12 Nov Hidden Gems: The Most Underrated Spaces in Titan Student Union
For students, nappers, gamers and sojourners alike, the Titan Student Union (TSU) is the central hub for student activity at Cal State Fullerton, home to the TSU Games Center, The ASI Food Pantry, the Events Center, the new Zen Den, a food court and a haven of study spaces and resources.
“The TSU is supposed to be a community; it’s supposed to be a resource,” said TSU Director Kirsten Stava. “If the students aren’t using the building, then what are we doing here?”
The three-story building, welcomed 86,735 visitors in the first four weeks of the semester, with the busiest hours being noon- 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. With so many visitors coming through, students may not have the chance to fully explore all its amenities.
Here are some underrated spaces and resources in the TSU students should take advantage of before they leave CSUF.
1. Esports Lounge
Gaming doesn’t have to just be a solo activity, but a chance to hang out with fellow gaming enthusiasts. In the TSU lower level, right down the hall from Starbucks and the grand staircase, is the TSU Games Center. The space includes the Esports Lounge, a shared space where students can play video games with friends and participate in Esports tournaments.
With a large catalog of games for PC or Consoles, students can buy a $4 per hour pass, $8 day pass for PC’s only or $85 semester pass for PCs only. A full list of offerings is available online on the Esports Lounge page.
“Our PCs have over hundreds of games installed and ready to play at any given moment,” said Aaron Chai, TSU Games Center & Esports coordinator. “If there’s a specific game that they want to be installed, they can just let us know in our Discord server and we can get that game installed within a day or two.”
Stocked with comfortable gaming chairs, sofas and gaming consoles galore, students can escape reality into adventurous gaming worlds.
For a more screenless experience, the Games Center also offers billiards, bowling and arcade games.
2. Personal Washing Station
In many religions, the custom of washing is believed to prepare one’s heart and body for worship.
To accommodate this need, a personal washing station is available during regular TSU hours on the second floor. The room can be used for washing feet, hair and hands to accommodate the ritual of praying at different times of day. Inside the room is a sink and a basin on the floor with a bucket for washing ease.
With a ready-to-use room right on campus, students can connect spiritually amidst their busy school days.
3. Information & Services Booth
Looking for weekday adventures to embark on during the academic year? The ticket booth has you covered! Located right by the TSU main entrance, the booth helps visitors locate offices, rent meeting spaces and stay updated on current events across campus. The Discount Ticket program provides tickets at lower prices, including the Aquarium of the Pacific and Universal Studios.
Students can also reserve TSU Events Center meeting rooms, available conference rooms that can be used as study or club meeting space.
“They sit idle a lot of the time, and we don’t like things sitting idle when they can be a resource,” said Stava.
4. Meditation Room
For those who may need a quiet space to pray, meditate or connect spiritually, the meditation room is located on the second floor at TSU 264. Unlocked and available to students during TSU hours, various religious texts and resources can be found, like prayer rugs, a rosary and bibles.
Intended as a space for meditation and reflection, students can drop in for a quiet spiritual reset.
5. Diapers & Refrigerated Lockers
Students may be less familiar with two additional resources available at The Pantry: refrigerated lockers for convenient food storage and free diapers through the Children’s Center Diaper Program. These services complement The Pantry’s mission to support students experiencing food and basic needs insecurity.
“The lockers are especially beneficial for commuting students and those who stay on campus late, like graduate students,” said Cristina Truong, director of the Food Pantry and Future Basic Needs Hub. “They can attend class or study without carrying around any food, which adds a level of convenience and peace of mind.”
While the lockers offer a cool place to store Pantry groceries, the Diaper Program provides up to 75 free diapers or pull-ups a month to all CSUF students and staff.
Regardless of whether they have children, all CSUF students can pick up free diapers and give them to family members and loved ones in need through the Diaper Request form.
6. Rejuvenation Space
For mothers in need of rest, the Rejuvenation Space is a reservable room available for 30 minutes at a time for lactation support. Located on the ground floor in TSU 148, the space has a sofa and a chair with access to electricity, along with a table that supports a lactation pump.
Stava remarked how the space arose out of student necessity.
