Associated Students Staff Newsletter

Aztecs Rock Hunger (ARH) is underway! Running now through Nov. 30, A.S.’ annual campaign brings the SDSU community together to fight food insecurity and support students and community members facing financial and food-related challenges. Every $1 donated provides two meals to someone in need, with proceeds supporting the SDSU Economic Crisis Response Team, A.S. Food Pantry and Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank.

There are still plenty of ways for A.S. employees to get involved, from attending events to supporting local businesses that are giving back to the campaign. Check out these upcoming opportunities to make an impact!

Get Involved: Upcoming Events and Fundraisers

• Yogurtland Fundraiser | Monday, Nov. 2: Stop by Yogurtland at 6165 El Cajon Blvd. and show the required flyer to have 20% of your purchase donated to ARH.
• Del’s Hideout Fundraiser | Tuesday, Nov. 3: Dine at Del’s Hideout, located at 5351 Adobe Falls Road, and 20% of the restaurant’s average daily sales will support ARH.
• Aztecs Rock Hunger Pie Day | Wednesday, Nov. 4, 12-2 p.m.: Stop by the Student Union to toss a pie, fill the pantry and help support ARH!
• Woodstock’s Pizza Fundraisers | Wednesday, Nov. 4, and Wednesday, Nov. 11: Enjoy pizza at Woodstock’s, located at 6145 El Cajon Blvd., and show the required flyer to have 20% of your purchase donated to ARH.
• Primos Fundraiser | Thursday, Nov. 5: Grab a bite at Primos in the Student Union and show the required flyer to donate 20% of your purchase to ARH.
• The Mesa Bar and Grill Fundraiser | Saturday, Nov. 14: Dine at The Mesa Bar and Grill, located at 6164 El Cajon Blvd., and 15% of the proceeds will support ARH.
• Friendsgiving with Aztecs Rock Hunger | Wednesday, Nov. 18, 6-8 p.m.: Celebrate gratitude and community at this event featuring free food, with contributions from Aztec Shops and businesses in the College Area Business District. The event is for SDSU students only.
• Rubio’s Fundraiser | Thursday, Nov. 19: Visit the on-campus Rubio’s location, show the required flyer and 30% of your purchase will support ARH.

Visit the Aztecs Rock Hunger events page for additional details and fundraiser flyers.

You can also donate directly to the campaign or encourage friends and family to contribute. Every donation and effort to spread the word helps make a difference in the lives of those experiencing food insecurity.

Thank you for helping us rock hunger!

In this next edition of A.S. Behind the Scenes, read about Jamie Eubanks day in her life as the Mission Bay Aquatic Center Instructional Coordinator!


 

9 a.m. - 12 p.m.: Teaching Intro to Watersports

Before we hit the water, we hit the classroom. We review the day’s conditions, plan our route to visit Billy and Gracie (the Bahia Hotel’s resident rescue seals), cover navigation rules and courtesy and nerd out on paddle physics to make sure our trip is efficient.  

Our trip planning was a success and the seals put on a show with adorable poses. But, if you want pictures of the seals, you have to join us on a paddle!


12-1:30 p.m.: Changing Conditions Check Ins


The wind is picking up, and there are reports from surf instructors of stronger than usual ocean currents. I check in with classes to make sure our plans, group management and skills match the conditions.

We recently hired a new stand-up paddle yoga instructor, and I wanted to make sure he wouldn’t be caught off guard by any wind-related teaching surprises. He’d already talked it through with the other instructors and identified a good spot. It makes me happy when someone new is already demonstrating situational awareness and planning!

When I went to see the classes in action, both the surf instructors and the new yoga instructor confirmed my suspicions…they were putting good decisions into action and engaging with their classes in a productive way. The surf crew may have been a little goofy during our pre-class conditions chat, but they know when to switch into business mode! 



1:30-2 p.m.: Don’t be Jelly of our Surprise Science!


I was chatting with some members about their experience on the water and they told me they saw some jellyfish. What they described didn’t sound typical for Mission Bay; it caught my interest and I told Austin. He used his eagle eyes to locate a few in our dock area. We teamed up and used cross-bearings (dusting off our waterfront lifeguarding skills) to locate and “rescue” them. It was a fun opportunity to model a concept that can be tricky to grasp and show our staff how it works in practice.


