When President Day retired in July 1996 , SDSU 's incoming freshman had a 38 % success rate in graduating from the university within six years . Day was replaced by the university 's seventh president , Stephen Weber . Just one month later , on August 15 , in what is known as the '' San Diego State University shooting , '' a 36-year-old graduate student pulled out a handgun while defending his thesis and killed three professors . The student pleaded guilty and is serving a life sentence prison term . On August 23 , 2003 , a memorial was dedicated to the three professors that included three trees along with a set of three tables and benches
San Diego State University shooting
San Diego State University shooting
History of San Diego State University