BFS September 2023

Updates From

IN THIS ISSUE

CALENDAR // BIRTHDAYS

ANNOUNCEMENT

MILESTONES

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

STUDENT EVENTS ON CAMPUS

SEPTEMBER SAFETY TIPS

BFS YELP

BIRTHDAYS

Malu Arreguin

Jose Rubio

David Baker

Ray Chandler

Sehee Kim

Sandra Chang

Yvonne Ayala

Rita Dattilo

Bryan Rincan

James Whitaker

Jose Estrada

Ricardo Nunez

Heriberto Sandoval

Emily Chan

Tanya Greene

Maria Darwichian

Rowena Padua

Genelle Vinci

Edward Dawson

Herman De Leon

David Durque

Edgar Vargas

Mieko Raphael

Ranjeet Sehgal

Brittnie Sullivan

Gabrielle Aung

Natalia Magana

Carla Manacop

Cli ord Farrar

Nicole Asensi

Noemi Ferman

Kavya Kadaparthi

Prisca Kansiime

Anna Brewer

Alicia Morales

Holly Vera Cruz

Nadia Alshehri

Heather Kira-Hoeke

Alan Ackereisen

Manish Poudyal

Yvette Duron

April Lasco-Perez

Wei Chen

Gemma Elenes

Veronica Perez

Alexis Zabala

Ann Duran

Sonia Johnson-Medina

James Williamson

Tayler Furlow

Announcement

Hello everyone!

This is Trinh, the editor of the monthly newsletters. I’m here to announce that I will be departing from BFS and today (September 1st) is my last day here. It feels very bittersweet, as I’ve been at BFS since I was a freshman at UCLA, but I’m excited for what lies ahead!

Trinh Tran

Thank you to everyone who has read the newsletter and looked forward to receiving it each month. You are the reason it exists. It truly warms my heart and makes me so happy whenever I am told that people enjoy reading it. I would also like to thank everyone who has contributed to the creation of the BFS newsletter—Sim, Greta, Sydney, Ellen, Melanie, Jerry, just to name a few. Your help has been invaluable to me and the newsletter wouldn’t be as great as it is without you.

Moving forward, Greta will be taking over, and I have no doubts she will continue to produce high-quality newsletters. I am so glad to have been a part of the BFS family, and I won't forget my time here or the amazing people I’ve met. Go Bruins!

MESSAGES

“I wish Trinh the best as she moves forward in her new endeavors joining the working world as a Bruin alumna! She has provided BFS an enjoyable and timely newsletter, allowing us to get to know our colleagues better. We will definitely miss her and the impact she had on BFS!”

— Ellen Pakizegee

“Trinh is incredibly kind-hearted and dedicated, and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to work with her! Her work on the BFS newsletter was amazing and she always made the issue an enjoyable, knowledgeable, and exciting read! I wish you the best in your next opportunity, they are lucky to have you!”

— Sydney Gran

“It’s been such a pleasure working with you, Trinh! You have brought a sense of community to BFS through the newsletter. You really made it your own and it helped our organization stay connected throughout the pandemic. Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors!

— Sim Grewall

Milestones

15years of service

What is the most exciting part of your position?

Danton Richards (Rec Mgmt & Info Practices) — I believe the most exciting part of my role here is the interaction with new hire student workers. I like being able to help young people get their careers started. Also assisting in the student workers careers once they leave the University. I have been used as a reference for so many graduates and have helped them gain great employment opportunities. Several lawyers, doctors, engineers and police men have come through our department, and I am proud to have helped them on their employment journeys.

David Beckstrom (Costing Policy & Mgmt Analysis) — The most exciting part of my role at UCLA is right after the completion of a long and challenging project. The Costing Policy & Management Analysis Team’s work is primarily project based where costing projects can easily last months and years. The most fulfilling and impactful projects include direct collaboration with UCLA academic sta , faculty, administrative sta , campus leadership and my team.

Susan Ngo (Financial Mgmt & Reporting) — It has been an amazing 15 years here at UCLA. It has given me di erent opportunities and experiences that developed me personally and professionally. I am glad to be part of this BFS family. The most exciting part of my current role/position is to be able to work with the same 2 people I started my career at UCLA. We all started around the same time, then went on our separate ways to di erent teams, and now we’re reunited working on the same team again!

If you could travel back to one point in time, when would it be?

5 years of service

David Garcia (Financial Mgmt & Reporting) — I would travel back to 1986 so I could attend that year’s edition of the World Cup. Maradona was then at the peak of his powers and produced arguably the greatest individual performance the tournament has ever seen (yes better than Messi last year). Being able to witness the “Goal of the Century” and see the many other memorable moments in person would be a dream come true.

Employee Recognition

for going above and beyond accomplishing extraordinary results for the University.

What do people say about John?

‣ When we have any computer issues, John and the team are always available to take care of any needs. John assists with computer issues, programming new and old and tackles issues right away.

