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Pride Flags?2024-10-06

Pride Month

Pride celebrations, protests and marches primarily take place in June and July across the U.S. and around the world, including San Diego. Pride Month in June and Pride Week in July are also held at SDSU, and are essential celebrations and times to acknowledge the LGBTQIA+ community’s journey toward acceptance and equality. This is also a time to acknowledge the ongoing challenges that members of the LGBTQIA+ community face.

Read below as one of our full-time staff members reflect on what Pride Month means to them:

Carlos Guillen, with his husband, Chris

Carlos Guillen, with his husband, Chris on their wedding day.

"Pride is a time to acknowledge the strength and resilience of the queer community. For me, it encompasses a deep sense of self-respect that arises from living an authentic life despite being marginalized. I celebrate Pride because it affirms that joy can exist outside of the artificial norms society puts on us and disrupts the narrative that continues to be used to exclude, stigmatize and oppress."

— Carlos Guillen, Assistant Director of A.S. Programs

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We also invite our A.S. staff to participate in the following events:

Pride-Themed ARC Classes
Monday, July 15 through Friday, July 19 (times vary)

Take some time to try a new class at the ARC! The ARC will be hosting Pride-themed fitness classes during the week leading up San Diego Pride! Move your body to a Pride-themed playlist, get some Pride-themed giveaways and learn more about what The Pride Center has to offer. Classes will be led by ARC instructors and are intended for all levels and abilities.

Rainbow Picnic
Tuesday, July 16, 12-1 p.m.

Celebrate San Diego Pride with The Pride Center by playing games, eating lunch and spending time in community. Meet by the Turtle Pond for a relaxing, laid-back afternoon with the community.

Flag Raising Ceremony
Wednesday, July 17, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

The annual Flag Raising Ceremony takes place on the Wednesday before the San Diego Pride Parade. The tradition of raising the flag over SDSU’s campus began in 2007 and was originally called the Rainbow Flag Raising Ceremony. The Flag Raising Ceremony will be taking place in the Goldberg Courtyard of the Student Union.

Pride Week Clothing Swap
Friday, July 19, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 

Looking for that one special piece to complete your outfit for Pride? The Pride Center might have exactly what you’ve been searching for. Stop by the center to check out their Gender-Affirming Closet and find that final piece.

San Diego Pride Parade (free community event)
Saturday, July 20, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 

This year’s San Diego Pride Parade theme is, “Making History Now.” This annual celebration brings together the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to honor diversity, promote equality and celebrate love in all its forms. The parade is the largest single-day civic event in the region and is one of the biggest Pride events in the U.S., drawing over 300,000 attendees. Cheer on parade participants and celebrate and honor the LGBTQIA+ community. The SDSU Color Guard is hosting this year’s SDSU delegation. To walk with the SDSU delegation, you must register in advance by completing the online Pride Parade Registration Form and complete the SDSU Liability and Photo Authorization Form. Print, sign and bring both forms to the parade.

For more information on Pride Week celebrations, go to The Pride Center’s website.

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Tajuddin Henry accepting his award?2024-10-06
SDSU student Tajuddin Henry is joined by California State University Chancellor Mildred García and Jack Clarke, chair of the CSU Board of Trustees, during the Black Student Success Scholarship ceremony.

Executive Officer Receives First-Ever Scholarship

2024-25 A.S. Executive Vice President Tajuddin Henry was recently awarded as one of six California State University students honored for their leadership in community service and advocating for Black excellence. Read below to learn more about Tajuddin’s story and scholarship.

This article previously appeared in SDSU NewsCenter.

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Since middle school, Tajuddin Henry said he couldn't wait to get to college. 

Higher learning presented him the opportunity to pursue his true passions – nurturing his creativity, passion for public service and building community, things he felt he couldn’t truly pursue during his secondary education while growing up in South Los Angeles. 

