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Associated
Students Newsletter

Associated Students Dec '24

Holiday Message, Activities, and Reflections

Director's Message: Christina Brown

Dear A.S. Team,

Happy holidays! This year, our executive officers inspired us with their theme, Be the Change You Want to SEA, championing Safety, Equity and Accessibility. Together, we’ve turned that vision into action, creating meaningful change for students and our campus community.

Whether you’re a full-time or part-time staff member, your dedication and collaboration have made all the difference. I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved this year, and I’m deeply grateful for each of you.

Wishing you a joyful and restorative holiday season surrounded by loved ones.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Christina Brown, A.S. Executive Director

Snowflakes

San Diego's Holiday Favorites

With the holiday season in full swing, there is no better time to explore and revisit many of the festive activities that San Diego has to offer. Make sure to mark your calendars for the following events to enjoy with friends, family or even solo!

Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Dates:  Now–Dec. 31, 2024

Location:  The Old Globe Theatre

Admission:  $49 - $104

Journey to Who-ville and experience the magic of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! in this lively musical production at the Old Globe Theatre.

Ice Skating by the Sea

Dates:  Now–Jan. 5, 2025

Location:  Hotel Del Coronado

Admission:  $40 General Admission; $35 Value Skate Days (Nov. 27-28, Dec. 4-5, 11-12, 2024)

Skate at the beachfront ice skating rink located at the iconic Hotel del Coronado and enjoy views of the ocean. A portion of the proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish® San Diego. After working up an appetite skating, take a break at the Frostbite Lounge to enjoy a meal and holiday-themed beverages.

Balboa Park December Nights

Dates:  Dec. 6–7, 2024

Location:  Balboa Park

Admission:  Free

Since its debut in the late 1970s, Balboa Park December Nights has become an annual San Diego tradition, drawing over 350,000 attendees per year. The family-friendly event is a great way to embrace the holiday spirit with compelling light displays, attractions, musical performances as well as local and international cuisine from street vendors.

San Diego Bay Parade of Lights

Dates:  Dec. 8 and 15, 2024

Location:  San Diego Bay

Admission:  Free

The 54th Annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights promises holiday magic on the water! Watch as 80 brightly decorated boats sail from Shelter Island to Coronado, delighting over 100,000 spectators. This year’s theme is Peace on Earth. Celebrate the season and make the most of San Diego’s vibrant holiday traditions!

Ice skates hanging on a wall

Top Books & Independent Bookstore

Reading a book per month, the A.S. Book Club has amassed quite a collection of books in its library. Here are the A.S. Book Club's top five favorites, plus one:

  1. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

    Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why she finds herself as not only a single mother, but as the reluctant star of a beloved cooking show. Elizabeth isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo. The only book to, so far, earn a 5-star rating!

    A.S. Book Club Rating: 
    5.0

  2. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

    After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy is her way to cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished over thirty years ago. Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms to help one of his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

    A.S. Book Club Rating: 
    4.9

  3. It's a tie!

    The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

    Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? As Evelyn's life unfolds - revealing a ruthless ambition, an unexpected friendship and a great forbidden love - Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the actress.

    A.S. Book Club Rating: 
    4.8

    First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

    Evie Porter has everything a nice Southern girl could want: a doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence, a tight group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist. She must stay one step ahead of her past while making sure there's still a future in front of her. The stakes couldn't be higher — but then, Evie has always liked a challenge.

    A.S. Book Club Rating: 
    4.8

  4. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

    Fifteen-year-old Christopher Boone has Asperger's Syndrome. He doesn't like to be touched or meet new people, he cannot make small talk, and he hates the colors brown and yellow. One night, he observes that the neighbor's dog has been killed. Christopher knows this is wrong. He has never left his street on his own before, but now he'll have to in order to find out who killed the dog.

    A.S. Book Club Rating: 
    4.7

  5. Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead: A Novel by Emily Austin

    Gilda, a 20-something, atheist, animal-loving lesbian, cannot stop ruminating about death. Desperate for relief from her panicky mind, she responds to a flyer for free therapy at a local Catholic church, and finds herself being greeted by Father Jeff, who assumes she’s there for a job interview. Too embarrassed to correct him, Gilda is abruptly hired to replace the recently deceased receptionist, Grace. When the police discover suspicious circumstances surrounding Grace’s death, Gilda may have to finally reveal the truth about her mortifying existence.

