Field Day 2022
SDSU Field Day
We hope everyone had a great time at Field Day 2022! Whether it was participating in the Team Obstacle Course Challenge, playing field games or spending time on our ENS field, we hope it was one of the highlights of your summer!
A big shout out to our two A.S. teams, A.S. Essentials and GET REC’D, for representing A.S. so well and to Adam Zamora for winning the paper airplane contest! Thank you to our Aztec Adventures team for putting on the obstacle course for all of the teams to enjoy!
International Dog Day
You know what they always say…a dog is a man’s best friend! Hear about some of our full time staff’s best friends in honor of International Dog Day on August 26!
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Pamela Mahlow, Aztec Recreation Associate Director
In 2015, when we started searching for a dog to adopt, we explained to our two boys we were not coming home with a dog the first day. But when we met Travis, he was too adorable to not bring home! We were told he had been thrown from a truck and didn't like riding in cars but despite his anxiety, he willingly followed the boys into our car. Over the next four months, he grew 50% larger and his DNA results revealed he was part Bernese Mountain Dog. Travis proved to be an athlete able to run fast, chase, zoom, wrestle, fetch long distances, grip a ball in his front paws using his digits like fingers and stand up on his hind legs for family hugs and photos.
Pam’s dog Travis at Olympic National Park.
Travis quickly adapted to our active lifestyle. He loved to go wherever we were going: hiking trails, neighborhood walks, dog parks and our kitchen, where he still waits optimistically for cheese, egg and meat handouts. Some of our favorite dog friendly places in San Diego include Coronado Dog Beach, Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail (flat with some shade and a waterfall) and Black Mountain Nighthawk Trail (climb with a view on a clear day).
Travis is a North American traveler! He has explored 14 U.S. and four Canadian national parks and he has even been on gondola rides in both countries! The dog friendliest national parks with pet accessible trails or paved areas have been Redwoods, Zion, Crater Lake, Olympic, Petrified Forest and all of the Canadian parks.
Travis has been injured and is only able to go on shorter walks so he recently started swimming to build his strength and endurance. He may not be able to return to running and playing with dog friends so our next adventure with Travis is to get him certified as a canine good citizen so we can take him to schools, hospitals and assisted living facilities. We think he will be a great therapy dog given how he lives happily in the moment and connects with people of all ages everywhere we go.
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Matthew Monges, Government Affairs Coordinator
I have two dogs. Kai is a two-and-a-half-year-old Doberman and Jack is a two-and-a-half-year-old American brown dog (a good ol’ fashioned mutt). They are best friends. They are also my best friends and more often than not, I choose to pass time hanging with them instead of my less furry, human companions. Jack and Kai each have their quirks. Kai isn't a big fan of other people and Jack could definitely go on without seeing another dog. They are a complementary duo.
Jack and Kai at Dog Beach.
My favorite story to share about my dogs is the one in which they first met. Two years ago while living in El Segundo, a beach city in Los Angeles, I took my girl Kai to our local dog park for our routine after work play time. After around 30 minutes had passed, a goofy, lanky, gregarious brown pup sprawled into the park, went straight up to Kai, and flopped all over her. Once this brown pup was done spazzing out, the two sniffed one another in usual dog fashion, and then sprinted about the circumference of the park. The game of chase continued for a solid hour with the occasional break for water or much needed panting. As time progressed, I came to realize I should probably talk to the owner about Kai's newly acquainted best friend. The owner said his name was Jack and he was about 6 months old, around the same age as Kai. I eventually found out the owner's name: Mollie. As luck would have it, just as Kai and Jack met and became best friends that day, so too did Mollie and I. Two years later, the four of us now all live happily in Ocean Beach, just a few blocks from Dog Beach.
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Antonio Faustino, Operations Coordinator
This is my 7-year-old pup, Milo. He is a terrier mix. My girlfriend and I adopted him in September 2018. He is the cuddliest dog you will ever meet because his love language is physical touch and quality time. Unfortunately, he does not enjoy the company of other dogs, just humans. Milo loves the dog beach, running in open grass, going on errands with us and being carried around in his dog backpack.
Antonio and his dog, Milo.
He enjoys dressing up in his fancy bow-ties from Pack Leashes — 20% off with discount code “MRMILOTHESIR”! Milo knows the sound of both of our vehicles when we get home and he’ll always wait by the door with a toy in his mouth ready to fetch! His favorite trick is sitting up like a bunny to receive a treat. If y’all ever see us around San Diego, please come up to us and greet Milo with love and affection!
