Students partake in pizza with presidents

On Wednesday afternoon, San José State University President Cynthia Teniente-Matson and Associated Students President Katelyn Gambarin greeted dozens of students at their “Pizza with the Presidents” event in the Student Union.

New and returning students alike lined up for free pizza and a chance to meet their university and student government presidents.

Francisco Castañeda, an aerospace engineering transfer student from Mendocino College in Ukiah, California said he came to meet new people and familiarize himself with the SJSU community.

“There are probably more people in this school than there are in my hometown, so it’s a big change,” Castañeda said.

SJSU saw its largest-ever freshman and transfer classes this semester, with a record-breaking total enrollment of 40,000 students. Transfer students made up about 40 percent of SJSU’s incoming undergraduates.

Castañeda said the Weeks of Welcome events have been helping him acclimate to the larger university community.

“I feel like everyone here is pretty friendly. They’re easy to talk to,” Castañeda said. “It’s a big change because in my community college, everyone’s kind of reserved, everyone’s kind of to themselves and it’s just more laid back. I like it.”

Kaden Nguyen, a math transfer student from San Jose City College, also came out to get to know the community better.

“I’m able to experience the Spartan life,” Nguyen said. “They offer tons of resources and support for their students.”

He said meeting Teniente-Matson felt like “meeting the President of the United States, but instead, it’s for SJSU.”

Maurelle Bagus, senior operations specialist at SJSU Student Involvement, helped organize the event and thought it was a success.

“I think they (students) are surprised that the president is being so forward facing with the students. So I think they enjoy it,” Bagus said. “And of course, you know, they love free food and free swag.”

Gambarin said she was pleasantly surprised to see so many students come out, given the relatively smaller turnout she saw during the “Popcorn with the President” event, which took place on Seventh Street Plaza on Thursday, Aug. 21.

“I’m sure a lot of them (attendees) showed up for the pizza, but I’m really glad to have talked to so many students and I wish I could have talked with them longer,” Gambarin said. “I know there were so many folks who were waiting in line. So I’m just really glad I got to talk to some folks and connect with people today.” 

Though she couldn’t talk in-depth with each student she met, Gambarin gave out her business card to students who wished to share any questions or concerns they had outside of the event. She also encouraged them to attend bimonthly A.S. Board meetings as a way to voice their ideas and perspectives.

A.S. Board meetings are held on Wednesdays, every second and fourth week of the month, in Student Union Meeting Room 1A. Students can attend the meetings in-person or via Zoom and make public comments “regarding any issues affecting SJSU students.” The next meeting will be held on Sept. 10.

One of Gambarin’s goals as A.S. president this year is to be more visible and accessible to the SJSU community.

“I think having events like this is super important to make sure that students really know that they can talk to their administrators about things that are happening around campus and hopefully that can pave the path for change,” Gambarin said.

Teniente-Matson said she hosts events like these to introduce herself to new students and invite them to engage in student governance.

“It’s to meet them (students) out where they are and encourage them to reach out to me, to know that this is a wonderful place, a place of belonging, a place of community, and, of course, a place to excel as a student,” Teniente-Matson said.

“I want to have everyone feel like they belong here and to participate and be engaged on campus.”