Brooke, our resident marine science expert, identified them as harmless visitors from Australia. After enjoying a little land time in San Diego, we gave them some local taco shop recommendations and sent them on their way. Our students loved the surprise science, and so did we!


2-2:30 p.m.: Tiller Toward Trouble (That’s a sailing joke, come take a class and find out why!)


Our Quest rudders have been taking more of a beating than they should, and Lance and Paul already have plenty to keep them busy in the shop. After some detective work, we suspected students were feeling rushed during launches and resorting to brute force instead of understanding how the rudder works and how to deploy it calmly.

That’s not great for the equipment or the student experience. Launching should feel calm and controlled, not like you have ten seconds left on the clock and have to choose between cutting the red or green wire. Matt, our Sailing Program Assistant, and I have been working with instructors on when and how to teach the rudder mechanics, including modeling the instruction we want students to hear in every class.

Hopefully, this means fewer nightmares for Lance about zombie sailors bashing rudders and bending tillers into submission.


2:30-5 p.m.: Mission PAssible: Some Projects and Problem Solving

I work with our program assistants (PAs) on long-term projects and administrative duties. We also make sure the weekend schedule is in good shape so everyone is set up for success.

Tyler is experimenting with his coding skills to see how they can help update our inventory tracking process. Alejandro is working on finding ways to make our paddle orientations more consistent. Matt thoroughly enjoyed finding two mistakes in my proposed 2027 Sailing Rec Class Schedule. Sasha has a clipboard in her hand, so you know she’s taking care of business!

Applications for the Fall 2026 A.S. Part-Time Student Employee Scholarships are currently open. Five $1,000 scholarships are available to A.S. student employees.


Applicants must submit a brief personal essay that answers the following prompt:

• Share your academic and career goals.
• Provide details about how A.S. has contributed to your personal growth, professional development or career goals.
• Most importantly, reflect on your experience working at A.S. What moments or experiences stand out to you?
• The essay should be two to three pages and double-spaced. Typing and grammar are considered.

To apply, submit your essay via the Fall 2026 A.S. Student Employee Scholarship Form by Monday, Nov. 9, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (PST). The application and requirements may also be accessed directly on the A.S. website.

We’ve jumbled up 10 classic fall phrases below. Use the clues provided to unscramble each word puzzle, write down your answers and scroll to the bottom to check your score against the answer key!

P E L P A / K I N G P I C
Clue: A classic orchard trip that usually ends in fresh pie and warm donuts.
K I N P M U P / T A C H P
Clue: The place you go searching for the perfect orange jack-o'-lantern.
T E R A W E S / T E R E A H W
Clue: The time of year to pull out your favorite knits and oversized cardigans!
Y A D I R H E
Clue: A bumpy, festive ride pulled through the fields by a tractor.
R O N C / Z A M E 
Clue: Don't lose your way while navigating through these tall stalks!
P I C E D S / R E D I C
Clue: A warm, comforting autumn beverage often garnished with a cinnamon stick.
K I N P M U P / C E P I S / T E T L A 
Clue: The quintessential coffee shop drink order as soon as October hits.
F I R E N O B / T I G H N 
Clue: Gathering around the open flames to roast marshmallows and tell stories.
N O M A N I C N / T I C K S 
Clue: A fragrant spice bundle used to flavor baked goods and warm brews.
S I P R C / T U M N U A / R A I
Clue: That refreshing, cool breeze that signals summer is officially over.



Answer Key

CLICK TO REVEAL ANSWERS

1. Apple Picking
2. Pumpkin Patch
3. Sweater Weather
4. Hayride
5. Corn Maze
6. Spiced Cider
7. Pumpkin Spice Latte
8. Bonfire Night
9. Cinnamon Stick
10. Crisp Autumn Air

Getting lost in a great book is an experience worth celebrating! At the A.S. Book Club, our members dive into a diverse range of genres, often discovering hidden gems and stories they might never have picked up on their own. These reads spark fantastic discussions, allowing members to see different perspectives through the eyes of their colleagues. Curious about what the A.S. Book Club has been reading? After each book, members cast their votes — here are the recent ratings!

