There are approximately one billion starving people in the world. Starvation does not just affect third world countries, it impacts many Americans as well. Almost 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes every day, according to www.bread.org. The world hunger issue has ignited a response at college campuses, and a few organizations at San Diego State are taking action to help.
Students designed and modeled outfits made from condoms
A man painted metallic blue posed with condom-decorated attire last Thursday on the Cuicacalli Residence Hall walkway. He was costumed as an avatar, complete with a spear and condom headdress for the Residence Hall Association’s second annual Condom Fashion Show, aiming to promote safe sex.
It’s a sunny day for Associated Students’ Green Love Sustainability Advisory Board, which was the runner-up for an award for the installation of the photovoltaic solar panels at the Aztec Aquaplex. Green Love will receive a certificate from the California Center for Sustainable Energy titled “San Diego Energy Efficiency Best Energy Efficiency Project” during an awards ceremony on March 25.
Anyone who has ever felt compelled to be a leader at San Diego State faces a clear field and in some cases, a guaranteed win in this year’s student elections. The Associated Students elections will be held March 22 through 25, and despite the approaching deadline, candidacy is slim. Four of the five executive position candidations are running unopposed. Candidates were permitted to begin campaigning last Friday at 4:30 p.m.
March 3 — A San Diego State student was reportedly battered near Los Panchos Taco Shop, according to a SDSU Police media bulletin. SDSU Police Capt. Lamine Secka said officers approached a vehicle with its hazard lights on at the intersection of College Avenue and Lindo Paseo around 2 p.m.
Throughout the past two weeks, thousands of high school seniors and community college students received acceptance letters from San Diego State. More than 15,000 applicants received acceptance letters out of the approximate 61,800 students who applied.
Richard Pickett is not only the San Diego State’s chief information officer; he is a professional pilot too. In his more than 30 years of flying, no flight was as important as the one he made the week of Jan. 31, a flight he said tallied 18,000 roundtrip miles in a span of 10 days, all for a relief mission in earthquake-stricken Haiti.
Associated Students representatives waited anxiously in Aztec Center last night to hear A.S. Elections Coordinator Crystal Warren say what they longed to hear: the Modern Space student referendum passed.
Report targets groups with low graduation and retention rates
San Diego State has worked to improve student success, and a recent report shows the extra effort has paid off. The Division of Undergraduate Studies released its Facilitating Graduation SDSU Delivery Plan Feb. 26. The plan not only highlights SDSU’s increasing graduation rates, but also outlines ways in which the university plans to increase the retention rate.
Feb. 28 — San Diego State Police issued a crime alert regarding a sexual assault. According to the report, a female victim reported she was drugged and assaulted at an off-campus party. The incident reportedly occurred in the early morning hours near Montezuma Road and 63rd Street. There is no suspect information at this time, but police are conducting an investigation. Anyone with information should contact the SDSU Police Department at 619-594-1991.
San Diego State is classified as a doctoral research university, and for a good reason.
Evolutionary biology and geophysics have joined the ranks as two new joint doctoral programs after being approved late last month.
While the Modern Space project may seem like just another random fee to add to the list, San Diego State is no stranger to student union debates, and The Daily Aztec’s 1963 coverage of the very first student union vote rings eerily similar to today’s debate.
Almost 10 years and just as many Associated Student councils have come and gone since the idea of a new student union has dominated discussion about development at San Diego State. Tomorrow will mark the third time since 2002 that A.S. has asked students to vote on a fee increase to fund the construction of a new student union building.
As the first permanent student union facility on a California State University campus, the Aztec Center has a lot of history. Since it opened more than 40 years ago, however, the Aztec Center has also had a lot of problems.
The annual Student Research Symposium was held over the weekend with record turnout
From aerospace engineering to Tupac Shakur, the research presented at this year’s Student Research Symposium ranged near and far. The SRS took place last Friday and Saturday with a total of 419 presentations of students’ research from each of the colleges at San Diego State. Since the program began in 2008, there has been a 42 percent increase in the number of participants.
