Gwynn To Enter Hall of Fame
Aztecs Coach and Former Player
Receives 97.6 Percent of Vote
I
Co
Almost Here!
s
i
mm
7
encement 200 Commencement 2007:
Thursday, May 17 – Sunday, May 20
I
f your son or daughter is a graduating senior, it probably seems as
though the time has flown by. But all that hard work is now paying off.
Commencement ceremonies are being held for individual colleges
within the university from Thursday, May 17 through Sunday, May 20.
Separate, smaller ceremonies will be hosted for individual majors with
specific times and locations available at www.sdsu.edu/commencement
All main campus college ceremonies will be held in Cox Arena and
require admission tickets (the Imperial Valley campus ceremony will be
held separately). Tickets were distributed to graduating seniors at GradFest
in early April.
Please allow at least 30 minutes to reach the post-commencement
receptions. Visit http://arweb.sdsu.edu/es/commenecment/disability.html
for information on disabled parking and accommodations for guests with
disabilities. You must contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473
by May 1 to arrange special accommodations.
If you will be traveling from out of town to attend commencement,
the Aztec Parents Association arranges special discounts for parents, family
and friends for ground transportation and lodging at various San Diego
hotels. If you have not already done so, you should call as soon as possible
as hotels are filling up quickly. (See page 2 for more details.)
Commencement Schedule
Thursday, May 17 (Imperial Valley Campus)
• 7 pm — Rollie Carrillo Quad, Imperial Valley Campus, Calexico
Friday, May 18
• 11 am — College of Health and Human Services (Cox Arena)
• 4 pm — College of Arts and Letters (Cox Arena)
Saturday, May 19
• 8 am — College of Business Administration (Cox Arena)
• 1 pm — College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts (Cox Arena)
Sunday, May 20
• 8 am — College of Education and Division of Undergraduate Studies
(Cox Arena)
• 1 pm — College of Sciences and College of Engineering (Cox Arena)
For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu/commencement
t’s official. Aztec baseball coach and former player, Tony Gwynn, will be
enshrined with the sport’s all-time greats in the National Baseball Hall
of Fame. Gwynn, one of 32 nominees this year, received 532 of the 545
votes cast by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. This
was Gwynn’s first year on the ballot.
National Baseball Hall of Fame President Dale Petroskey announced
the 2007 inductees, Gwynn and Cal Ripken, Jr., the only two inductees
from this year’s list of nominees. “We can’t wait to welcome them into the
Hall of Fame family — them and their families. And we can’t wait for a
very, very big induction weekend in Cooperstown.”
Gwynn, who played his entire major league career with the San Diego
Padres, appeared along with family members and Padres officials at a Petco
Park news conference.
“This is awesome,” said Gwynn. “This is the greatest honor a baseball
player can get. To stand before you today being called a Hall of Famer is
truly more than I ever could have imagined.”
In 20 seasons with the Padres, Gwynn had a .338 career batting
average. A 15-time All-Star, he won eight National League batting titles,
leading the league in hits seven times. In his two World Series, Gwynn
batted .371. His hitting won him seven Silver Slugger Awards, but his play
in right field also earned him five Gold Gloves for fielding.
In order to land in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, a nominee’s
name must appear on at least 75 percent of the ballots. Gwynn was listed on
97.6 percent. He will be inducted July 29 during a ceremony in Cooperstown,
New York.
Visit http://alumni.sdsu.edu/Congratulations_All.mpg for the Ode
to Tony Gwynn video. It’s a 3-minute video from SDSU notable alums and
friends congratulating Tony Gwynn on his induction into the National
Baseball Hall of Fame. (See page 9 for more on Gwynn.)
Aztec Parents Has A New Look!
B
eginning this summer, the
Aztec Parents Association
will be sporting a new look.
“We wanted to bring the look
of the Aztec Parents Association up
to a new level,” said Janet Castro,
director for New Student and Parent
Programs. “The old logo, which has been around for more than a decade,
was starting to feel worn. We think the new look is more aesthetically
appealing and modern.”
The Aztec Parents Advisory Board recommended the new logo from
three options presented to them at a board meeting in early February.
“I’m excited about this fresh new look for the Aztec Parents
Association,” said Michelle DuBord, coordinator for Parent Programs.
Parents’ publications will start incorporating the new look with
orientation materials this summer.
Inside:
Spring 2007
Volume 22, Number 3
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Parents’ Pipeline ....................................
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ts
oun
Travel Disc
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Student Profile...................
3
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ored
Hon
etes
Athl
entSDSU Stud
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Noise Reduction Ordinance....
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Kitchen Corner....................................
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Clickers for Class...........................
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Parents Profile....
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Sess
mer
Sum
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Quest for the Best
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Boy
Lost
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of
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Tale
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Late-Night Dining Hou
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s.
lnes
Wel
on
Focus
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ions
Opt
ing
Din
Healthy On-Campus
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Tony Gwynn as Aztec Coach................. ...10
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Financial Aid Update.........
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Aztec Aquaplex Now Open...................
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State to Increase CSU Fees
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Awa
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Win
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Prog
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Week of Cari
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2007 Summer Reading Prog
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s.
Date
U
Important SDS
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Sports Schedule....................................
SDSU Student Affairs • Bridges to Success
Aztec Parents Association
New Student and Parent Programs
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego State University
San Diego, California 92182-7441
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
San Diego,CA
Permit No. 265
provided as an information service
only. Inclusion on this list does not
indicate endorsement by the
university or by the Office of
Housing Administration.
Important Dates Campus Living
How can I find out
Choices
Q:
A:
about university dates
and deadlines?
San Diego State University’s academic calendar
entails important dates
and deadlines in regards to final
examinations, class registration, fee
payment deadlines, university
holidays and much more. It is
found in the printed version of the
General Catalog, but may also be
viewed online by visiting the SDSU
Web site, www.sdsu.edu. Once on
the SDSU home page, select
“Current Students” from the menu
bar located on the left side of the
Web page, then select “Academic
Calendar.” Or, the following Web
link, www.sdsu.edu/schedule/acad_
calendar, will take browsers directly
to the academic calendar. A Web
link to the academic calendar
can also be found on the Aztec
Parents Association Web site,
www.sdsu.edu/aztecparents
SDSU’s online academic
calendar is a great resource and
it’s recommended that parents and
students either bookmark the
academic calendar Web page or
print it out, for future reference.
Q:
My daughter is
considering renting a
place near campus
with some friends. What type of
off-campus housing is available?
A:
A good place to start
is with SDSU’s Office
of Housing and
Residential Education Office www.
sa.sdsu.edu/housing/off-campus.
html. Many people assume they
only provide on-campus housing
services, but they do have several
resources for students who want to
move off campus. The Office of
Housing Administration provides
off-campus housing services to
people who may be in need of
housing but don’t know where to
begin. The Web site is designed to
supply students with information
about apartment hunting, the
names of local communities and
discussions about how to choose a
roommate or deciding on a budget.
Housing Administration also
supplies students with a listing
service of local apartment managers
or individuals who list their properties. The apartment listing service is
Travel Discounts Available for
Aztec Parents
S
pecial Discounts on Hotels and Airport Transportation for SDSU
Aztec Parents, Family, and Friends. Just ask for the “SDSU Friends
and Family Rate!”
Hotel Information
The Web site contains the following
links:
• Finding Apartments
• Off-Campus Listing Service
• Apartment Hunting Tips
• Navigating the Rental Maze
• Preparing a Budget
• Finding the Right Roommate
One thing the university
strongly recommends is to avoid
what has been called “mini-dorms.”
These nuisance-rental properties
are single-family homes purchased
by speculators who add additional
bedrooms, sometimes subdividing
the garage into bedrooms, in
order to rent to a large number
of students. They have turned
once-quiet neighborhoods in the
College Area into problematic
situations. To address this, SDSU is
in the planning stages for additional
on-campus housing — 1,400
additional beds. The university is
also developing solutions to
mitigate student impacts by funding
a Code Compliance Officer for the
City of San Diego to crack down
on inappropriate development in
surrounding neighborhoods (refer
to the article on page 3, which
describes how renters and property
owners will now face the potential fine of up to $1,000 as part of
a crackdown on loud noise and
partying in the College Area). And,
SDSU will continue to support
educational programs such as the
“Good Neighbor Program” operated
by Associated Students to encourage
responsible behavior by students
living in the area.