“While I was nurtured and grew into who I am because of the lessons I learned in school, my best traits as a student and person were overlooked by traditional educational metrics,” Henry said. “I saw college not just as an educational institution, but as a vibrant community where I could actively shape and be shaped by diverse experiences and perspectives to ensure that students, especially those from backgrounds similar to mine, feel seen, supported and empowered.” 

Since his arrival at San Diego State University in Fall 2022, Henry has made his vision of college a reality, pursuing multiple avenues of co-curricular, social and community involvement. 

The California State University System is honoring Henry’s exceptional record of academic success, service and involvement, as it was announced Friday that he is one of six students to receive the inaugural Black Student Success Scholarship.

Sponsored by the CSU Foundation, students receive a $5,000 award for the 2024-25 academic year. The recipients were selected for demonstrating leadership in increasing equitable access to higher education and undertaking community service that promotes anti-racism work and cultural change to elevate Black excellence, according to a news release. 

“These scholars represent the highest ideals and brightest future of our university system and embody our commitment to creating a culture and community throughout the CSU where all students, faculty and staff have equitable representation, holistic support and an authentic sense of belonging,” CSU Chancellor Mildred García said. 

Henry, a rising junior who was on hand in Sacramento to receive the award during the CSU Juneteenth Symposium, said the scholarship is a game changer for him.

“Being awarded the Black Student Success Scholarship represents not only a recognition of my efforts thus far but also an affirmation of my commitment to my academic and community-centric goals,” Henry said. 

“I have always cared about bettering my community and investing in those around me, and by alleviating my financial burden, this scholarship will enable me to further dedicate time to advocating for the needs of and striving to uplift those around me,” Henry said. “It reaffirms that the path I have chosen—one of service, advocacy, and education—is not only viable but valued.” 

Henry is double majoring in Africana Studies and Public Health with a minor in leadership development and holds a 3.45 grade-point average. He was elected to the Associated Students executive board for the 2024-25 school year as executive vice president. He serves as events chair for the Student African American Brotherhood, an academic coach at the Black Resource Center (BRC) and is an active member of his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. 

He also serves as residential advisor and is actively involved in Swipe Out Hunger, serving as a policy advocate. 

Leilani Anderson, a senior business administration major who worked alongside Henry at the BRC, said that she isn’t surprised that he is being honored with the scholarship.

“Taj truly embodies what this scholarship means through his dedication to uplifting the black community at SDSU,” she said. “I’m excited to witness his continued contributions and impact.” 

SDSU staff who have watched Henry blossom during his time on campus say there’s no one more deserving of the honor. 

“Tajuddin being awarded the inaugural Black Student Success Scholarship is a testament to his academic achievements and deep commitment to leadership,” said Christina Brown, executive director of Associated Students. 

“As the newly elected Executive Vice President of A.S., his passion for inclusivity and student empowerment are commendable. This scholarship honors his achievements and also provides him with the support to further his mission of creating a positive and impactful environment.”

BRC Assistant Director Donnae Prather said Henry’s involvement at the center provides a glimpse into his commitment to service. 

“Taj has shown leadership and service on so many levels,” Prather said. “I am looking forward to continuing to see him shine and make a difference.”

SDSU offers a number of programs and services to foster and promote Black excellence, including the Henrietta Goodwin Scholars Program and Harold K. Brown Knowledge, Education and Empowerment Program, Black Transfer Student Support, the African American Mentoring Program and the Black Research Symposium, among others. Most operate out of the Black Resource Center, which Henry said has been pivotal to his success at SDSU.

“The Black Resource Center has nurtured me as a student since before I came on campus; it is the sole reason I have been so willing to become involved or felt comfortable committing to SDSU as my home for my undergraduate experience,” Henry said. “As a student, a leader, an employee and as an individual the BRC has helped me grow into the man I am today, and my community and staff have done nothing but support me with open arms and open ears.”

Henry, who said he is motivated by paying his success forward to the next generation of students and championing holistic student development, has ambitious goals for the 2024-25 academic year. 