Students, faculty members, teachers, parents and other supporters took to California campuses and streets last Thursday to protest fee increases and funding cuts. Countywide demonstrations culminated in a march from Balboa Park to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office downtown.
Universities are asking students to share their thoughts about health services in a nationwide survey this month. San Diego State randomly selected 4,000 students to take part in the Healthy Minds Study, which began on Feb. 22. Students were given an invitation via e-mail to take an online survey that would give researchers further insight into what issues are affecting students and their well-being.
San Diego State is one of many college campuses across California participating in a statewide “Day of Action” today, where students, faculty and workers will simultaneously hold demonstrations in defense of public education.
Kappa Sigma fraternity’s national board revoked its San Diego State charter last week as a result of a violation of its probationary status, according to Doug Case, coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
In an effort to revive the biotechnology industry, the federal government has granted biotechnology programs within San Diego $4.95 million. The San Diego State College of Sciences collaborated with BIOCOM, a life science association, Miramar College and the U.S. military to form a proposition presented to the U.S. Department of Labor in October to receive stimulus money.
Some San Diego State seniors applying for graduation this spring might be confused by the degree they had to apply for. Students majoring in advertising, public relations and media studies will now receive a degree in journalism instead of communication.
A recent article about rape had students rallying in protest
The first of the month brings with it a few inevitable events: Bills are due and a new issue of The Koala lands in the hands of hundreds of San Diego State students. Yesterday signaled the start of another monthly event as students from several on-campus organizations gathered to protest The Koala while the March issue was being distributed.
Feb. 21 – San Diego State police arrested a student for vandalism. Sean Pedeflous, 21 years old, was cited and released after he broke a window at Piedra del Sol Apartments. Police received a call from a security officer after he heard a window break and saw a male suspect with bloody arms.
Some out-of-state students are leaving San Diego and moving back home because they are not able to meet California residency requirements for in-state tuition. Freshmen from states other than California are now realizing that they will not be able to obtain in-state residency for their last two years at San Diego State. For most, the financial burden of paying out-of-state tuition all four years is too great.
Even during a time of fiscal frenzy and furloughs, San Diego State has managed to muster up some money. According to a new report by the Council for Aid to Education, SDSU ranks ninth in California for university fundraising, and first among all California State Universities.
More undergraduate students will need to study abroad soon
The College of Health & Human Services can be added to the growing list of programs San Diego State offers that require international experience. Next fall, CHHS will be requiring its undergraduate students to have international academic experience to graduate.
This year marks the rebirth of the San Diego State Leadership Summit after a six-year hiatus of the program, which began in 1984. “Leadership is a choice, take the next step” is the theme of the summit being held this Saturday. The summit, which will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the new Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center, is an event organized by the Department of Student Life and Leadership to guide future leaders.
Mike Lopez is a name that is not familiar to the Aztec family. But one look at him on game day and any San Diego State student would know exactly who he is. Lopez is best known as SDSU’s mascot, the Aztec Warrior. A 2009 political science graduate from SDSU, Lopez truly is an Aztec for life.
Ken Kramer is a storyteller. Just ask him and he’ll tell you a story about it. The San Diego State alumnus is seen weekly on the KPBS show Ken Kramer’s “About San Diego.” His natural flair and enthusiasm for storytelling provides the perfect base for his show, which highlights quirky stories about current and historical facets of San Diego. Curiosity is all he needs to find a new story.
San Diego State is listed on Reggie Blaylock’s résumé more times than the average SDSU graduate. Throughout his many years at SDSU, Blaylock has been a student, an athlete and is now a more than 20-year faculty member.
Blaylock was born and raised in Chicago and decided to move to Los Angeles his senior year of high school to begin his life in California. He recently earned his doctorate degree at SDSU. He received his undergraduate and masters education from SDSU as well. During his college years, he was the captain of the football team, president of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and sang in the gospel choir.