SDSU welcomes the leadership
of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders
and Councilman Jim Madaffer to
tackle the nuisance-rental property
issue. This is an important issue for
the campus and the community,
and we pledge our full cooperation
towards implementing permanent
solutions.
According to SDSU President
Stephen L. Weber, the university
recognizes that there are students,
like your daughter, who do not
want to live on campus. The ideal
solution to issues of student housing
includes a mix of university-managed housing and new apartments
near campus or adjacent to nearby
trolley stations. One of the more
exciting projects SDSU has
discussed is with MTS (the
Metropolitan Transit System) about
the possibility of student-oriented
housing at the Grantville Station
— just one stop from SDSU along
the new Green Line. The university
is talking with several other
developers in the area to expand the
supply of student-oriented housing.
Weber said he also remains hopeful
that a Paseo-like project can be
realized on this site that will
provide a significant boost in
university-managed housing along
with parking and other amenities. It
is worth noting that had The Paseo
proceeded as proposed by SDSU in
May 2005, we would be looking at
the addition of 1,400 new student
beds next year.
Airport Transportation Information
VHertz at the San Diego Airport
Once you arrive in San Diego, reference the “SDSU
Friends and Family Rate” at the Hertz counter and ask
for a manager in order to receive the 20% discount rate.
VCloud 9 Shuttle Service
To inquire about “SDSU Friends and Family Rate” and to check out
hotel amenities, call or view the Web sites.
To ensure the special rates, ask for the “SDSU Friends and Family Rate”
when you make your reservations. All special rates are based on availability.
Price: Range ($8-$20) depending on the location the
passenger is being dropped off. These rates apply to
the Old Town area, Mission Valley area, and the College
area west of SDSU.
Phone: 1-800-9-SHUTTLE (800-974-8885)
VTown and Country Hotel
For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu/aztecparents and click on “Special
Travel Discounts.”
Phone: (800) 772-8527
Web site: www.towncountry.com
If you want to make hotel reservations online, go to
their reservations page, click on “Corporate Rates” (middle of the page,
in blue) and enter “SDSU” as the Corporate Account Rate Code.
Parent Programs Coordinator:
Michelle DuBord
VBest Western Lamplighter Inn & Suites
VThe Dana on Mission Bay
Phone: (800) Dana-Inn (800-326-3466)
Address: 1710 W. Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, CA 92108
Web site: www.thedana.net
VDays Inn
Director, New Student and
Parent Programs: Janet Castro
Phone: (619) 582-3088 or (800) 545-0778
Address: 6474 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92115
Web site: www.bestwestern.com/prop_05601
Distance to SDSU: less than one mile
Phone: (800) 227-4743
Address: 543 Hotel Circle South, San Diego, CA 92108
Web site: www.daysinnhc.com
Associate Vice President for Student
Affairs: Eric Rivera
News for Aztec Parents,
Volume 22, Number 3, Spring 2007
News for Aztec Parents is published in
October, January, and April by the
Division of Student Affairs, San Diego
State University, 5500 Campanile Drive,
San Diego, California 92182-7441.
(619) 594-1653
Production: Sharon Penny, Keith Parks,
Carlton Chin, Jessica Gonzales
Vice President for Student Affairs:
Dr. James R. Kitchen
San Diego State University maintains and
promotes a policy of non-discrimination and
nonharassment on the basis of race, religion,
color, sex, age, handicap, marital status, sexual
orientation, or national origin. The California
State University is committed to providing
equal opportunities to men and women CSU
students in campus programs, including
intercollegiate athletics.
Student Profile:
Brandon Nelson is SDSU’s Biggest Winner by Jennifer Floyd, SDSU Student
M
ainstream media talks about “Biggest Losers” but the Aztec
Recreation Center (ARC) wants to recognize SDSU’s biggest
winners. Winners are strong, winners are motivated, and
winners turn their wins into universal wins.
Moving into the residence halls was a challenge for 280-pound
Brandon Nelson. As a freshman, Brandon was inspired by his San Diego
peers, “everyone around me was fit, healthy and happy.” Instead of
being jealous or letting his negative body image hold him back from
thriving as a college student, Brandon activated his ARC membership
and got moving.
He found a workout routine that fit him by turning his passion
for Hip Hop into a regular exercise routine. Soon, Brandon added extra
treadmill time after his group exercise classes and then started a regular
strength-training regimen. Instead of dreading exercise like he did in
high school, Brandon took sanctuary in the ARC community and found
himself looking forward to his now daily workouts.
SDSU Student-Athletes Receive
Academic Honors from MWC
by Darin Wong
I
n February, the Mountain West Conference (MWC) announced that 27
San Diego State University student-athletes were named to the fall 2006
academic all-MWC team.
To be eligible for selection, student-athletes must have completed at
least one academic term at the member institution, while maintaining a
cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, and be a starting player or
significant contributor to their team.
The following is a complete list of the SDSU honorees (in order of
name, sport, class level, major):
• Russell Allen ~ football, sophomore, kinesiology
• Stephanie Armstrong ~ cross country, freshman, liberal studies
• Carrie Blankenbuhler ~ women’s soccer, sophomore, business administration
• Matthew Callahan ~ football, junior, accounting
• Tyler Campbell ~ football, sophomore, business administration
• Kristen Castillo ~ volleyball, junior, nursing
• Vanessa Curtis ~ volleyball, junior, communication
• Anthony DeMartinis ~ football, freshman, business administration
• Jessica Girdner ~ women’s soccer, junior, communication
• Scotty James ~ football, junior, social science
• Patrick Justman ~ football, senior, public administration
• Matthew Kawulok ~ football, freshman, business administration
• Jennifer Klunder ~ women’s soccer, senior, communication
• Makenzie Mabry ~ cross country, freshman, biology
• Joe Martin ~ football, senior, business administration
• Amanda Maydeck ~ cross country, sophomore, liberal studies
• Caitlin McMillan ~ volleyball, freshman, kinesiology
•Lisa Naucler ~ cross country, junior, international security and
conflict resolution
• Lisa Nielsen ~ women’s soccer, junior, psychology
• Jacqueline Ragudos ~ women’s soccer, junior, kinesiology
• Rebecca Ryan ~ women’s soccer, sophomore, nursing
Always a busy person, Brandon explains, “it’s not about finding
time for your health, it’s about making health your life.” While fast food
always seemed like the quick and easy fix for hunger in the past, he found
that with a little research, eating healthy can even be easy on the SDSU
campus. Brandon enjoyed salads from The Dining Room at Cuicacalli,
steamed vegetable bowls from Panda Express, and fruit smoothies from
Juice It Up. Choosing lifestyle changes over crash course diets, he gave up
fried food, quit drinking soda, substituted complex carbohydrates and
whole grains for starches, and treated himself to a variety of five fruits
and vegetables every day.
Brandon’s new lifestyle not only
“...it’s not about
improved his overall long-term health outlook, but he is also enjoying the benefits of
finding time for
clear skin, less stress and a stronger immune
your health, it’s
system. He is the essence of perfect health
about making
and now has the self-esteem to match.
Three years and 108 pounds later,
health your life.”
Brandon is an ARC employee and Hip Hop
—B
randon Nelson,
dance/exercise class instructor planning on
SDSU student
pursuing a career in the fitness industry.
Brandon is an SDSU inspiration. Not because
he lost 108 pounds, but because he changed his life and has made it his
new life purpose to help others change their lives, too.
While his family now calls him “Olive Oil,” they do so lovingly
and in appreciation for the example he has set for them. Brandon’s
newfound healthy lifestyle has inspired the rest of his family to take
their health seriously and get moving. His mom found that she loves
walking outdoors and his aunt has made a strength training routine
using canned foods and water bottles as dumbbells. Brandon says the
key to success is “doing what you love and making it a lifestyle.”
Brandon is currently studying abroad in Singapore. Staying true to
his commitment to health, in an e-mail Brandon writes, “There’s plenty
of fitness opportunities and the fruits and vegetables here (Singapore)
are amazing!” He is an Integrated Marketing Communications major
and will graduate this May.
