24 Sep Wellness for Today, a Vision for Tomorrow: ASI Opens Zen Den
More than 200 Cal State Fullerton students, faculty and staff gathered on Sept. 22 to celebrate the grand opening of the Zen Den, a new space in the Titan Student Union where students can step away from the daily grind and recharge with resources designed to support their well-being.
The grand opening – featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Zen Den tours, aromatherapy giveaways and refreshments – marked the latest milestone in the Associated Students Inc, Student Wellness Initiative (ASWI), a yearslong investment in spaces, programs and resources that support students’ holistic wellbeing.
The space offers a one-stop wellness oasis for students to relax, recharge and access wellness resources, including massage and zero-gravity chairs, Hyperice compression boots, a comfort corner, sound and vibration therapy and other wellness equipment and activities. Students can book access to Zen Den services on the Titan Recreation website.
“I think it’s nice to realize that the school is listening to students,” said fourth-year psychology student Tasai Martinez. “It shows that we have a voice. Basically, it’s really cool that the school is prioritizing students’ wellness, and it also seems really cool in there.”
The Zen Den opened amid documented mental health challenges among CSUF students. In a recent CSUF Healthy Minds study, one in three Titans screened positive for depression, while three in 10 reported experiencing anxiety.
“College is hard. Our students and student leaders have known that for years,” said Dr. Dave Edwards, associate vice president and executive director for ASI. “The Zen Den grew out of the ASI Student Wellness Initiative (ASWI), which started with a straightforward question: What more can ASI and the campus do together to support student wellness?”
The Zen Den is the latest offering funded by the ASWI, following expanded scholarships, increased club funding, wellness programming, and the launch of the Fall Concert. Over the past four years, ASI received feedback from more than 14,000 students through outreach as the initiative took shape. Plans for coming years include a centralized basic needs hub, a new wellness center, a renovated Titan Student Union with a new food court, and expanded Student Recreation Center.
The space will also act as a pilot program to test equipment and experiences to gather student feedback for the new wellness center.
“One of the best things about the Zen Den is that we’re still trying to figure it out. It’s a pilot, and honestly, that’s one of the things I like about it,” said ASI Board of Directors Chair Deniz Suzer. “When students come in and try the zero gravity chairs or compression equipment… we want to know what you think. When we make the decision, we have to think about the students who come here, who are here now, and who come after us. That’s one of the things I’ve learned through student leadership. Some of the decisions we make aren’t really for us. They’re for students who’ll probably never meet.”
The Zen Den was created with student needs in mind, offering resources and amenities designed to support student wellness.
As campus partners and current students gathered to celebrate this momentous occasion, the opening reflected ASI’s continued dedication and collaboration to creating shared, inclusive spaces for current and future students.
“Our students are here now, and they have needs now. They’re taking exams now. They’re working two jobs now. They’re managing stress now. They’re trying to figure out who they are and where they’re going,” said Edwards. “So, one of the questions we kept asking is, what can we do today for our students while we’re building toward tomorrow? The Zen Den reminds us that while transformative projects matter, sometimes meaningful change starts with something smaller: a room, a chair, a 30-minute break, a chance to reset.”