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June Barreras, Ticket Office Manager
Zoe is my 17-year-old mini Dachshund. She became a part of my family in November 2005 when she was six months old. Ever since then, she has loved nothing more than napping and receiving lots of love from anyone who would go all the way down to the ground to pet her. She is not your typical yappy small dog. In her old age and being almost completely blind and deaf, she now barks to let you know when she is either ready to eat or ready to go back to her bed and continue her nap.
June and her son, Aric, with her three dogs, KC, Zoe and Griffith.
K.C. is my huntress mini Poodle. She is 13 years old and originally from Killeen, Texas. She made her way home with me back to San Diego in 2009 when she was 8 weeks old. I was not planning on having another dog, but when a family tragedy took place in Texas, it felt like the right choice to bring her home. She is always on high alert to help protect our home from those pesky lizards and rabbits. She has also taken on the occasional rat and possum, always to my utter horror. K.C. is always a source of pure entertainment and loves to show off her smile.
The last and biggest member of the pack is my “granddog,” Griffith. He is my son’s 8-year-old Pitbull/Staffordhire Bull Terrier mix rescue and he joined our family when he was about 3 years old. Griffith loves everyone, especially if they have food. My son took owning a powerful dog like Griffith very seriously and put him in the best training program in San Diego. He is now an amazing ambassador for the pittie breed! He may look threatening, but he really is a big baby and super attached to my son. I couldn’t imagine not having him in our family!
Best Ice Cream in San Diego
Written by Veronica Perondi, Assistant Director of A.S. Programs
National Ice Cream Day lands on July 17, though there is never a bad day to enjoy ice cream. If you ask me what sweet I would want on any given day, the answer would be donuts (chocolate old fashion donuts to be exact.) After being asked to write this article, it has come to my attention that I am also a fan of ice cream and have very solid opinions of what are the best locations in town.
My taste may be influenced by my year of living abroad in Italy and having access to (in my opinion) the best gelato around. Nothing beats strolling through the old streets on a hot summer evening during the “girata” with a delicious cone of gelato (yes, humble brag). My favorite flavors were cioccolato and stracciatella.
On my mental journey through reliving all my favorite ice cream locations in San Diego, I realized that I have numerous “favorite” locations but I will limit this article to a select few. If you need more locations to satisfy your sweet tooth, I am more than happy to share.
This new shop is already known by Chula Vista locals. Ask Carlos and Donna. It is number one on my list for one reason: donuts. I mentioned my favorite sweet treat is a donut, so you cannot lose when you combine ice cream with a donut. Sadie’s has a special partnership with Randy’s Donuts out of LA to create an ice cream donut sandwich. What’s better than ice cream? Ice cream inside a donut rolled in cinnamon and sugar. Your ice cream of choice is layered in between two sides of a whole donut and then put in a waffle-like panini press to create a delicious, warm and creamy ice cream sandwich.
Second on the list and keeping in theme with ice cream sandwiches is Menya Ultra. Why is a famous ramen spot on my list for ice cream? Because of the fried ice cream. Yes, fried. Yes, ice cream. Known as ice cream tempura, it’s prepared exactly how anything “tempura” is prepared — it’s dipped in tempura batter and fried. It comes to you piping hot and yet freezing cold inside. The juxtaposition of temperatures and the slightly salty flavor of the tempura makes it one of my favorite desserts all around. I make sure not to fill up on the ramen to ensure I have room for the ice cream tempura after. Please note, that you will need to make time designated later in the day for a nap.
To round out my list of favorite ice cream locations in San Diego is a long time local spot again in the south bay, Niederfranks’ Ice Cream. The oldest establishment on the list, Niederfrank’s opened in 1948 in National City and has been making ice cream the same way since then, using “the most antique, inefficient, outdated and expensive process in the world.” It’s freaking delicious. It tastes as ice cream should taste! My husband introduced me to this place, and we make sure to stop by every once in a while, not just to support a local business, but also to feel like a kid again. Not much has changed inside, especially their sign. Everything is made on site, including the waffle cones. Any ice cream shop that has multiple different flavors of chocolate has my heart.
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As an honorable mention, Freddie’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers needs to be brought to your attention. Yes, the burgers are better than In-N-Out’s, but that’s for a different article. Try their custards. You won’t regret it. My go-to is their chocolate brownie delight sundae.
As you make your weekend plans to incorporate a visit to one of these locations, I leave you to ponder the ever-present question: cone or cup?
Aztec Nights!
Students, Aztec Nights are back for another fun semester! Aztec Nights are free, late night fun events with food, great music, games and much more. Check out the amazing lineup of events!