• Nick Sandford ~ football, freshman, business administration
• Leann Sgobba ~ women’s soccer, sophomore, art
• Mariko Strickland ~ women’s soccer, sophomore, kinesiology
• Celeste Tyson ~ cross country, senior, exercise and nutritional sciences
• Catherine Walker ~ women’s soccer, freshman, undeclared
• Kelly Wahlin ~ volleyball, junior, nursing
For more information about SDSU Athletics, visit www.goaztecs.com
Noise Reduction Ordinance
to take Effect in College
Area on April 30
D
ue to complaints from homeowners in the College Area,
the San Diego City Council voted in March to approve a
proposal that would allow San Diego Police and the San
Diego State University Police to give out administrative citations to
residents in homes who have received complaints of noise. The
citations carry with them up to a $1,000 fine.
The proposal will be active in the College Area from April 30 to
October 31 for a six-month trial period. The fee can also be imposed
on property owners who do not try to mitigate noise complaints.
People who receive citations will have 10 days to pay their fine
but they can appeal to an administrative hearing officer.
In 2006, the San Diego Police Department received more than
1,600 nuisance rental property calls in the College Area.
“Nuisance rentals are just as much a problem for San Diego State
University and for our students, faculty and staff as they are for the
other citizens of the region,” said SDSU President Stephen L. Weber.
For those problem tenants who are SDSU students, the
university may also discipline them for violations of the “Standards
of Student Conduct.” Refer to www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/judicial/student
conductcode.html
the Kitchen
Corner
Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. James R. Kitchen Speaks Out
SDSU Student Affairs:
Bridges to Success
Message from Vice President for
Student Affairs James R. Kitchen
I
t’s hard to believe another academic year is nearing
the end. For those of you who have students
graduating next month, I want to extend my
congratulations. As parents and other family members,
you share in the glory of your student reaching that
milestone as much as your student. Most students
would say they couldn’t have done it without their
family’s encouragement, support and love.
For the rest of you, still a year or two or more
from graduation, I want you to know that we at San
Diego State are your partners in helping your student
reach that ultimate goal of commencement. We offer
a wide variety of exciting programs and services that
would not be possible if it weren’t for the generosity
of you — parents who contribute to the Aztec Parents
Annul Fund.
I want to share with you some of the exciting
developments for the next academic year.
First of all, SDSU had a record number of
applicants for fall 2007 — almost 60,000 applications
were received. That’s an amazing number and
confirms that San Diego State continues to be a
popular institution known for its high quality. You
should be proud that your son or daughter is among
the few that can actually attend our fine university.
The students who do come here next fall will
have some exciting new living options here on
campus. Our Residential Education Office has
developed a few more living communities to add to
our current offerings. A learning community doesn’t
Photos by Tom Farringtom, SDSU Instructional Technology Services
Students “Click” their Way to
Academic Success
I
n the fall, San Diego State University students were introduced to a new
in-classroom learning component: student response keypads, a product
from eInstruction™.
About the size of a cell phone and resembling a television remote
control, these keypads, or “clickers” as they’re commonly referred to,
wirelessly transmit students’ in-class input to a receiver connected to the
instructor’s computer at the front of the classroom.
Mark Laumakis, lecturer in SDSU’s psychology department, was
among the university’s first faculty to implement clickers in the classroom.
Laumakis believes clickers in the classroom enable a different kind of
learning to take place, one filled with interactivity.
“Moving away from a mode of learning where students simply
transcribe PowerPoint slides, clickers change it up and make learning more
interesting,” said Laumakis. “When we’re talking about memory in class, I
can give them a series of words, and then ask them to select which words
they remembered. This works better — it’s more interactive than just
showing them a slide of what’s already stated.”
change what students learn, but it changes HOW a
student learns. It makes this large campus seem like a
small college as students who live together take
classes together. And data confirms that students who
partake in living communities have higher GPAs, and
are more likely to succeed and graduate from SDSU.
The 2007 residence hall living options
will includee:
For new and returning students:
• Aztec Engineering
• International House
• Transfer student option
• Extended quiet studies
• Substance-free lifestyles
• Housing over the breaks
For new students:
•The Emerging Leaders, focusing on student
leadership development
• Business floor
• Health and Healing professions floor
• WiSE — Women in Science and Engineering
•P-Fit/P-Act — for students interested in physical
fitness and physical activity
• The Toltec house for undeclared majors
• Zapotec Honors
Sincerely,
James R. Kitchen
One of the many other ways Laumakis employs clickers in his
classroom is through “concept-check questions.” Providing a multiplechoice question to his 500-student section class, Laumakis can ask the
students a question and receive the students’ answers in a matter of seconds.
“They (students) know individually whether they got the answer right. And
I like the immediate feedback that I get as an instructor, which lets me know
if students are comprehending what I’m teaching them.”
According to the Classroom Performance System (CPS) University
Web site, www.cpsuniversity.com, over 600 U.S. higher education institutions
are employing the use of classroom response systems. Fellow clicker-using
universities include UCLA, UCSD, University of Colorado at Boulder and
Yale University.
“Student feedback has been uniformly positive. They say it makes a
large class feel smaller,” said Laumakis. He also reports that clickers have
contributed to the increase in his class attendance. “An average of 75 percent
of the seats are now filled in my 500-student class. It’s incredible!”
The SDSU Bookstore sold 2,700 clickers in the fall, and it seems the
clicker phenomenon caught on at SDSU, as over 4,400 students are using
clickers in one or more of their classes this semester.
Selling for $35-$49, depending on the purchase option selected by the
student, clickers can be used in multiple classes over multiple semesters.
Visit http://clicker.sdsu.edu for more information about “clickers” at SDSU.
Clicker uses and benefits in the classroom include:
• Concept-check questions
• Can create charts and graphs
•Elicits student in-class
participation
•Increases student interaction
with class material
• Promotes class attendance
•Can enable in-class peer
teaching opportunities
•Self-assessments of the course
material
•Automates grading of quizzes/
exams, and uploads results
immediately to an online
gradebook
• Keeps students engaged in class
•Promotes dialogue between
students and their instructor
•Can be used to conduct
anonymous in-class surveys
Aztec Parents Advisory Board Member Profile:
Jack and Dee Dee Klunder
A
ztec Parent Advisory Board members Jack and Dee Dee Klunder,
who live in the Los Angeles-area city of La Mirada, have raised
four soccer-playing daughters. Their two oldest, Jennifer and
Kristin, are both current SDSU students. The younger two, Kerry and
Kelsey, are still in high school, but they hope to follow in their older
sisters’ footsteps and become Aztecs.
Why did their daughters choose SDSU, which is more than two
hours from home?
“It’s kind of an interesting story how they both ended up at SDSU,”
said Jack. “Jennifer and Kristin both had a soccer camp instructor by the
name of Vedda Desatoff. Vedda was an all-state junior college soccer
player at Cypress College who made a tremendous impact on both girls
when they were young. Vedda ended up receiving a scholarship to
transfer to SDSU. During her very first practice at SDSU, Vedda
suffered a traumatic brain injury. She has had 12 brain surgeries since
then and has been fighting for her life. Both of my girls decided that
some day they would play soccer at SDSU in honor of Vedda.”
Jennifer and Kristin were both recruited by then-women’s soccer
coach Chuck Clegg as student athletes. Although Kristin, who is a
junior, no longer plays soccer due to an injury, Jennifer is finishing her
senior year with an impressive record (see Jennifer’s name in the article
on page 2).
“Chuck Clegg has been instrumental in our girls’ lives,” said Dee
Dee. “He made it happen.”
“Our girls simply love SDSU,” said Jack. “They have had a marvelous
experience. Both have met so many wonderful people at the university,
from the administrators in the athletic department to their individual
professors. They also have decided to live in San Diego permanently.”
Unlike many other Aztec Parent Advisory Board members, the
Klunders were unaware of the Aztec Parents Association at the
Summer Session 2007
H
elping your SDSU Aztec graduate on time is essential. One way
you can encourage your student to stay on track academically is to
encourage him or her to sign up for SDSU Summer Session 2007.
More than 800 high-demand courses will be offered this summer. Students
may choose from two six-week sessions or one 13-week session.
