Holiday Message

From Christina Brown, A.S. Executive Director

Dear A.S. Team

It's amazing that another year is coming to a close. For A.S., it was a historical year with the opening of the new Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union. It was also an amazing time to reconnect with proud alumni student leaders that many of you have worked with over the decades. Can you imagine the SDSU student experience without the Union, the Children's Center, recreation and entertainment facilities? What you have helped to build and constantly improve defines the Aztec Experience.

Over the next year, I would like to receive feedback from you about anything we can be doing within A.S. to improve the full-time or part-time employee experience as well as the experiences of the students and communities we serve. I would also like to hear stories about individual student Aztec Experiences that you know about in which A.S. has shaped their story. More to come on this, but feel free to reach out to me at any time to share your thoughts.

Thank you for another amazing year of service. I hope you enjoy some relaxation and time with loved ones this holiday season.

Season's Greetings!
Christina

304,718 Pounds

A new record has been set!

THANK YOU!

In just over three weeks, SDSU collected over 304,000 pounds of food for the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. This equals 60,000 meals for hungry San Diegans. YOUR donation made a difference. Thank you A.S. Family!

— Alex Padua, Aztecs Rock Hunger Chairperson and A.S. Vice President of Financial Affairs

Who collected the most?

• Sport Clubs Category – SDSU Dance Team
• Student Organization Category – Student Nutrition Organization
• College Council Category – College of Health and Human Services
• Fraternities and Sororities Category – Kappa Sigma Fraternity
• A.S. Board and Committee Category – Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union Board

The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County. Last year, the Food Bank distributed 22.3 million pounds of food, and the Food Bank served, on average, 320,000 people per month in San Diego County.

The Food Bank receives food from the USDA, food manufacturers, food retailers, the agricultural sector, food drives, and through financial contributions that enable them to purchase protein-rich foods, fresh produce, and dry staple foods such as beans, oatmeal and rice.

The Food Bank works to acquire, store, organize and distribute food through a network of 350 nonprofit partner organizations that include food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless and residential shelters, youth programs, senior centers, and low-income daycare centers in communities throughout San Diego County.  The Food Bank also distributes food directly to those in need at 183 distribution sites throughout the county.

More than 446,000 people live below the poverty level in San Diego County. That equates to a household income of less than $10,890 for an individual and $22,350 for a family of four. These individuals face “food insecurity,” which means that little or no food is available at home and they do not always know where they will find their next meal.

• 30% of the food the Food Bank distributed was fresh produce, totaling over 6.1 million pounds.
• The Food Bank provided weekend backpacks full of food to 1,400 chronically hungry school children at 30 elementary schools every Friday during the school year.
• The Food Bank provided 8,400 low-income seniors a box of groceries and staple food items at 50 distribution sites throughout the county every month.

Basketball 2014-15

Go Aztecs!

It’s Aztec Basketball time! Come out and support the Women’s and Men’s teams. Below is a list of home games played at the Viejas Arena. Visit goaztecs.com for ticket information.

15 Questions

Carlos Careaga, A.S. Finance Director

What is your name and title?
Carlos Careaga – Finance Director of A.S.

Which A.S. department do you work in?
I oversee the Accounting, Financial Planning and I.T. functions of A.S.

How many years have you worked for A.S.?
January 5, 2015 will be my three-year anniversary.

What was the last movie you saw?
“Book of Life.” My kids enjoy movies, as do I, so we saw it together. Very colorful, great story and I enjoy “Day of the Dead” themed art. A thumbs up.

If you won $5 million what would you do with it?
Pay off our house, redo our kitchen, make sure the in-laws houses are paid for, put aside education funds for the kids and start traveling again.

What is your favorite dessert? And why?
Bread pudding, nothing like warm carbs for comfort food.

What city would you like to visit or visit again?
Segovia, Spain. A small town outside of Madrid, with a centuries old Roman aqueduct, castle and incredible church. Walking the streets and spending time in a quiet picturesque town. It is a town where time has almost stood still and it’s a great place to relax and unwind.

Would you rather build a sandcastle or a snowman? And why?
I can’t answer this question. I live in Southern California, so I don’t have to choose. I have actually done both in a 12-hour period, which is why I live here.

Who is your favorite singer / musician / musical group? And why?
This is a tough question. I enjoy all types of music. I could pick Miles Davis or Amy Winehouse. But I will say Judas Priest. I just returned from a road trip to see them in concert. To see Rob Halford perform for two hours at a high level while he and his band mates are in their 60’s is incredible.

What is your favorite book?
“Grapes of Wrath” – Steinbeck’s portrayal of the Jode family is incredibly detailed and honest. The research he did prior to writing the book shows his dedication to his craft.

What three things are always in your refrigerator? And why?
Apple Juice, I have two kids who were weaned on the stuff. Yogurt, cause it does a body good and eggs, because Sunday morning pancakes is about as close to a sure thing in our house that you will get.

If you could go back or forward in time, where would you go?
I would want to go back in time. To be born in the 50’s and be around for a simpler time in America but to also witness the tremendous change that occurred, the Civil Rights Movement, scientific achievements, great music and great growth in America.

“Most people don’t know that I like to…”
…enjoy a good cigar. An accounting professor in graduate school introduced several of us students to the enjoyment of the occasional cigar. I don’t indulge as often as I used to, mainly because of the cost and illegality of smoking anywhere except in your back yard.

When you visit the Zoo, which animal do you make sure you see?
We go to the zoo a lot, and my two kids argue which to see first. It’s either the Giraffes or the Elephants. I personally like to see the big cats, but I rarely get to see them.

Who is your favorite actor or actress?
Another tough question, but today it is Jason Statham. He is a staple in Guy Ritchie films, simple movies with a simple plot but plenty of action. His movies are always enjoyable and a great way to relax for 90 minutes.

Entertainment

Tuesday, December 2, 8 p.m.

Fleetwood Mac

Friday, January 23, 6:45 p.m.

Pierce The Veil / Sleeping With Sirens

Calendar

December 2014

Archive

A.S. News