    A.S. Book Club Rating: 
    4.5

If you love the smell of old books and want to escape to a calm and quiet place, here are some favorite local, independent book sellers:


Verbatim Books
793 30th Street, North Park, San Diego
verbatimbooks.com
With a rainbow book display, a gothic living room feel and a giant “Verbatim” sculpture built entirely out of books, Verbatim Books is an eclectic destination known for its used, antique and rare books. With 35,000 titles, it’s considered the largest independent bookstore in San Diego. And, best of all, leashed dogs are welcome!
The Book Catapult
3010-B Juniper Street, South Park, San Diego
thebookcatapult.com
The Book Catapult opened its doors in 2017 and quickly became ingrained in South Park culture. The small bookstore partners with area businesses for cocktail and coffee book clubs, sells local gifts in its small boutique and features readings by local authors.
Bluestocking Books
3817 5th Avenue, Hillcrest, San Diego
bluestockingbooks.com
Over 25 years ago, Bluestocking Books set up shop in a Hillcrest store front and has been delivering quality used books across all genres — with a particularly great selection for teens and kids — ever since.
Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore
3555 Rosecrans Street #107, Point Loma, San Diego
mystgalaxy.com
Opened in 1993, Mysterious Galaxy specializes in science fiction, fantasy, horror and young adult books. This is the kind of independent bookstore where a miniature dragon flies from the ceiling and there’s a cookbook section with recipes from fantasy and sci-fi novels.

If you enjoy reading or listening to an audio book, join the A.S. Book Club. For all the details, visit as.sdsu.edu/bookclub.

A series of books.

15 Questions

Ellie Paige

  1. What is your name, job title and major?

    My name is Ellie Paige. I’m a senior majoring in Sustainability and an MBAC Office Assistant.

  2. Which A.S. department do you work in?

    I work at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center. At the front desk, I assist with administrative work, work hands-on with customers, and help teach surfing lessons.

  3. How long have you worked for A.S.?

    I have worked for A.S. for 1 year and 9 months.

  4. Is your favorite part of working for A.S.?

    My favorite part about working for A.S. is being around students. Getting to see how much our students love to be on the water and watching them step out of their comfort zones has been so much fun!

  5. What was the last movie you saw? Thumbs up or thumbs down?

    Gnomeo and Juliet. Huge thumbs up, great movie.

  6. If you had to move to another country, which one would you choose?

    I would move to Costa Rica. Life is much slower there, the people are friendly, the cost of living is lower, and I would be able to use my Spanish.

  7. If you had one free hour each day, how would you use it?

    I would definitely take a nap.

  8. Would you rather be a superhero or the world’s best chef?

    I would be a superhero because hopefully, I would have a superpower. I would love to fly or to be invisible. As a superhero, I could help make the world a better place.

  9. What is your favorite book?

    “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr. I love historical fiction, and Doerr does a fantastic job of making you feel like you’re really in the book. The characters are complex and entertaining, and the ending left me with my jaw on the floor.

  10. Do you collect anything? What do you collect and why?

    I collect sand dollars. I find a lot on the beach when I’m working surf shifts, and I now have three jars full of them. I don’t know what I will end up doing with them, but for now, they are good decorations.

  11. If you had to sing karaoke right now, which song would you pick?

    "When it Rains it Pours" by Luke Combs. It is such a fun song, relatively easy to sing, and has lots of energy.

  12. Do you like to cook and what is your specialty?

    I love to cook! I have been making big batches of soup or pasta that I can warm up and eat throughout the week, but I think my favorite thing to make is tacos.

  13. Would you rather speak all languages or be able to talk with animals?

    I would rather talk with animals. I think I could learn a lot more from animals than from people, plus I prefer to be around animals anyway.

  14. What does your perfect burger have on it?

    Lettuce, tomato, avocado, cheese, pickles, and some kind of aioli.

  15. Which of your teachers is/was most memorable and why?

    Jess Ponting. He is an incredible and energetic teacher who cares deeply about what he’s teaching. He has a good mix of lecturing, videos, and in-class activities that keep his students engaged in the material. I loved the class I took with him, and am hoping to take another next semester.

Ellie with her co-workers.
Ellie with co-workers Noah P. (left) and Braxton B. (right)

A.S. Year in Review Trivia

A.S. Year in Review Trivia

As 2024 comes to a close, it's the perfect time to reflect on the incredible milestones achieved by A.S. this year. But how well do you know the highlights of A.S.'s work in 2024? Test your knowledge with our year in review trivia and celebrate the collective accomplishments of 2024!

  1. Rock the Vote is A.S.’ initiative centered around increasing civic engagement. How many students did Rock the Vote register for the National Election?

    1. 1,500
    2. 1,750
    3. 1,800
    4. 1,900

  2. What were the two themes of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 executive officers?

    1. Together as One, Get Stuff Done and Be the Change You Want to SEA
    2. Passion to Lead, Courage to Care and SEAze Your Opportunities
    3. Future Forward and SEA Your Future
    4. Year in CommUNITY and a Vision to SEA

  3. True or False? All of the musical performances at the Aztec Student Union Board’s (ASUB) fall 2024 events featured only SDSU students.