This year, SDSU is offering a new fee structure that makes summer
session even more affordable. Students will be able to pay a less expensive
per-unit fee rather than the previously higher flat rate. For example, if a
student takes only one three-unit course, they will pay for only three units.
More information on fees can be found on the Student Financial Services
Web site, www.sdsu.edu/sfs
Summer session is a great opportunity for students to get ahead
on units earned in order to graduate sooner or keep on track to graduate
in four years or two years for transfer students. A variety of general
education, major preparation and upper division major courses will be
offered. The summer class schedule went online April 10. Students received
their summer registration information (date, time and fee payment
deadline) the following day.
beginning of their first daughter’s enrollment at SDSU. They stumbled
upon the group through a friend.
“Prior to getting involved with the Aztec Parents Association our
only exposure to the school was the athletic department, and that was
quite impressive all by itself,” said Dee Dee. “However, now we feel more
connected to the student and academic side of the school, which we
consider to be the real reason why our kids are at SDSU — to get a great
education.”
Jack agreed with Dee Dee’s assessment and went on to say that he
has been most impressed with the people at SDSU.
“The programs and services that are offered to the students are
quite impressive. More importantly, it’s evident that every single person
we have met at this school cares
very deeply about each individual
student. They are obsessed in their
“The programs and
commitment to the success of the
services that are
students,” said Jack.
offered to the students
Jack, who graduated from
are quite impressive.
Pepperdine University and the
Anderson School at UCLA, is an
More importantly, it’s
executive with the Los Angeles
evident that every
Times and has been in newspaper
single person we have
publishing his entire career. Dee
Dee, who attended Rio Hondo
met at this school cares
College, is a homemaker and
very deeply about each
involved in numerous volunteer
individual student.
organizations such as the National
Charity League, a mother/daughter
They are obsessed in
philanthropy organization, and the
their commitment to
San Antonio Guild, which provides
the success of the
fundraising for the Children’s
Hospital of Los Angeles.
students.”
“Our family loves boating
— J ack Klunder, SDSU Aztec Parents
and all water sports,” said Dee
Advisory Board member
Dee. “The girls surf, water ski, and
wakeboard.”
Both Jack and Dee Dee said that their involvement with the
Aztec Parents Association made them realize how important it is to stay
connected with their college-age daughters.
“We think it’s important to support the school. In doing so, more
people will get involved,” said Jack. “As more people get involved, the
university thrives in the long run. Plus, our kids have always enjoyed us
being involved in their interests.”
Dee Dee also emphasized the importance of giving.
“Every individual associated with SDSU should give to the
Campanile Foundation. This is an important fundraising effort that will
support the future growth of the entire school. We encourage everyone
to participate. As far as individual programs are concerned, we think
they are all important.”
Encourage your son or daughter to use their degree evaluation
(located in their WebPortal account, www.sdsu.edu/portal) to determine
what requirements and courses they still need to fulfill, and their Major
Academic Plan (located at www.sdsu.edu/mymap) to understand the
recommended sequencing of their remaining requirements.
Students may also call the Academic Advising Center at (619) 594-6668,
for guidance on course registration.
SDSU Honors 10 Students in its
“Quest for the Best”
S
cholarship, one part of SDSU’s educational mission, goes hand-in-hand with the
promotion and development of leadership skills and community service. Under the
theme of “Quest for the Best,” the Vice Presidential Student Service Awards are given
each spring to up to 10 outstanding students who typify and promote this broader mission
of the university. This year will mark the 21st anniversary of the awards.
Applications for these prestigious awards are available from the Student Activities and
Campus Life office during February of each year. A panel of faculty, staff and former Quest
winners interview the finalists and make their selections based on academic excellence,
student involvement and commitment, community service outside the SDSU campus, and
leadership qualities and development that reflect initiative, advancement of intercultural
understanding, and evidence of positive, ethical decision-making styles.
Each student awarded the Quest for the Best honor nominates the SDSU professor or
staff mentor who has made the most significant contribution to his or her personal growth.
Both student and mentor are honored at an elegant banquet held each April.
This year’s Quest for the Best winners, selected from junior, senior and graduate
applicants, have been involved in diverse activities on and off campus. From leadership
roles in the Honors Council to volunteering in the New Orleans Alternative Spring Break,
these students give their time and talents to the campus and the community.
Congratulations to the 2007 Quest for the Best Winners
Yassar Hussain Arain
Psychology major
Nichole Mehta
Journalism and Sociology major
Patrick Vernon Avila
Biology and Philosophy major
Samantha Michelle Spilka
Psychology major with an emphasis in
Industrial/Organizational
Karla Trinidad Blanco
Psychology major
Benjamin Farber
Biology and Spanish major
Cecilia Carmen Larrosa
Aerospace Engineering major
Brianna Louise Lutes
Civil Engineering major
Lea Nichole Viceral
Communications major with an
emphasis in Advertising
Jessica Jean Young
Journalism major
left to right:
Benson Deng, Alephonsion Deng and Benjamin Ajak
Tales of a ‘Lost Boy’
A Brief History
I
n 1983, a second Sudanese Civil War began that would endure more than
20 years. Nearly 2 million men, women and children were killed, and more
than 4 million were forced into homelessness. Today, war continues to plague
the largest country in Africa, Sudan, and the country’s western region of Darfur.
An estimated 20,000 boys, some as young as 5 years old, were able to
escape an immediate death and/or enslavement by fleeing from their raided
villages. Leaving their family, home and all they knew of a childhood behind,
they began walking in search of safety.
Barefoot and nearly naked, they crossed over a thousand miles of desert,
jungle and insect-infested terrain, under a blazing African sun that produced
120-degree temperatures. They suffered from starvation, dehydration and
disease. They fought off lions, crocodiles, hyenas and other wild animals.
During the day they hid from rebel militants looking to enslave and
train child-soldiers and at night they continued to walk by the light of only the
moon. Most walked in groups, but at times they walked alone. It would take
them up to 10 years before they found refuge in Kenya.
Less than half of the children survived the journey. They are the Lost
Boys of Sudan.
In His Own Words
They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: The true story of three Lost Boys
from Sudan, is based on the lives of Benson Deng; his brother, Alephonsion
Deng; and their cousin, Benjamin Ajak. With the help of their friend and
International Rescue Committee volunteer, Judy A. Bernstein, they are able
to openly share their tragic and heroic personal journey with readers.
In February, two of the book’s authors, Benson Athiin Deng and
Judy A. Bernstein, spoke to a standing-room only audience in a 200-plus
lecture room at SDSU about the missing global agenda in Sudan and Darfur
as part of the university’s semester-long lecture series, ‘Understanding
Globalization.’
Benson is one of nearly 4,000 Lost Boys of Sudan who are now
residing in the United States, thanks to the help of the International Rescue
Committee (IRC).
“ ‘Lost Boys’ is the name given to us, but I don’t call myself a Lost Boy.
In Sudan if you say ‘lost,’ it is a sad term. I don’t call myself that,” Benson
explained to the audience.
Benson arrived in San Diego in August of 2001. He said he knew of
California, but had never heard of San Diego. Today, he calls San Diego “home.”
New Late-Night Dining Hours
D
ue to popular campus demand, in
March SDSU Dining Services
introduced late-night dining hours
at various on-campus restaurants and Aztec
Market convenience stores.
“We always try to listen to our customers
about what we can do to better serve them,”
said Debbie Burchianti, associate director of
SDSU Dining Services.
Last semester, over 350 class sections had
a class ending time of 9:40 pm. And each week,
thousands of students make use of the 24-hour
study area and computer lab located in the
Reserve Book Room of the Library. The new dining hours will help keep
students fueled and fed for the busy life of a college student.
Bernstein explained that once the Lost Boys arrived in the United
States, they received three months of paid rent, and then they were on their
own. “They must also reimburse the U.S. government for the $850 airline
ticket to the U.S.,” said Bernstein.
Assimilating to the American culture, finding a job and a way to
support themselves is a daunting task for these young men. Electricity,
running water, flushing toilets and telephones are just a few everyday
amenities that Benson and the other Lost Boys had never seen before
arriving in the United States.