In addition to personal goals of raising his GPA and developing his future career skills as a policy advocate, researcher and public health professional, Henry said he plans on applying for the Quest for the Best and Donald A. Strauss Scholarship Foundation scholarship, running for Homecoming Court and seeking membership in the Mortar Board Senior Honor Society. 

“By leading and participating in initiatives that advocate for holistic student development and success, not only do I feed my inner child, I hope to influence positive changes that will benefit current and future students,” Henry said. 

After graduation, he wants to pursue a master’s degree in Public Health and Public Policy, which he said will allow him “to advocate for the erasure of disparities that minoritized communities face at various levels in social, educational, medicinal and political fields.”

Henry eventually plans to earn a doctorate in Public Health and Africana Studies. 

“This support emboldens my resolve to continue pushing for systemic change both within my university and in broader communities, ensuring that my academic journey is not just about personal achievement, but about fostering collective growth and success,” Henry said. 

The 2024 inaugural CSU Black Student Success Scholars are:

Armand Jovaughn Egere, CSU Dominguez Hills
Asad Franklin, Sonoma State
Tajuddin Henry, San Diego State
Olympia Joy Pereira, San Francisco State
Aliyshah Shamburger, Cal State San Bernardino
Chloe Thomas, Cal State Long Beach

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A.S. staff members competing?2024-10-06
Dawn DiNardo takes aim during a Field Day event.

Field Day 2024

We hope everyone had a great time at Field Day 2024!

We are proud of A.S. for having not only one, but two teams placed in the top eight out of 45 teams in the obstacle course challenge! From inflatable obstacles and blindfolded puzzles to frisbee golf tosses and skiing across the field on 4x4’s, both A.S. teams showed up ready and showed out! Way to represent A.S.!

We hope everyone enjoyed the hot dogs, music and fun in the sun and thank you to our Aztec Adventures team for putting on the obstacle course for all of the teams to enjoy!

ARC Field Day Team

Get Rec’d — Front Row, From Left to Right: Cole Davis, Carlos Payan, Amanda Gonzalez and Adam McClanahan. Back Row, From Left to Right: Nate Wolf, Seth Wayne and Adrian Macias-Sanchez.

Union Team

Associated Not Students — From Left to Right: Brandon Cespedes, Samuel Ramtin, Raquel Herriott, Kaylani Brown, Brian Levett, Rodrigo Mercado, Mohammad Hamed Rasooli and Richard Benson.

 

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A.S. staff members enjoying lunch?2024-10-06
Left to Right: Olivia Li, Brian Levett and Sam Ramtin enjoy lunch at the Mediterranean Garden.

Lunch Spots to Visit Around Campus

By Olivia Li, Marketing and Communications Coordinator

If you’re looking for a new lunch spot on campus this summer, you’re in luck! Earlier this month, some of the Government Affairs staff and I went around campus scouting out some of the best lunch spots to take a break and enjoy nature.

We scored each of the lunch spots with the following criteria: walking distance (from the Student Union), shade available, seating available and overall ambiance. Hope you find a new place to enjoy your well-deserved lunch!

Native and Indigenous Healing Garden

Scoring:

  • Walk: 7/10
  • Shade: 6/10
  • Seating: 10/10 if you’re going by yourself or 2/10 with a group
  • Ambiance: 9/10

Native and Indigenous Healing Garden

The Native and Indigenous Healing Garden opened in 2021 and was created to be reminiscent of the elaborate gardens that the Aztecs enjoyed in Tenochtitlán, the capital of the Aztec Empire. This spot is great if you are going on a solo lunch break, with only one main bench sitting under a pergola. Enjoy the sounds from the fountain as well as the 30’ x 60’ mural that captures the significance of plants to indigenous life.

Mediterranean Garden

Scoring:

  • Walk: 7/10
  •  Shade: 10/10
  • Seating: 10/10
  • Ambiance: 10/10

Mediterranean Garden

The Mediterranean Garden is a beautiful spot with plants from the five Mediterranean regions: California Floristic Province, Chile, Mediterranean Basin, South Africa and Australia. The ambiance is wonderful with a fountain that provides great background noise to your lunch. The garden is also close to Bell Pavillion so if you’re picking up your lunch, you can walk an extra couple of minutes to enjoy the garden.