Jim Mitchell started bowling at 9 years old. Since the 1970s, he has parlayed his skills into a professional bowling career, which later developed into a bowling TV show. To add to his success, he also became the Bowling and Games coordinator at San Diego State. “I think he commits everything he has to the bowling center here, and to campus rec in general,” bowling center assistant and media studies senior Bre Brooks said. “He does so much and he puts everything he has in here, he’s here everyday and he has like 40 sick days saved up because he never misses any days.”
Six male contestants from the four Greek councils will compete for the “Mr. Greek Universe 2010” at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the Tula Community Center. Lambda Sigma Gamma sorority is sponsoring the event. Six female judges representing all four councils will rate the contestants on casual wear, swimwear, formal wear, talent and a question and answer component, Katherine Lopez-Ramos, president of Lambda Sigma Gamma, said.
San Diego State will honor one-time U.S. ambassador Charles W. Hostler and legendary football coach Don Coryell with an honorary doctorate degree for their excellence and service to society. “An honorary doctorate degree is only conferred to leaders who have made fundamental contributions to society and the world,” Paul Wong, dean of Arts and Letters, said.
Campus groups are collecting books for a Tanzanian school
The 18-foot shipping container and its contents – 5,000 books and supplies – at the end of the Campanile Walkway will be starting a 62-day voyage to Kongwa, Tanzania next week to fulfill efforts of the Mnyakongo School Library Project.
Feb.17 – San Diego State Police issued a crime alert after a student was robbed. The victim was reportedly battered and sustained moderate injuries. A red and blue JanSport backpack and $13 was stolen. SDSU Police Sgt. Steven Harshaw said the victim reported that three suspects jumped out of a late 1990s silver Chevrolet Camaro and “beat him up for no reason.”
Associated Students has read through a resolution condemning an article printed in last year’s The Koala titled, “How to rape a girl.” The resolution was originally written by Rebecca King on behalf of the Panhellenic Association and A.S. is being encouraged to adopt the resolution as well. The resolution refers to the article as “cruel and hateful” and requests for an apology and “educational efforts” regarding rape, sexual assault and stereotypes to be funded by The Koala.
Fewer students mean less funding for A.S. programs and clubs
The first step Associated Students is taking to prepare for next year’s budget decrease is rearranging this semester’s budget. By playing with the numbers for the spring budget, A.S. hopes to prepare student organizations for the reality of expenditures in the fall. Despite this semester’s tweaking, A.S. says no dramatic changes are being made this spring.
International students will have a new place to call home next fall, because the International House is moving from Villa Alvarado Apartments to the Chapultepec residence hall. The I-House consists of about 50 members, according to the director of Housing Administration, Patricia Francisco. She said she expects to have the same amount of people in the I-House when it relocates to Chappy next fall.
One of the first steps the San Diego State Research Foundation takes when helping faculty and staff acquire funding for research is tracking the interests of grant seekers. Grant Information Coordinator Julie Seal said the Research Foundation’s mission is to augment the education, research and community service objectives of SDSU. One of the ways it aims to do this is through funding opportunities for the faculty and staff.
The body discovered Sunday on the cliffs of La Jolla was identified yesterday as San Diego State freshman Sandy Khoo of Millbrae. Khoo, who was 18 years old, lived in University Towers residence hall and was reportedly last seen Saturday by friends. Her parents flew from Millbrae yesterday to identify her body, which was found around noon near the Torrey Pines Gliderport. A rescue helicopter was used to airlift her body from the cliffs and paramedics pronounced Khoo dead on sight.
The San Diego State graphic design studio course and the Symphony Orchestra are joining forces to create posters that will benefit both programs. Students from the course will show off their creative flare by designing posters and electronic flyers for the orchestra’s upcoming performances.
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