During the lecture, Benson told of his life before the war in “peaceful
Dinkaland” with his Dinka tribe and family in Sudan; how he taught
himself English at a refugee camp; and even about his first visit to Burger
King when he arrived in San Diego, and marveled at the restaurant’s
automatic soda dispensers.
Above all, Benson shared with the audience a dream that he stumbled
upon in the Kenyan refugee camp so many
years ago — to be educated.
“(In Kenya) We went to U.N. (United “We (Lost Boys) like
Nations officials) and said ‘Can you help
to be people like the
us? We need some education. We lost our
rest of you around
homes, our families. We cannot run like
the world. If I had
refugees forever. We need education. If
there’s a school maybe we could land some- that chance — an
thing … we could come out of
alternative — I may
this. Education is going to be our father
be a lot different.”
and our mother.’ ”
Currently, Benson is taking classes
— Benson Athiin Deng
at a local community college and hopes to
earn his G.E.D. this year.
Gazing out into the audience, he added, “We (Lost Boys) like to be
people like the rest of you around the world. If I had that chance — an
alternative — I may be a lot different.”
More of Benson’s story as well as that of his brother and cousin can
be found in their book, which has received numerous awards and honors,
and is a true testament to the human spirit. Visit the book’s Web site,
www.theypouredfire.com, to learn more about the authors and upcoming
speaking engagements.
For more information about the San Diego IRC program, contact the
book’s co-author and co-founder of the IRC Lost Boys Education Fund,
Judy A. Bernstein at [email protected]
Aztec Center locations
• Sbarro Italian Eatery open until 10 pm, Monday–Thursday
• Starbucks open until 10 pm, Monday–Thursday
Chapultepec Hall location
• Aztec Market open until 11 pm, everyday
Cuicacalli Suites locations
• Aztec Grill open until midnight, everyday
• Aztec Market open until 11 pm, everyday
East Commons location
• Aztec Market open until 10 pm, Monday–Thursday
University Towers location
• UT Grill and Market open until 11 pm, everyday
West End Plaza location
• Starbucks open until 9 pm, Monday–Thursday
The ARC (Aztec
Recreation Center)
is the university’s
learning annex for
students interested
in ‘Breaking a
Sweat 101.’
A
72,000-square-foot facility, the ARC
is home to more than 15,000 members and has a number of physical
activities sure to pique anyone’s interest. The
ARC boasts two weight rooms, two group
exercise rooms, a cardio room, a 30-foot tall
rock climbing wall and four indoor basketball
courts. In addition to basketball, students can
play tennis or volleyball on the courts as well.
And the ARC’s indoor driving range is a
convenient place for students to practice their
golf swing. As a member of the ARC, students
can enjoy bowling in the Aztec Center
bowling alley at no additional charge. While
some may scoff at ‘bowling as exercise,’ just
remember a 130-pound person can burn up
to 177 calories by bowling for one hour!
The latest excitement surrounding
the ARC is about the new Aztec Aquaplex
(see related article on page 10). The ARC is
hiring instructors to teach group exercise
water aerobics classes at the pool, expanding
on the 60 classes a week already offered at
the ARC. “It’s going to be a fantastic way
for students to have fun and stay fit,” said
Carrie Fisher-Fernan, coordinator of the
Aztec Aquaplex.
In addition to being a great place for
students to stay physically fit, the ARC offers a
way for students to stay nutritionally healthy
New Healthy On-Campus
Dining Options
S
an Diego State
University’s oncampus restaurants
are helping students make
healthier eating choices with
new healthy dining options.
Last semester SDSU
Dining Services, the food
service division of Aztec
Shops Ltd., made the switch
to trans fat-free frying oil.
“College campuses are
rapidly transferring to the
use of non-trans-fat frying oils and food items,” said SDSU Dining Services
associate director, Paul Melchior. Other universities who’ve also made the
switch include the University of Washington and the University of West
Georgia.
Trans fats, in their natural state, are found in some dairy and meat
products, but are more commonly consumed through hydrogenated
oil-containing products.
The SDSU Dining Services’ decision to use Mel-Fry Free™ frying oil
for fried food classics such as French fries has been a seamless transition.
“We’ve had very positive feedback,” Melchior said. Mel-Fry Free oil, made
from canola oil, bears no taste or odor and does not transfer flavor from one
fried food item to another — a unique frying oil quality, added Melchior.
At SDSU, trans-fat-free frying oil doesn’t end in a deep fryer. “The used
oil can be recycled and turned into fuel,” said Melchior, of SDSU Dining
Services’ collaboration with New Leaf Biofuel™. According to the New Leaf
Biofuel Web site, www.newleafbiofuel.com/about/mission.html, the San
Diego-based company collects used cooking oil from participating local
restaurants, and creates an alternative vehicle fuel source: biodiesel.
According to Melchior, Starbucks™ has asked SDSU Dining Services
to serve all trans-fat-free food and beverage items in its two SDSU locations,
by April 2007. “Since all of our Starbucks baked good items are made on site
on campus — which is rare — we need to reengineer the recipes to meet
as well through free nutrition counseling. The
Wellness Office, located inside the ARC, offers
free nutrition counseling to all ARC members
and SDSU students. If you are concerned
about your student’s eating behavior, you
can encourage him or her to see one of the
interns or the Registered Dietician at Student
Health Services. A healthy student makes for a
happier student.
Visit http://arc.sdsu.edu for more
information on the ARC.
News for Aztec Parents would like to thank
Health Educator Valerie Winstrom, for her
contributions to this article.
trans-fat-free guidelines,” said Melchior. “For example, croissants are typically
made with a butter-margarine blend, but we need to eliminate margarine
to make it a trans-fat-free item. We’re in the process of transforming many
recipes.”
Alongside the implementation of trans-fat-free frying oil, SDSU
Dining Services introduced the “Healthy Options” logo (see logo to the left)
throughout quick-service restaurants on campus. The new logo identifies
those food items that are lower in fat or fat-free, higher in fiber, have fewer
carbohydrates, contain more fresh fruit and/or vegetables, are meatless,
baked or grilled.
At the beginning of this semester SDSU Dining Services introduced
yet another effort to help students make healthy eating choices: the
“stoplight menu” in The Dining Room at Cuicacalli Suites. “All food items
are color-coded red, yellow or green. Items under the green light, signaling
‘Healthy Choice,’ are items that you can eat more of, for example vegetables
and fruits,” explained Melchior. “Items highlighted in yellow, such as breads
and pastas, are ‘OK in moderation’; and those items highlighted in red, such
as dessert items, should be ‘Limited.’ ”
Visit the SDSU Dining Services Web site, www.eatatsdsu.com for more
information about the many restaurants and dining options on campus.
From Hall of Fame to Hot Seat
Gwynn’s Next Goal: Success As Aztec Coach
T
ony Gwynn is always building something. In more than 23 years as
a player at SDSU and with the Padres, he built one of baseball’s most
prolific careers. So keen a student of the game was he, so exacting his
work ethic, that a spot in the Hall of Fame was a foregone conclusion from
before he retired as a player.
Right now though, he is eager to address his effort to turn Aztec baseball
into a championship-caliber program.
A Love of Teaching
“This is my fifth year here and I absolutely love what I’m doing,” the
gregarious coach declares. He talks with the conviction of the
same humble-yet-confident player whose bat spoke
louder than his words. “I’m happy where I am.
I don’t know if other people thought I would be
here this long, but I’m not going anywhere. I love
to teach.”
“There’s an old axiom in major league
baseball, if somebody took the time out to teach
you, then you’ve got to take the time out to teach
somebody else and that’s what I’m doing. I’m
passing the information on that, in my case, guys
like Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Bobby Doer and
Robin Roberts — all of the guys that I ever talked
to in my life — I’m taking information that they
gave me and I’m passing it on.”
“That’s what I do best — teach” he continues
in a tone more explanatory than introspective.
“I can break it down and put it back together again
for just about anything. But young guys, they have
a hard time trusting and believing in what you say
because they haven’t done it yet.”
How could anyone who plays the game have a
hard time trusting and believing a guy like Gwynn?
“Most freshmen who come to college are one
of the better guys on their high school team and
they’ve done things a certain way and had success
doing it,” he explains. “Now they come here and if
I have to change them or make adjustments with
them, believing that what I’m telling them is going
to work better than what they’ve done to get to this
point is a hard pill to swallow.”