Aztec Nights Dodge, Duck, & Dive Your Way into Fall 2022!
Friday
9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union
Aztec Nights First Night Fest
Friday
9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Campanile Walkway
Aztec Nights SDSU Block Party
Saturday
9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Campanile Walkway
Aztec Nights Night Under the Stars
Sunday
9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union
Aztec Nights Pump Up the Gym
Thursday
9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Aztec Recreation Center
Aztec Nights Carnival: Night 1
Friday
10:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Campanile Walkway
Aztec Nights Carnival: Night 2
Saturday
10:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Campanile Walkway
Aztec Nights Dragstravaganza After Dark
Friday
10:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Montezuma Hall, Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union
Food Truck Night, presented by Aztec Nights
Saturday
10:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Campanile Walkway
Aztec Night Movie Night
Sunday
10:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union
Aztec Nights Rolling into Fall
Friday
10:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union
Aztec Nights Back 2 Skool
Saturday
4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
TBD
5 Questions Each
A.S. Executive Officers
- What is your name, title, year in school and major?
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Shawki Moore, A.S. President, Fourth year, Communications with a minor in Leadership
- “Most people don't know that I like to…
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...to sing. I’m not very good, but I won’t let that stop me.”
- What is your favorite place or thing to do on the SDSU campus?
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My favorite place is the Black Resource Center because I feel like that is a home full of my community and I can truly be myself there.
- If you could go back or forward in time, where would you go and why?
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I would go back in time to the Stone Age because I think I would thrive riding on horses and fighting with swords like in Game of Thrones.
- What is your go-to Starbucks order?
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Caramel macchiato upside down with extra caramel.
- What is your name, title, year in school and major?
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Meena Alexander, Executive Vice President, Psychology with a minor in Leadership
- “Most people don't know that I like to…
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...read.”
- What is your favorite place or thing to do on the SDSU campus?
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My favorite thing to do is study in the Union.
- If you could go back or forward in time, where would you go and why?
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I wouldn’t do either. Both sound scary, lol.
- What is your go-to Starbucks order?
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Grande vanilla sweet cream cold brew.
- What is your name, title, year in school and major?
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Robson Winter, Vice President of External Relations, Fourth year, Political Science and double minoring in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and Personality and Social Psychology
- “Most people don't know that I like to…
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…go camping and sleep in the back of my Subaru.”
- What is your favorite place or thing to do on the SDSU campus?
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I love skating around campus.
- If you could go back or forward in time, where would you go and why?
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I would go back to the second the universe started so that I could watch the hypothetical Big Bang and see what really happened.
- What is your go-to Starbucks order?
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I get a vanilla sweet cream cold brew and a sausage, cheddar and egg sandwich.
- What is your name, title, year in school and major?
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Sophia Koch, Vice President of Financial Affairs, Fourth year, Interdisciplinary Studies - Business, Psychology and Criminal Justice and minoring in Leadership
- “Most people don't know that I like to…
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...go to national parks for hikes and paint them. I've painted Arches, Grand Tetons and Joshua Tree National Park which are my favorites so far."
- What is your favorite place or thing to do on the SDSU campus?
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My favorite place on campus is definitely the Aztec Student Union. There are always so many people hanging out in the Union in the different rooms as well as all the amazing events that are always happening and open to everyone. I've definitely been in the Union more than anywhere else on campus.
- If you could go back or forward in time, where would you go and why?
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If I could go back or forward in time, I would love to go back in time in order to experience a lot of the coral reefs which are not as vibrant anymore. Being able to snorkel with my family a few decades ago would have been amazing to see all the marine life in a fully thriving environment.
- What is your go-to Starbucks order?
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My go-to Starbucks order is a grande iced chai with oat milk! Fairly basic but it gets the job done!
- What is your name, title, year in school and major?
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Sandy Mekany, Vice President of University Affairs, Fourth year, Political Science with a minor in Sociology and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
- “Most people don't know that I like to…
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...sing and interpret different song lyrics!”
- What is your favorite place or thing to do on the SDSU campus?
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My favorite thing to do on campus is grab Everbowl and hangout by the turtle pond.
- If you could go back or forward in time, where would you go and why?
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If I could go back or forward in time, I think I would go back to the mid 2000s to experience the music, like old Britney, Rihanna and Adele again.
- What is your go-to Starbucks order?
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My go-to Starbucks order is an iced blonde doppio with three pumps of white mocha and sweet cream shaken in!
Entertainment
CAL COAST CREDIT UNION
OPEN AIR THEATRE
Calendar
AUGUST 2022