Storm Hall Patio

Scoring:

  • Walk: 3/10
  • Shade: 10/10
  • Seating: 10/10
  • Ambiance: 8/10

Storm Hall Patio

The Storm Hall Patio has a great view of San Diego that is sure to be relaxing on your lunch break. While the walking score is low if you’re walking from the Union, the Storm Hall Patio would be a quick walk for our ARC staff. Be careful — there are some wobbly tiles that lowered the ambiance score.

Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences Courtyard

Scoring:

  • Walk: 7/10
  • Shade: 10/10
  • Seating: 7/10 
  • Ambiance: 9/10

Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences Courtyard

The Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences Courtyard opened five years ago and is a more hidden spot for a nice lunch break. While there is lots of shade, some of the sap and pollen from the foliage has dirtied the tables and chairs, lowering the seating score and construction nearby can make this place hard to find. If you are able to find the Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences Courtyard, it’s a great spot for a break.

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Associated Students Logo?2024-10-06

New A.S. Employees

Giselle Geiler, SDSU Children’s Center Master Teacher

Giselle Geiler

Hello everyone! My name is Giselle Geiler and I am the new Master Teacher at the SDSU Children's Center!

I began at the Children's Center as a lab student and it is hard to believe I am now a Master Teacher. I have worked with all age groups and thoroughly enjoy witnessing every benchmark and milestone they accomplish. Every child is special in their own way and I consider myself very lucky to be a small part of their journey. 

My journey first began when I got accepted into SDSU as an undeclared student. I had no idea what I wanted to do so I began looking through various electives. I came across a child and family development class and immediately knew that's what I wanted to study. I found the journey of childhood and parenting incredibly interesting and more than anything, essential. I believe every person should take a child and family development class at least once in their lifetime because the nurturing and care of children is so essential to a productive society. I graduated with my bachelor’s in Child and Family Development in December 2023, but knew I wanted to stay at the Children's Center because of how much I loved the children, faculty and families. I am so incredibly lucky to be hired as a Master Teacher and continue my career here at SDSU!

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Mariana Ortiz Calderon, SDSU Children’s Center Master Teacher

Mariana Ortiz Calderon

Hello everyone! My name is Mariana Ortiz Calderon and I am so excited to be the new Master Teacher at the SDSU Children’s Center. I was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, but moved to the U.S. at the age of seven. I grew up in Solano County, up in Northern California, and began attending San Diego State in 2020. 

I began working at the Children’s Center in 2022 and graduated this past May with a bachelor’s in Child and Family Development. At the beginning of this year, I was offered the Interim Master Teacher position and loved my time in the class. When it came time to apply to the full-time position, I could not pass up the opportunity.

Beyond my profession, I enjoy quality time with family and friends. During my free time, you can find me at the beach, enjoying new restaurants and going on picnics. 

I look forward to my time with the children and I hope to make a difference in the lives of so many little ones! I am beyond excited to begin my journey as part of the Associated Students community.

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Nate Riebe visiting an art museum?2024-10-06

15 Questions

Nate Riebe

  1. What is your name, job title and major?
  2. Hello! My name is Nate Riebe. I am a Graphics Assistant for A.S. and am majoring in graphic design.

  3. Which A.S. department do you work in?
  4. I work in Business Services as a Graphics Assistant. I help in creating posters and advertisements for A.S. events and programs.

  5. How long have you worked for A.S.?
  6. Six months.

  7. What is your favorite part of working for A.S.?
  8. I have never worked in a graphic design position before, so it has been a really nice experience getting to learn and adapt to something new. My co-workers have also been super helpful in helping me learn the ropes of the job and making me feel welcome.