“I think people look at me and think, he’s had a great career,” Gwynn goes
on. “He should feel really pretty comfortable with where he is in his life. Man,
I’m sitting on a bunch of hot coals right now. It’s cool that I could play 20 years,
have all the success any baseball player could ever imagine for himself, and still
feel like I have something to prove. I’ve still got something to prove! It hasn’t
changed. Forty-six years old and it hasn’t changed. ”
“I know I’m under .500 (as a coach) and I’m feeling uncomfortable
this year because I know the heat’s on. I know people think, ‘Hey, he isn’t
winning up there. He needs to win.’ And I like it that way because you
know what? When you get comfortable you get complacent. When you’re
uncomfortable, you know you’re going to work. I’m going to work. And
that’s what I do.”
Indeed he does. A .338 career batting
average isn’t earned without work. Gwynn credits
his parents with setting an example for the work
ethic he follows to this day.
“I saw it every day,” he remembers. “My dad
worked for the state of California. He was a
warehouse foreman and my mom worked at the
L.A. post office where she had the graveyard shift.
She’d leave at 5:30 and wouldn’t get home until
three in the morning. We had one car. By the time
I got up, Dad had it and he was going to work, so
we never saw that car. It was gone every day of our
lives growing up because Pops would come home
and Moms would go right to work.”
Gwynn describes a coaching regimen that sounds
much the same. “I go to the (ball) park,” he says.
“I get here every day. I’m working on the schedule
— bus trips, airlines, you know — and that’s why
I love this job because I’m not sitting still. I’m
working every day. I think people think I just sit
up here and just relax and everything’s going
‘whoosh.’ It’s the complete opposite, man, and I am
grinding. We’re talking about recruiting for next
year already.”
A Championship Vision
Even as Gwynn looks ahead, he remembers
back to Aztec baseball’s glory days. “My (hope)
would be that fans understand the big picture
“There’s an old axiom in major
with this program,” he says. “We all want to win
league baseball, if somebody
in the worst way and we will win sooner or
The Right Stuff
later — hopefully, sooner than later. People
took
the
time
out
to
teach
you,
“So my job is to convince them that maybe
sometimes forget how dominant this program was
there’s an easier way to do what they’ve been
then you’ve got to take the
at one point.
doing. I think for most of them it takes some time
time out to teach somebody
“I tell these kids all the time, ‘we should
to see how the speed of the game has changed
else
and
that’s
what
I’m
doing.”
expect
to win, not because we haven’t won in a long
— see how the things that they were doing before
time,
but
because we’re going to play well enough.
might not work as well as something else at this
— Tony Gwynn
We’re going to execute well enough and we’re going
level. Very rarely will a freshman come in and just
to win. When we do, let’s act like we’ve won before
have success. I’ve had two in my five years who’ve
because we have.’ My job is to bring that Aztec spirit
come in here and really had success right off the bat.”
back
to
how
it
used
to
be
and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Maybe it’s that times have changed since Gwynn came to San Diego
Gwynn was a player on the last Aztecs team to come close to making
State, where student athletes now arrive with greater expectations. “My time
the
College
World Series “in 1979 when we won our conference, went to a
was a different time,” Gwynn remembers. “To me, it was about who was
regional,
should’ve
won it and didn’t,” he reminisces. “We were the number
going to give me the best opportunity for me to grow. For these kids I think
one
team
in
the
country
and we went two and out in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Still,
that comes into play, too, but they want more than just the opportunity.
to this day, the toughest two games I’ve ever been involved in. We lost two in
They want schedule (exposure). They want TV (appearances). They want
a row.”
apparel.”
The coach is still bothered by the memory “more than I care to admit.”
At 46, Gwynn still has a lot of options, including instructing major
Is
it
his
biggest regret? “Oh, yeah, absolutely.”
league players, so why bother with all the hassles of being a college coach?
For Gwynn, it’s a memory even a Hall of Fame induction can’t erase,
“Because I’m in everything,” Gwynn is quick to reply. “I’m involved in
but
one
that might be eased by returning his alma mater to the ranks of
every decision we make — scheduling, fundraising, recruiting, you name it.
college
baseball’s
elite. He says he’ll achieve that next goal as he always has,
Whatever happens with the baseball program, I’m part of it. It’s kind of like
by
applying
himself
and working hard.
being a GM. It’s kind of like being an owner because I’m recruiting the type
And by remaining true to a vision he says he has. It’s an image of
of guys I want. I’m recruiting where I want. I’m playing the style I want, so
himself
coaching his Aztecs to the championship of the College World
coaching has been more fun to me than playing.”
Series. “I can see it in my head. I can imagine it,” Gwynn exclaims. “I can see
my coaching staff going nuts. I can see my administration going nuts. I can
Sitting on hot coals
see our boosters going nuts.”
Then, of course, there’s the more metaphysical aspect of life after
The SDSU Library is celebrating the life and career of Tony Gwynn
induction into the Hall of Fame. “In the big scheme of things, what does it
with a major exhibit titled “Beyond the Batter’s Box: The Hall of Fame Life
really mean,” Gwynn asks, immediately providing his own answer. “It means
of Tony Gwynn.” The exhibit opened on March 6 and runs through
you’re a good baseball player. Okay, I’m not a baseball player any more. Now
September 7. Visit http://infodome.sdsu.edu/projects/gwynn for more
I’m a baseball coach. Five years into it, you look at my record and I’m under
information.
.500. ‘(People might ask) How many championships have you won?’ I’ve
won one conference championship. ‘Been to the College World Series?’ No.
‘Been to a regional?’ No. So that’s where I am in my life.”
Proposal to Raise Pell Grants
Next Year — Increase Comes at
Expense of Need-Based Programs
“It is important that we find ways to increase the Pell Grant scholarship
that don’t harm other students,” said Rep. George Miller, Democrat of
California, chairman of the House education committee.
“If Congress does reject the president’s plan, it will have to either scale
back the Pell Grant increase or find another way to pay for it. That could be
difficult, given budget constraints and competing national priorities.”
he president’s 2008 budget proposal, released earlier this year, calls for
an increase in the Federal Pell Grant award by $1,350 over five years,
something that many in higher education consider long overdue.
However, the president revealed that he would pay for the increase by
cutting lender subsidies and eliminating the Supplemental Educational
Opportunity Grant (SEOG) program.
“We’re very supportive of the increases to the Pell Grant, but it doesn’t
make much sense to take away from other need-based programs,” said Chris
Collins, associate director of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
According to Collins, about 7,900 students at SDSU received Pell
grants in 2006. Less than 2,000 received the SEO grants and Perkins
low-interest loans. Nationwide, about one-quarter of all college students
receive Pell Grants.
According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, the big question is
whether Congress will approve the president’s plan.
“In the past, lawmakers have rejected most of the president’s proposed
cuts, instead providing flat funds or even modest increases for student aid.
This year members of Congress from both parties rushed to denounce the
president’s ideas for how to pay for the Pell Grant increase.
“Republicans warned that a third reduction in the subsidy in such
a short time could put guaranteed lending at a competitive disadvantage
with direct lending. In the guaranteed-loan program, banks and other types
of lenders deliver federally backed loans to students; in the direct-loan
program, the Education Department provides loans directly to students
through their colleges.”
“Democrats praised the plan to cut what they consider “excess” lender
subsidies, but warned against abolishing supplemental grants, which augment
Pell Grants for low-income students, and other student-aid programs.”
Among other things, the president’s budget also would:
T
•Increase annual subsidized-loan limits for juniors and seniors by $2,000,
to $7,500, while raising the aggregate undergraduate borrowing limit
by $7,500, to $30,500. Congress raised the loan limits for freshmen,
sophomores, and graduate students last year, but did not increase them
for juniors and seniors.
•Provide $24 million in grants of $1 million each to colleges and school
districts that work together to educate students in languages critical to
national security, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Russian.
•Raise the interest rate on PLUS loans from 7.9 percent to 8.3 percent for
borrowers in the Direct Loan program, while reducing it by 0.2 percent, to
8.3 percent, for borrowers in the guaranteed-loan program. Congress raised
the rate on PLUS loans to 8.5 percent for borrowers in the guaranteed-loan
program last year, but because of a drafting error in the bill, direct-loan
borrowers were spared the increase.