Spirit Award — for energy, positive attitude, and heartfelt actions that create a better work environment

What do people say about

‣ Cheryl helps improve the culture within PSC by bringing in items to make breakfast for the team. Cheryl has been a true team player since transitioning to her new role from Housing. She came into SFS/PSC with an open mind and is an incredible asset to our organization.

Hidden Figure Award — for work behind-the-scenes that provides exceptional value to the team

What do people say about

‣ Kevin is working on creating systems that will help the campus to do analysis and planning! He is incorporating his knowledge of the ledger and UC accounting into the creation of structures and tables that will provide new data on items such as employee position planning.

Outstanding Student — for students whose work add value to the workplace

What do people say about Izaac?

‣ Izaac’s skill set has allowed us to explore options we previously would have been unable to, whether that’s leveraging notion integrations to track the number of users accessing the UCPath Simulation or exploring facets of Excel automation to help speed up manual processes. He continues to deliver top-tier quality and is a phenomenal student worker.

&

John Correa, Capital Programs

Cheryl Pavlick, Payment Solutions & Compliance

Kevin Chung Academic Planning

Budget

Isaac Tay Yi Ren, BFS Change Mgmt

Events on Campus

CLA food trucks will remain a dining option for the 2023-2024 school year in light of sta ng shortages at on-campus dining halls. The trucks—which o er meals in exchange for a coupon worth one meal swipe obtainable at residence hall front desks—were fi rst introduced in response to sta ng shortages at UCLA Dining after the pandemic. According to UCLA Dining, Feast at Rieber and Epicure at Covel will only serve dinner, while Bruin Bowl will remain closed in September. Bruin Bowl is expected to reopen when the university is able to get sta ng back to pre-pandemic levels.

There’s a new app called DownTo marketed by two students that allow Bruins to connect across campus and Westwood. DownTo is a location-based social media platform that notifies users when their friends are in the same area as they are. Drona Sharma, a lead UCLA ambassador of the app, said there are currently around 2,000 active users with about 16,000 downloads. Starting in the fall, individuals can use the app to make plans such as studying or eating with friends and other users, according to Sanjum Dhaliwal, the other lead UCLA ambassador of the app. The app also features group chats for di erent campus buildings and other places in Westwood such as Rocco’s Tavern. Individuals in the area will automatically be added to the group chat by the app. Additionally, the app is being launched at 40 colleges across the United States and Canada.

Read the full article here Constanza Montemayor

Read the full article here Daily Bruin file photo

September Safety Tips

September 2023

By Jerry Wilson (IRM)

O -the-Job Safety: September is Home Eye Safety Awareness Month

Most people might not think about wearing eye protection while cleaning, cooking, doing yard work or working in the garage, but according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), half of all eye injuries occur when doing these everyday chores. And while 90 percent of eye injuries are preventable by wearing the proper eye protection, AAO reports that 78 percent of those injured were not wearing any protective eyewear. Prevent Blindness America has declared September as Home Eye Safety Awareness Month in an e ort to remind everyone of the hazards in their homes that could damage the precious gift of sight.

Almost 40 percent of home eye injuries occur in the yard or garden. Debris from lawn mowers or power trimmers unexpectedly can enter the eye at a high rate of speed. Prevent Blindness American o ers these tips on how to protect your eyes while working in the yard and the house:

- When mowing, wear safety glasses with side protection or goggles

- Check your yard and remove debris before mowing

- When using a weed eater, wear safety glasses under a face shield

- Wear goggles when working with power saws or trimmers

- Turn o power tools when near an unprotected bystander, especially when young children approach

- Make sure bystanders and helpers have eye protection when around tools that are in use

- Wear goggles to protect your eyes from fertilizers, pesticides, and other yard chemicals, including lime dust

- Read and follow all product instructions. Obey warnings on yard chemicals and equipment

- Household chemicals (bleach, cleaners) cause 125,000 eye injuries every year. Eye protection should be worn when using any chemical

- Wash hands thoroughly after using chemicals and before touching the eyes or face

For more information on how to protect your eyes at home and eye protection recommendations, visit http://www.preventblindness.org

BFS

Nimona (2023)

A knight is framed for a crime he didn't commit, and the only person who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona, a shape-shifting teen who might also be a monster he's sworn to kill.

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None of This is True by Lisa Jewell — Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. They are, in fact, birthday twins. A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life. Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home. But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat.

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One-Pot Veggie Chili Mac

Looking for a hearty weeknight dinner? This smoky vegetarian chili mac is here to save the day! It all comes together in 1 pot and is super versatile.

Ingredients

‣ 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

‣ 1 white onion, chopped, divided

‣ 2 ribs celery, chopped

‣ 2 jalapenos, thinly sliced, divided

‣ 1 tsp kosher salt

Instructions

‣ 4 garlic cloves, minced

‣ 1 tbsp ground cumin

‣ 1 tsp dried oregano

‣ 1 cup freshly chopped cilantro, divided

‣ 2 1/4 cup cold water

‣ 1 can whole tomatoes, crushed

1. Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add ¾ onion, celery, and ¾ of the jalapeños. (The rest of the onion and jalapeño are for garnish!) Season with salt and cook until vegetables are mostly tender and onions are translucent and lightly golden, about 8 to 10 minutes.

2. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add minced chili, cumin, and oregano, and cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute more. Add ½ the cilantro and water, and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add crushed tomatoes along with any liquid in the can.

‣ 1 can pinto, kidney, white beans or black beans, drained and rinsed

‣ 8 oz dry pasta, such as cavatappi

‣ 1 cup shredded white cheddar

‣ 8 oz low moisture whole milk mozzarella, cut into small cubes

Author: Lena Abraham

5. Add beans, dry pasta, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cover, bring up to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and let cook with lid ajar for 14 to 16 minutes, until pasta is tender.

6. Remove from heat and stir in cheeses until melted. Serve with crushed corn chips and the remaining sliced jalapeños and onion for garnish.

You can top it with whatever you like!

Frito’s are classic, but fried onions, any corn/tortilla chip, or toasted nut also do the trick.

Horoscopes

Your ruler, aggressive Mars, activates you Relationship zone all month. Beware. Mars is a disruptive force. It’s solo-going. As such, it could struggle in this part of the chart, which is all about compromise and forming consensus with significant others in your life. But you’d be surprised what a small adjustment in your communication can achieve for overall harmony.

Venus, your ruling planet, emerges from a. Vexed month-long retrograde on the 3rd, after which point it will be going direct in your Home zone for the next four weeks. When planets go direct following retrograde, their in fl uence is extra strong, their particular qualities extra vibrant. Love, desire, and beauty should be enlivened in your life.

This month is ruled by your Mercury retrograde, which will delay and complicate your communication. Rather than feeling creative over the next few weeks, you may find more cosmic support via activities like editing, reviewing, re-framing, or rethinking your communication. Wait until the retrograde ends on the 15th to push forward with any major talks.

This is an empowering month in your Home zone, Cancer. This is an excellent time to embrace your introverted side and take time to hide away, re-organize, and make your home feel more comfortable. The Sun and Mercury highlight your chart this month, and expect a deeper sense of calm towards the month’s end.

On September 3rd, Venus goes direct in your sign after a wonky, month-long retrograde there. It’s time to shake o the grumpy wet-cat vibes and flounce out into the Sun for September. Venus in the Sel ood zone of your chart is about beautifying appearance. Go to the spa, get some new clothes for the Solstice.

ARIES: MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

TAURUS: APRIL 21 - MAY 20

GEMINI: MAY 21 - JUNE 20

CANCER: JUNE 21 - JULY 22

LEO: JULY 23 - AUGUST 22

VIRGO: AUGUST 23 - SEPTEMBER 22

LIBRA: SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 22

SCORPIO: OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS: NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 21

CAPRICORN: DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 19

AQUARIUS: JANUARY 20 - FEBRUARY 19

PISCES: FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20

Last month’s problems will be resolved and your spirits revived with Venus entering your Friendship zone for the entirety of September. Lean into socializing, since Venus will lend you charm and grace. This part of the chart also deals with networking, so you may fi nd increased professional opportunities around this time.

Until the 22nd, Virgo Sun lights up your House of Friendships. Seeing that your ruling planet, aggressive Mars, has recently left, it’s time to call up friends you may have alienated during that di cult transit and invite them out. Virgo is about mending, recycling, and re-working.

You have both the Sun and communicative Mercury in your Career zone to start the month, but the Messenger Planet is going retrograde until the 15th. A Mercury retrograde is notorious for making communication more delayed or di cult. Now is a good time to reflect on your career Ptah, rather than rashly reacting to obstacles on it. Talk less and listen more to navigate possible problems.

Ambitious Mars pumps up your Career sector all month. Mars can be confrontational and aggressive, but you can keep your cool and feed o this passion. Take on more responsibility, show your boss some initiative. Your Libra Sun should have a calming impact on Mars, so if you’re getting overheated you should cool o in time.

Lovely Venus impacts your Relationship zone all month. It you’ve been feeling a bit uneasy about romance the past few weeks, well, you’ve had Venus in a tough astrological place. This should change by the 3rd, when you will be in a position explore new romances in harmony and peace.

Your ruling planet, Mercury, is in retrograde in your Sel ood zone until the 15th. Not the best placement. Why? These retrogrades tend to make selfexpression more muddled. This may manifest as feeling reluctant to voice your needs or being misunderstood. Don’t worry, though, as this rut should clear up by mid-month.

The first two weeks of September appear somewhat di cult. On the 3rd, lucky Jupiter goes into retrograde. You will not be feeling as intuitive or supported around this date. Mercury moves in retrograde and increases misunderstandings. There is a lot of delayed energy in your chart. The best advice: go with the flow.