    1. True
    2. False

  4. How many sessions have occurred at The Backdoor Studio so far in 2024?

    1. 576
    2. 734
    3. 852
    4. 1,000

  5. How many total minutes of bowling have been played at Aztec Lanes in 2024?

    1. 583,826
    2. 753,840
    3. 1,812,997
    4. 1,901,980

  6. At which concert did the artist give out roses to fans during the show at the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre?

    1. Parker McCollum
    2. Joshua Bassett
    3. Stephen Sanchez
    4. Danny Ocean

  7. True or False? More than 100 events were hosted at Viejas Arena and the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre in 2024.

    1. True
    2. False

  8. How many work orders were received and completed by A.S. Graphics in 2024 (so far)?

    1. 325
    2. 408
    3. 592
    4. 746

  9. On average, how many people scanned in per minute during the busiest 15 minutes at the ARC this year?

    1. 12.3
    2. 13.7
    3. 15.8
    4. 17.5

  10. What was the busiest day on record for Aztec Recreation?

    1. Jan. 2, 2024
    2. Aug. 3, 2024
    3. Aug. 26, 2024
    4. Oct. 1, 2024

  11. Approximately how many stand up paddleboards did MBAC rent out over the past year?

    1. 3,500
    2. 4,700
    3. 6,300
    4. 7,400

  12. How many gallons of milk did the Children’s Center serve weekly?

    1. 100
    2. 56
    3. 90
    4. 25

  13. The Children’s Center provides breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack to all of the children. How many meals were served each month?

    1. 9,208
    2. 9,998
    3. 10,764
    4. 11,065

  14. What type of screen printed t-shirts or staff uniforms did Green Love try to encourage this year as the most environmentally and socially sustainable option?

    1. 100% Cotton
    2. Recycled Polyester (rPET)c
    3. 100% Organic Cotton
    4. B and C

  15. A.S. earned an award from the San Diego Green Building Council in February 2024. What is the name of the award?

    1. Leadership Legend
    2. Planet Protector
    3. Environmental Icon
    4. Eco Hero
Answer Key

  1. C. 1,800

    Rock the Vote Registered 1,800 students to register to vote, the third highest out of all the CSU’s!

  2. A. Together as One, Get Stuff Done and Be the Change You Want to SEA

    Together as One, Get Stuff Done was the theme for the 2023-24 executive officers and Be the Change You Want to SEA is the theme of the current 2024-25 executive officers.

  3. B. False

    This fall, all performances at ASUB events, such as at Nooners, Open Mic Night, Homecoming and Battle of the Bands, included at least one SDSU student performer. However, Nooners and Battle of the Bands featured bands where at least one member was an SDSU student, but not all members were from SDSU.

  4. D. 1,000+

    Over 1,000 reservations have occurred at The Backdoor Studio so far this year!

  5. C. 1,812,997

    With over 1.8 million minutes bowled, there have been approximately 173,578 total games bowled in Aztec Lanes in 2024 thus far.

  6. A. Parker McCollum

    Parker McCollum gave out roses to the crowd when he performed at the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre on Oct. 25.

  7. A. True

    Viejas Arena and the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre hosted public and private events including graduations, volleyball games, basketball games, skateboarding tournaments and more!

  8. D. 746 work orders were received and completed

    This does not include requests submitted by email only. One work order may take 15 minutes or up to three months to complete, and each work order may contain as many as seven individual projects.

  9. C. 15.8 people

    The busiest 15-minute time frame for entries at the ARC was 4:45-5 p.m. on Aug. 26. There were a total of 237 entries within those 15 minutes meaning about 15.8 people scanned in every minute!

  10. C. Aug. 26, 2024

    The first day of school was the busiest day on record both for the facilities as a whole and for the ARC alone. The ARC, Aquaplex and ARC Express together had 9,092 total entries. Of that, 7,715 were specifically for the ARC.

  11. D. 7,400

    Once each semester, Aztec Recreation members can rent a paddleboard for $5!

  12. B. 56

    Over 50 gallons of milk were served weekly at the Children’s Center!

  13. C. 10,764

    Each month, the Children’s Center served over 10,700 meals to all of their children.

  14. D. Options B and C

    Conventional cotton is a problematic crop due to its reliance on harmfol synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which damage ecosystems and pose health risks. Green Love encourages A.S. to opt for rPET garments and 100% organic cotton.

  15. A. Leadership Legend

    A.S. was awarded as the recipient of the 2023 Leadership Legend Award in February 2024 from the San Diego Green Building Council.
Members of Mission Bay Aquatic Center paddle boarding.