•Make Pell Grants available year-round, while limiting Pell eligibility to the
equivalent of 16 semesters.
•Eliminate a rule that enables students at costlier institutions to receive larger
Pell Grants.
•Allow students and parents to exclude money held in Section 529 collegesavings accounts when calculating their financial need. Contributions to such
savings accounts are taxed, but the interest that accumulates is tax free.
Aztec Aquaplex Now Open
S
ince construction for San Diego State University’s new Aztec Aquaplex
began in November 2005, a small hole in the ground has evolved into
a massive, state-of-the-art aquatics facility. As of March 1, swimmers
with sunscreen and beach towels in hand have flocked to the long-awaited
on-campus oasis, designed to help visitors “get away from the every day.”
The Aztec Aquaplex will remain open throughout the school year and
features three heated pools: an Olympic-size 50-meter pool, a 7,300-squarefoot recreation pool and a 20-person hydrotherapy spa. The facility also
has a sun deck with plenty of lounge chairs, on-site locker rooms, shower
facilities, changing areas and restrooms.
Featuring four springboards and a five-anchor bulkhead, the Olympicsize pool is ideal for diving and lap swimming. Serving as the home
venue for the Aztecs swim and water polo teams, the pool will be able to
accommodate water sports practices and competitions.
Similar to the ocean’s shore, the 7,300-square-foot recreation pool
has a zero-depth entry between the facility’s sun deck and the water’s edge.
A portion of the pool is reserved as an open lounge, where members and
guests can relax on floats. The recreation pool is relatively shallow with a
maximum depth of five feet, and will accommodate swim lessons and water
fitness classes such as water volleyball and water aerobics.
The 20-person hydrotherapy spa helps ease achy muscles and melt away
stress with its 20 hydrotherapy jets and 102-degree water. After a long day,
visitors can sit and relax in the spa, and enjoy the view of the nearby canyon.
Students with an Aztec Recreation Center (ARC) membership will
see a $2 increase in their monthly membership fees for pool access. Visitors
not belonging to the ARC may purchase an Aquaplex-only membership, a
10-visit pass or a day pass. All are welcome to enjoy the Aquaplex, but SDSU
students pay the lowest fees to use the facility.
California to Increase
Fees at Public
Universities
T
he State of California has increased fees
for attending both the University of
California, and the California State
University system. The state fees for CSU, which
includes San Diego State University, will now be
$2,772 per year for in-state undergraduate
students. This amounts to an additional
10 percent fee increase, which was approved by
the CSU Board of Trustees. Each campus has
The Aztec Aquaplex is located adjacent to the SDSU Tennis Center,
softball field and Tony Gwynn Baseball Stadium.
The $12 million facility was funded by a $16-semester increase in
student union fees, which was approved by 65 percent of SDSU students
who voted in an April 2004 campus referendum.
Visit the Aztec Aquaplex Web site, www.aztecaquaplex.sdsu.edu, for
more information.
additional fees for miscellaneous services. SDSU
miscellaneous fees equal $656 annually.
Charles Reed, chancellor of the CSU
system, said it’s important to warn students and
their families early about fee hikes.
“If you can give five, six months’ notice,
then students can plan for it,” he said. “Where
it impacted students the most was when it was
done with a month’s or so notice.”
CSU officials said they would lower or even
eliminate the fee increases if the governor can
provide extra money in the budget, which he did
last year.
The neediest students will have more help
to pay for fees. About one third of the increases
are scheduled to be channeled to financial aid.
SDSU, and the entire CSU system, is still
one of the most affordable four-year institutions
of higher learning in the country. Fees rank well
below the national average for public universities.
“It’s still cheaper than most others schools,”
said James Lennon, a 20-year old San Diego State
junior. “My parents pay, but even if they didn’t, it
wouldn’t be that bad.”
Lennon said he thinks most parents brace
themselves for the cost of college, and they are
probably relieved when their son or daughter
chooses a school like SDSU over a private
university.
Award-Winning
Week of Caring Program
SDSU student delivering
a hand-made Valentine’s
Day card to a resident of
a local nursing home.
I
n November, San Diego State University’s Residential Education Office
received the Program of the Year award by the Pacific Affiliate of
College and University Residence Halls for its Week of Caring Program.
The SDSU program has since been selected as one of two finalists by the
National Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls for the
National Program of the Year award. SDSU students and staff will travel to
Oshkosh, Wisconsin in May to compete against New York University for the
national award.
Taking place just before Valentine’s Day, Week of Caring strives to
give a second meaning to a holiday associated with romance and roses by
showing participants the effects of having compassion for others through
the selfless act of volunteering. The goal of Week of Caring is to involve the
entire campus in a community service program.
“Sometimes, students think that the world’s problems are so big, they
can’t possibly make a difference,” said Cynthia Avery, director of Residential
Education. “Through this program, students have the opportunity to see first
hand how their efforts can positively affect others’ lives. Paying it forward is
as rewarding to the person who gives as it is to the person who receives.”
The Vice President for Student Affairs, James R. Kitchen, personally
endorsed the nomination of this innovative program for regional recognition.
SDSU Announces the 2007
Summer Reading Program Book
M
any universities throughout
the United States offer a
summer reading program
as a means of introducing incoming
students to the intellectual life of the
university. San Diego State University
launched its first summer book-reading program in 2004, and is proud to
announce its fourth season.
“The mission of the Summer
Reading Program is to welcome new
students to SDSU’s learning community,” said Dean of Undergraduate
Studies Geoff Chase. “By involving
all incoming students, the program
comprises part of each student’s
orientation to the campus and
provides a common experience for
them as they transition to both
university life and to SDSU.”
Chase explained that one goal is to create an opportunity for students to
participate in a dialogue around a book and current topics.
“There will be many opportunities throughout the fall semester for
students to learn and discuss interpretations of the book,” he said. “From
social activities, to course discussion in the Freshman Success Programs and
study groups, and other structured events, students will develop an enhanced
sense of community while strengthening their critical reading skills.”
Selected for the 2007 Summer Reading Program book is Tracy Kidder’s
Mountains Beyond Mountains.
The book has been critically acclaimed. The author, Tracy Kidder, is a
winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the author of the bestsellers The Soul of a
New Machine, House, Among Schoolchildren, and Home Town. He has been
described by the Baltimore Sun as the “master of the non-fiction narrative.”
“The Week of Caring Program, now entering its fourth year, is an
outstanding program for not only our residential students, but for the entire
campus,” said Kitchen.
Jessica Young, SDSU senior, National Residence Hall Honorary
president at SDSU, resident advisor in Villa Alvarado, and 2007 Quest for
the Best award recipient, put together the program “bid” for which Week of
Caring was selected.
“Week of Caring made me see how easy it is to give back, volunteer and
to organize hundreds of students to participate,” Young said. “We were able to
witness the effects we had on people, the effects of our hard work. In a week,
the program taught us about ourselves, about each other, and about leadership.”
Last year each of SDSU’s seven residential communities adopted a
cause to help.
•Project Literacy supported on-campus study centers by holding
a book drive
•An art sale was held to benefit Locks of Love
•In affiliation with Operation Interdependence, students collected
and assembled care packages for military troops overseas
•A monetary gift was made to The Senior Centers of San Diego to
assist in the construction of the new Senior Center in City Heights
and enough funds were raised to feed homeless and at-risk seniors
for six months
•Relay for Life was held on Campanile Walkway to benefit the
American Cancer Society
•Students used their meal plans to purchase canned food items for
Fraternity House, Inc., an organization that serves HIV/AIDS
patients and their families
Residents in University Towers decided to volunteer for two causes:
they raised funds to purchase school supplies for the Knowledge is Power
Program (KIPP) Adelante middle school; and collected donations for Cystic
Fibrosis research and support.
Aside from the tangible donations of dollars and non-perishable food
items, students volunteered their time and personal involvement to the
people behind the causes.
Eric Rivera, associate vice president for Student Affairs, said that above
all else, he hopes Week of Caring participants come away from the program
with an understanding of their roles as active citizens and participants in
not only their immediate university community, but within the city, state,
national and international community as well.
Currently, SDSU resident advisors are helping students at UC Berkeley
launch a similar program on their campus.