“Before the current space, we literally had to consider what rooms weren’t going to be in use at whichever time and tried to make those available, or refer them to spaces at other campus locations, which is not how we want to treat our guests,” said Stava. “Additionally, the campus already had a program in place to manage the other locations available, so we worked with them to add the TSU as an option for all campus guests, not just our event guests.”
Anyone can reserve the room by filling out the form “Rejuvenation (Lactation) Space Request and Agreement” on the CSUF Office for Civil Rights and Equity website.
7. Center Gallery
In the innermost crevasses and hallways of the TSU, students can fill their free time with the small but mighty Center Gallery. In efforts to keep art accessible, the galleries showcase student art and rotate different exhibits.
Located just a couple of steps away from the Pantry, art show projects, individual works and pieces from the ASI Student Art Shows are displayed and in rotation throughout the year.
“As a creative space, the gallery builds community, encourages students to experience new perspectives through art and provides a place to reduce stress and take a break from the pressures of college life.” said Jasmine Nungaray, ASI event planner.
Anyone can stroll in and view the artwork for a peaceful break from reality, as well as display their own approved artwork through the TSU Gallery Booking application.
8. Patio Seatings
Among lunch rushes and finals week, seating in the TSU is far and wide but usually crowded. Yet tucked in less explored hallways and outdoor areas, the TSU has hidden patio gems for anyone looking for an escape.
The North Patio, located by the Nutwood Parking Structure, has great shade from surrounding trees and is mostly hidden away from the main campus.
The patio right outside The Pantry has a couple of tables and is conveniently located near the Arts building.
“It used to be the best-kept secret in the world until we moved The Pantry there. I like to take my ‘Lord of the Rings’ book and go read, and I like to do it quietly,” said Stava.
9. The Pub
While CSUF is an alcohol-free campus now, there was a time when the TSU Pub served beer and wine, and was a popular social space for students. Now, students use the location for studying, socializing and hosting special events.
The Pub is tucked away next to the TSU Games Center, and even though drinks are no longer sold, it’s still a shared space where CSUF clubs can reserve events. During TSU hours, the Pub is also open to the public.
Home to ASI events like Barbershop Talks and art events like Late Night Paint Nights, the TSU Pub is a great third space where Titans can gather and socialize.
10. The Zen Den
One of the newest additions to the TSU is The Zen Den, a wellness oasis located on the TSU main level where students can make appointments to enjoy wellness-based machines and activities. Thanks to the passing of the ASI Students Wellness Initiative, the Zen Den is a direct product of the initiative in action, giving Titans the chance to relax while testing out experiences for new wellness center coming soon.
To access the space, students need to schedule an orientation through the Titan Recreation portal or on the Fusion Go app, which will introduce students to the space and how to utilize it.
“It might sound cliche, but we really want students to escape from their stress for even a few minutes,” said TSU Director Kirsten Stava.
Attendees can use state-of-the-art equipment like full-body massage chairs, compression boots and arm sleeves and zero-gravity loungers to decompress in a lower stimulation serenity retreat. The space also implements music and vibration therapy and a sensory corner.
“As a student, you have so much going on in life, both personally and in school, so having a space to feel comfortable to turn off for a moment is important,” said Casandra Serrano, ASI organizational operations coordinator. “If someone is feeling overstimulated in the building, for whatever reason, there’s room for them to unwind and reset when they need it.”
11. The Pop-Up Shop
Open this October, The Pop-Up shop is located on the lower level of the TSU near The Pub. This new space draws on ideas proposed by ASI professional and student staff, giving student business owners an opportunity to sell goods and products out of the shop. From artists and pottery makers to merchandise and crochet items, the possibilities for Pop-Up shop products are endless.
“We wanted to give students a permanent space to sell their products while gaining valuable entrepreneurial, financial and marketing experiences they can carry with them outside of a college environment,” said Chai.
Vendors and shop themes will rotate twice a month, allowing a variety of entrepreneurs the chance to reach as many students as possible.
Students interested in selling their creations at the Pop-Up shop can apply to become a potential student vendor!
The next time you find yourself in the TSU, take a look around and explore to find your own new slice of home.