Associated
Students Newsletter

As we kick off the new semester, I'm thrilled to share some exciting milestones that highlight the energy and engagement we’re witnessing at Aztec Recreation. The facilities are buzzing with activity. We recently hit a record-breaking 9,092 turnstile counts in a single day across the ARC, Aquaplex and ARC Express! Within that, was an impressive 7,715 visits to the ARC, shattering previous records. This momentum is also showing with Sport Clubs, as we’re on track to surpass last year’s record of 946 Sports Club student-athletes, a clear testament to the impact the program has with students.

This year’s Aztec Nights event ARC’ll Make Ya JUMP JUMP!! drew an amazing crowd of 1,027 participants. On top of that, intramural sports leagues are off and running, and we’re offering over 70 group fitness classes each week to meet the diverse interests of our campus population from yoga to boxing fitness, cardio dance, meditation and more.

In line with our commitment to well-being, we’re excited to introduce a new Employee Wellness Coaching Program, providing personalized support to A.S. full-time staff as individuals pursue their health goals.

Please remember, A.S. full time employees are eligible for a complimentary Aztec Recreation membership! Membership is also included for enrolled SDSU students. This semester is shaping up to be one for the books, and I couldn’t be more excited to see where we’ll go from here. Thank you to everyone who’s contributing to this success!

Wishing health and happiness to you and your loved ones!

Mark Zakrzewski,
Associate Executive Director

The A.S. Aztecs Rock Hunger (ARH) campaign has officially begun! ARH is an annual university-wide campaign led by A.S. with the goal of fighting food and nutrition insecurity to support SDSU students and the San Diego community.

With inflation continuing to impact basic living expenses, the fight against food insecurity is more important than ever. No student should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. This year, Aztecs Rock Hunger is hoping to raise $100,000, which would result in over $1,000,000 in lifetime contributions!

We are excited to continue our Aztecs Rock Hunger A.S. Competition! Now through Oct. 27, compete against the other A.S. departments to raise the most amount of money for ARH. The winning department will receive breakfast on behalf of A.S. for their entire team! This competition is for both full-time and part-time staff.

All donations raised help fund the food for our A.S. Food Pantry, support students on campus facing unforeseen financial crises through the SDSU Economic Crisis Response Team and benefit over 400,000 San Diegans monthly through the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank.

We invite you to ask your friends and family to donate on behalf of your department. Please see below for more information on how to donate and make sure to include your A.S. department name in your donation to count for the competition!

3 Easy Ways to DONATE NOW:

1. Online through the SDSU Online Giving Portal
   • Forward your receipt with your department name to associatedstudents@sdsu.edu.
2. Venmo @aztecsrock or CashApp $aztecsrock
   • Include your department name in the memo.
3. At all Starbucks, eateries and markets on campus
   • Take a picture of your receipt with your department name written at the top and email it to associatedstudents@sdsu.edu.

To make teams as equitable as possible across all departments, the teams are as follows:

• Business Services & Government Affairs
• The Children’s Center
• Aztec Recreation & MBAC
• Viejas Arena
• Student Union (Including Student Union Facilities)

Please contact Brian Levett if you have any questions about the A.S. competition.

For more information, go to the ARH website or follow ARH on Instagram. Thank you for your support of Aztecs Rock Hunger!

The Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills are annual opportunities to learn and practice earthquake safety with millions of people worldwide! Every October, ShakeOut participants all across the world practice “Drop, Cover and Hold On” and other aspects of emergency preparedness in order to get prepared, practice the steps to be safe and learn what plans need to be improved for when the next big earthquake happens. 

A.S. has participated in the ShakeOut for more than 12 years — each department finding ways to educate and engage its employees, students and customers. The SDSU Children’s Center has participated by conducting a full evaluation drill, including each classroom donning safety backpacks and reviewing emergency supplies. At the Mission Bay Aquatic Center, staff take a moment to engage in safety discussions and reevaluate their emergency locker of supplies. In our high traffic areas such as the Aztec Recreation Center and the Student Union, signage has been posted with “Drop, Cover and Hold On” and other emergency preparedness information.

This year, the ShakeOut is at 10:17 a.m. on Oct. 17. A.S. will continue its practices by participating in evacuation drills and practicing “Drop. Cover and Hold On” where possible, as well as utilizing our digital signage to promote education to the campus community. 

If there is an earthquake follow these steps:

1. DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and also allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter if nearby.
2. COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall away from windows. Stay on your knees and bend over to protect vital organs.
3. HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If you are under shelter, hold on to it with one hand and be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts. If you are not under shelter, hold your head and neck with both arms.

For more information about the ShakeOut and to learn more about emergency preparedness, visit shakeout.org.

Alexis Oliver

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

   My name is Alexis Oliver! I am the Aztec Lanes Senior Lead and I am a Psychology major with a Counseling and Social Change minor.

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

   My name is Alexis Oliver! I am the Aztec Lanes Senior Lead and I am a Psychology major with a Counseling and Social Change minor.

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

   I have worked for A.S. since December of 2022 so my two year anniversary will be coming up soon!

4. What is your favorite part of working for A.S.?

   My favorite part about working for A.S. is the community of students. I have found some of my best friends while working here!

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

   Ratatouille. Two thumbs up. Highly recommend.

6. If you won $5 million, what would you do with it?

   I would first pay off my student loans. I would treat myself to a small vacation to anywhere tropical. Then, I would invest the rest of it so I can afford graduate school!

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

   I would love to be the world’s best chef because I would know all the best recipes to cook for myself. Cooking would probably be much more fun if I was the best chef in the world.

8. What is your favorite book?

   I like the Hunger Games books. My older sister was obsessed with them so as her little sister, I also had to like them. Now they remind me of my childhood and us bonding over them!

9. If you could start a charity, what would it be for?

   If I could start a charity, it would be to make mental healthcare more accessible for everyone. I am a big advocate for mental health and therapy so this is something I am passionate about.

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

    I collect elephants. I was oddly obsessed with them as a kid but it’s now a habit to buy anything elephant related. My childhood room has elephants everywhere.

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

    Introducing Me by Nick Jonas. I know every single lyric of this song from how many times I’ve watched Camp Rock.

12. You have your own late night talk show, who would you invite as your first guest?

    My first guest would be my little sister, Zoi. I think I would be nervous for my first show so having a guest like my sister would be perfect.
    

13. If you could go back or forward in time, where would you go?

    I would go forward in time at least a century to see where we have come in technology. Technology is always growing and so much could change in 100 years so I would be interested to see how differently we live.

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

    I would love to talk with animals. I have always thought this growing up. Now I have two cats of my own who are always screaming at me so it would be so nice to know what they are saying.

15. What’s the best concert you’ve been to and why was it so good?

    I recently went to Zedd in the Park with my best friend and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I had so much fun and the music was amazing!