  9. What was the last movie you saw? Thumbs up or thumbs down?
  10. The last movie I saw was “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.” I hadn’t seen any of the other “Planet of the Ape” movies before, and I was surprised by how good it was.

  11. 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?
  12. I’m probably not in, just because I feel like there wouldn’t be much to do on Mars. I wouldn’t want to waste an entire year just to see a lot of red rock even though it would be cool to be one of the first people there.

  13. If you had to move to another country, which one would you choose?
  14. Unfortunately, I have never left the country, but I think I would like to live in countries like Japan or Australia where they have a good mix of beautiful nature and really cool cities.

  15. What is your favorite book? 
  16. Sadly, I haven’t gotten around to reading recently, but when I was younger, I was obsessed with the Percy Jackson series. I think more recently one of my favorites is “The Catcher in the Rye” by J. D. Salinger because it had a very impactful message to me.

  17. If you could start a charity, what would it be for?
  18. If I could start a charity, I would want it to be for saving endangered animals and helping to regrow their populations. I have always loved animals and I think with more issues like global warming occurring, there would be a need for more help.

  19. Do you like to cook and what is your specialty?
  20. One of my newer goals is to get better at cooking and so recently I have been learning how to cook new things. I think my favorite thing I have made so far is fettuccine alfredo with Cajun chicken.

  21. If you could go back or forward in time, where would you go?
  22. I would go forward in time — I think seeing all the new types of technology and how the world has changed would be super interesting.

  23. "Most people don't know that I like to...
  24. …go camping. I was a boy scout for a long time and have probably gone on enough camping trips to make up a year of my life. I love seeing nature and connecting with other people and camping is one of the best ways to do that.”

  25. Would you rather speak all languages or be able to talk with animals?
  26. I would rather be able to talk with animals. I have always wanted to know what my pets are thinking and feeling. Also, some animals like tortoises can live for over 200 years and I think it would be fascinating to speak with them.

  27. What type of pets do you have and what are their names?
  28. My family and I have a beagle named Bandit. 

    Bandit

  29. What's the best concert you've been to and why was it so good?
  30. The best concert I’ve been to was a Tyler the Creator concert about two years ago at Pechanga Arena. I really enjoyed it because Tyler is one of my favorite artists and he is an amazing performer.

 

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Students bowling at Aztec Lanes?2024-10-06
Bowling at Aztec Lanes

A.S. Summer Activities

As summer winds down, there's still plenty of fun to be had! Check out these exciting A.S. activities you can enjoy for the rest of the season:

Aztec Aquaplex

Dive into fun at the Aztec Aquaplex, where admission is included for all Aztec Recreation members. With two large outdoor pools and a 20-person spa, there's something for everyone. Swimming lessons are available for both adults and children, starting at just $46. For more details, visit arc.sdsu.edu/aquaplex

Aztec Lanes

Beat the heat and sharpen your bowling skills at Aztec Lanes! All SDSU students and A.S. full-time employees can enjoy two free games of bowling per day on a first come, first serve, walk-in basis. Plus, registered kids ages 12 and under can also enjoy two free games per day through August 17. Shoe rentals are $3 per bowler. Learn more at azteclanes.sdsu.edu

Aztec Recreation

Did you know your Aztec Recreation Center membership includes access to over 60 group fitness classes each week? Classes range from cycling to heated yoga and more! Reservations can be made up to seven days in advance on the Aztec Recreation app. For more information, go to arc.sdsu.edu/groupfitness

Mission Bay Aquatic Center

Enjoy a day out on the bay at Mission Bay Aquatic Center! Once per semester, all Aztec Recreation members can rent a paddleboard, kayak or surfboard or take a class for just $5! For more information, go to arc.sdsu.edu/membership/mbac5

For A.S. full-time employees that have not activated their ARC membership yet, please email Amanda Gonzalez. Have a great rest of the summer!

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Entertainment

VIEJAS ARENA &
CAL COAST CREDIT UNION
OPEN AIR THEATRE

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Calendar

JULY 2024

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