiring SDSU to track student involvement in classes to maintain financial aid eligibility. - Milan Rawls, Executive Vice President:
Appreciation was extended to all those who participated in tabling, including those who attended without signing up. More tabling opportunities will be available in the future, so members are encouraged to continue signing up and participating. There is an ongoing collaboration with the Alumni Center in preparation for Homecoming events. For those who were unable to attend the retreat, an open shared drive was made of the Resource Guide, which serves as the central hub for all important information. Additionally, Thursdays Together offers a regular opportunity to come, eat, and mingle with peers. Members were also encouraged to utilize the UC (University Council) to ask questions and access support. - Abby McLachlan, Vice President of External Relations:
The Constitution/Voter Registration Day event will be held on September 17th, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring hot dogs and rock painting. Please contact Abby if you’d like to table for the Rock the Vote campaign. If you have issues you are passionate about, let me know. I sit on the California State Student Association board and can advocate on your behalf. The External Relations Board meeting is Monday at 10 a.m in the Council Chambers.
There will be a new process for heritage month submissions, which will be shared later. Interest form submissions are currently up 71% compared to last year. - Aliza Siddiqui, Vice President of Financial Affairs:
Applications for the Aztecs Rock Hunger, Leadership program closed last Friday, and acceptance notifications have since been sent out. A new Ambassadors Program is being developed for individuals who were not placed on the leadership team, providing additional opportunities for involvement.
Meetings have been held with Nadia, presidents, and assistant deans to discuss and plan future collaborations. Finally, thanks were extended to everyone who expressed interest in the Financial Affairs Committee; more information will be shared as the program progresses. - Christina Brown, Executive Director:
Members were encouraged to bring any ideas or updates related to career fairs to the next meeting for further discussion. Additionally, Career Services will be present at the upcoming College Council Retreat to provide resources and support. Lastly, a reminder was shared about the Men’s Basketball game against UCLA on October 17th.
XIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Nadia Gallarzo, Vice President of University Affairs: Asked members to join the GroupMe in order to stay updated with everyone and meeting updates.
- Andy Lopez: There is a car meet and bike club event. On September 15th from 7 AM to 9 AM, representatives from the District Attorney’s office and DEA will be present in the Project Rebound area.
- Ari Cohen: A new Spikeball club has been formed, welcoming players of all skill levels in a friendly and inclusive environment. The club meets on the ENS field and is open to everyone.
- Erin Rushing: Beta Psi Omega rush week is the week of September 15th. Membership is open to all students, not just biology majors.
- Everett Richards: The Association for Computer Engineering will be hosting an event on Wednesday, September 8th.
- Cesar Ramirez: On October 2nd, there will be a guest speaker from Deloitte.
XVI. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved and seconded to adjourn at 4:56 p.m.
DUBOS/RICHARDS CARRIED (27-0-0)