Recent Ratings:

• Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman: 3.9 stars
• His & Hers by Alice Feeny: 4.5 stars
• Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson: 3.7 stars

Up next for Nov. 12 is Harold and Maude by Colin Higgins:

“Nineteen-year-old Harold Chasen is obsessed with death. He fakes suicides to shock his self-obsessed mother, drives a hearse and attends funerals of complete strangers. Seventy-nine-year-old Maude Chardin, on the other hand, adores life. She liberates trees from city sidewalks and transplants them to the forest, paints smiles on the faces of church statues and “borrows” cars to remind their owners that life is fleeting — here today, gone tomorrow! A chance meeting between the two turns into a madcap, whirlwind romance and Harold learns that life is worth living, and how to play the banjo.” 

On the A.S. Book Club website, you’ll find a variety of books that club members are voting on to decide what to read next, including titles like, Sharp Objects, Verity, Yesteryear and Theo of Golden; A Novel.

If you enjoy reading books or listening to audiobooks, we invite you to join the A.S. Book Club meeting on the second Thursday of each month at 4:45 p.m. in Council Chambers (3rd Floor, Student Union).

• Tip: If you don't want the expense of purchasing books, print books, eBooks and audiobooks are available for free with a San Diego Public Library card or via the Libby App by OverDrive.
• How to Join: Contact Dawn, Aztec Recreation Office Coordinator, at ddinardo@sdsu.edu or visit the A.S. Book Club website.

Michele Raymond, Associated Students Human Resources Director

Hello A.S. team! My name is Michele Raymond, and I’m excited to introduce myself to
the team as your new Human Resources Director.

I am a graduate from the University of Connecticut with my degree in psychology and child development. Early on, I thought I was going to be an elementary school teacher to fuel my passion for learning, development and children. With an unexpected relocation to America’s Finest City early in my career, I took an opportunity to be part of a growing company's HR team and spent the next 20+ years at Qualcomm. At Qualcomm, I learned to love finding new ways to solve problems and realized that as part of the HR team, each day we can seek to make a difference and help make people’s lives just a little better than the day before.

Outside of work, you’ll find me hiking Torrey Pines or beach cruising around Mission Bay spending time with my family and friends and traveling. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such a wonderful and welcoming team, and iIm looking forward to this exciting new chapter!

1. What is your name, job title and major?
   My name is Chris Justiniano, I am one of the Building Services Leads, and I am a Mechanical Engineering student.
2. Which A.S. department do you work in? Describe your job in 25 words or less.
   I work in Building Services at the ARC where we maintain and service machines, the building and other facilities under Aztec Recreation.
3. How long have you worked for A.S.?
   5 years.
4. What is your favorite part of working for A.S.?
   The ability to work and enhance my professional skills while also attending classes and increasing my knowledge.
5. What was the last movie you saw? Thumbs up or thumbs down?
   The last movie I watched was “I Saw the Devil.” A very intense film but thumbs up.
6. There is a free, round-trip shuttle to Mars. The catch: it will take one year of your life to go, visit, and come back. Are you in? And why?
   I would not take the trip because I think spending a whole year to go to Mars and come back would take too much time away from what I want to be doing right now. If I was older and/or retired, I would be more open to it.
7. Which three people (living or dead) would you like to have dinner with? And why?
   Alex Volkanovski because he is a big beef and steak guy, Luke Nichols from The Outdoor Boys because he makes dinner in the woods and Jo Koy. I think these three together would make for a wild and fun dinner.
8. If you had one free hour each day, how would you use it?
   I would use it to get an extra hour of sleep.
9. Which famous person from history would you most like to meet? And why?
   I would like to meet Miyamoto Musashi because I would like to pick his thoughts on mentality and strategy.
10. What is your favorite book? And why?
    Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” because having to read it in highschool made me interested in reading all together.
11. If you had to sing karaoke right now, which song would you pick? And why?
    I would sing “Let Me Love You” by Mario because it is one of my go-to karaoke songs.
12. You have your own late night talk show, who would you invite as your first guest?
    Mike Tyson
13. What does your perfect burger have on it?
    The In-N-Out double double with onions, no pickles.
14. Which of your teachers is/was most memorable and why?
    One of my coaches when I was younger gave me a lesson that I try to apply in my everyday life: if I am going to do something, then I am going to do it to the best of my ability with maximum effort.
15. Which A.S. staff member has inspired/supported you the most? And how?
    The Building Services Lead before me, Shane Turner, was an influential part in my development at Aztec Rec who gave me guidance professionally, educationally and personally.