This powerful and inspiring new book shows how one person can make a
difference, as Kidder tells the true story of a gifted man who is in love with
the world and has set out to do all he can to cure it.
At the center of Mountains Beyond Mountains stands Paul Farmer.
Doctor, Harvard professor, renowned infectious-disease specialist,
anthropologist, the recipient of a MacArthur “genius” grant, world-class
Robin Hood, Farmer was brought up in a bus and on a boat, and in
medical school found his life’s calling: to diagnose and cure infectious
diseases and to bring the lifesaving tools of modern medicine to those
who need them most. This magnificent book shows how radical change
can be fostered in situations that seem insurmountable; and it also shows
how a meaningful life can be created, as Farmer—brilliant, charismatic,
charming, both a leader in international health and a doctor who finds time
to make house calls in Boston and the mountains of Haiti—blasts through
convention to get results.
Mountains Beyond Mountains takes us from Harvard to Haiti, Peru,
Cuba, and Russia as Farmer changes minds and practices through his
dedication to the philosophy that “the only real nation is humanity” —
a philosophy that is embodied in the small public charity he founded,
Partners In Health. He enlists the help of the Gates Foundation, George
Soros, the U.N.’s World Health Organization, and others in his quest to
cure the world. At the heart of this book is the example of a life based on
hope, and on an understanding of the truth of the Haitian proverb “Beyond
mountains there are mountains.” As you solve one problem, another
problem presents itself, and so you go on and try to solve that one, too.
“Mountains Beyond Mountains is the only book I’ve read in years that
made me feel like cheering,” said Anne Fadiman, the author of SDSU’s first
Summer Reading Program book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down.
“It left me uncomfortable, guilty, and exhausted—but it also inspired me,
kept me up all night, and moved me to tears. Some readers will find their
lives changed forever; everyone else will emerge, at the very least, with an
unexpectedly revised set of values. Tracy Kidder has given us not only an
unforgettable book, but an unignorable life lesson. Hurrah!”
Important SDSU dates
For the academic calendar online, visit www.sdsu.edu/acad_
calendar
April
16
18
18
19
25
25
26
26
27 – May 6
28
30
DGage Trio Jazz, 4:30 – 6 pm, Aztec Center Starbucks
Josh Hall Singer/Songwriter, 4:30 – 5:30 pm, Aztec Center Starbucks
Open Mic Night, 7 pm, Backdoor at Aztec Center
Dimes Indie Pop group, noon – 1 pm, Aztec Center Outdoor Patio
Pete Thurston Singer/Songwriter, 4:30 – 5:30 pm, Aztec Center
Starbucks
Bill Gaither Homecoming Tour 2007, 7 – 11 pm, Cox Arena
“Just in Time” Career Fair, 10 am – 2:30 pm, Centennial Walkway
Khousak Central American Andes Music, noon – 1 pm,
Aztec Center Outdoor Patio
SDSU theatrical production: The Grapes of Wrath*
Symphony in the Park, 4 – 6 pm, Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park
Reed/Cutsinger Lantin Jazz Duo, 4:30 – 6 pm, Aztec Center
Starbucks
May
1
Free sneak preview film: Eagle vs. Shark, 6 – 8 pm, Montezuma Hall
1 – 4
Spring Hand Craft Faire, 9 am – 5 pm, Campanile Walkway
3
Los Alacranes Folklorico Music, noon – 1 pm, Aztec Center Patio
7
Third Season Jazz Trio, 4:30 – 6 pm, Aztec Center Starbucks
8
Buzz Sutherland Comedian, 5 – 6 pm, Montezuma Hall
9 – 16
Final Exams! Send Cookies!
16All residence halls close for the academic year. Licensee should leave
by 8 pm on the day of his/her last final exam, but in no case later
than 4 pm on May 16th.**
17 – 20
Commencement
23
First day of summer session
*Visit the School of Theatre, Television, and Film Web site,
http://theatre.sdsu.edu, for ticket information.
**For residence hall closure and reopening information call the
Office of Housing Administration at (619) 594-5742.
Softball
4/13
4/14
4/15
4/18
4/21 4/22
4/27
4/28
4/29
5/5 5/6
5/10
5/11 5/12
Colorado State
New Mexico
New Mexico
San Diego
UNLV
UNLV
New Mexico
Colorado State
Colorado State
UNLV
UNLV
Utah
BYU
BYU
Fort Collins, Colo.
Albuquerque, N.M.
Albuquerque, N.M.
SDSU Softball Field
Las Vegas
Las Vegas
SDSU Softball Field
SDSU Softball Field
SDSU Softball Field
SDSU Softball Field SDSU Softball Field
Salt Lake City
Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
1:30, 3:30 pm MT
3 pm MT
12 pm MT
6 pm
6 pm
2 pm
5, 7 pm
6 pm
12 pm
6 pm
1 pm
1, 3 pm MT
7 pm MT
2 pm MT
Women’s Track
4/14
4/15
4/20 – 21
4/27 – 28
4/29
5/6
5/9 – 12
5/25 – 26
6/6 – 6/9
Long Beach Invitational
Mt. SAC Relays
UCSD Invitational
California Collegiate
Challenge
Penn Relays
Claremont Classic
Mountain West
Conference Outdoor
Championships
NCAA Regional
Championships
NCAA Outdoor
Championships
Long Beach, CA
Walnut, Calif.
San Diego
Berkeley, Calif.
10 am
10 am
9 am
10 am
Philadelphia
Claremont, Calif.
SDSU Sports Deck
10 am ET
10 am
10 am
Eugene, Ore.
4 pm
Sacramento, Calif.
TBA
Men’s Golf
4/13 – 14
4/26 – 28
5/17 – 19
5/30 – 6/2
ASU Thunderbird
Invitational
MWC Championship
NCAA West Regionals
NCAA Championships
Tempe, Ariz.
All Day
Tucson, Ariz.
Tempe, Ariz.
Williamsburg, Va.
All Day
All Day
All Day
Women’s Golf
Sports Schedule
For a complete listing of SDSU sports schedules, or for more
information, visit the Athletics Web site at www.goaztecs.com
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City
Tony Gwynn Stadium
Tony Gwynn Stadium
Tony Gwynn Stadium
Long Beach, Calif.
Fort Worth, Texas
Tony Gwynn Stadium
Tony Gwynn Stadium
Tony Gwynn Stadium
Tony Gwynn Stadium
Tony Gwynn Stadium
Tony Gwynn Stadium
Tony Gwynn Stadium
Las Vegas
St. George, Utah
All Day
TBD
Daytona Beach, Fla.
All Day
All Day
6 pm MT
1 pm MT
6 pm
6 pm
1 pm
6 pm
6:30, 2, 1 pm CT
6 pm
6 pm
1 pm
6 pm
6 pm
6 pm
1 pm
TBA
4/14
4/26 – 28
5/12 – 13
5/17–5/28
San Diego State Univ.
Mountain West
Conference
Championships
NCAA Regionals
NCAA Championships
Aztec Tennis Center
12 pm
Colorado Springs, Colo. All Day
TBA
Athens, Ga.
All Day
All Day
Women’s Tennis
4/13 4/14
4/15
4/25 – 28
5/11 – 13
5/17 – 28
BYU
Utah
UNLV
MWC Championships
NCAA Regionals
NCAA Finals
Aztec Tennis Center
Aztec Tennis Center
Aztec Tennis Center
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Campus Sites
Athens, Ga.
2 pm
12 pm
12 pm
All Day
TBA
TBA
Photo courtesy of Stan Liu
Utah
Utah
San Diego
Air Force
Air Force
Long Beach State
TCU
UC Riverside
UNLV
UNLV
UNLV
Long Beach State
Brigham Young Univ.
Brigham Young Univ.
Mountain West
Conference
Tournament
2007 Mountain West
Conference
Championships
2007 NCAA Regionals
2007 NCAA
Championships
Men’s Tennis
Baseball
4/13 4/14 – 15
4/17 4/20 – 22
4/22 – 22
4/24 4/27 – 29
5/1
5/4 5/5
5/6
5/8
5/10 – 11
5/12
5/23
4/19 – 21
5/10 – 12
5/22 – 25
02/07 (044)