Campus Life

The dorms:

Live in 'em and love 'em

“Don't call them dorms; they're residence halls.”

Dorms, the old text said, referred to “horror stories” of group eating, slumber, and well, essential bathroom activity. But, of course, that's exactly what's going on.

Residential Life: As a former “dorm” (snicker) resident, I laugh at the term. It makes me think of a package deal, like a cruise or resort living. More should have been involved, along the lines of a package deal. Of course, there is a package deal given when you get your white access card and king sized room key. Note to Residential Hall, or “DORM” residents: The room key is king sized, not the room. Don't get the wrong idea.

“What is the package deal?” the new dorm resident asks. Well, the package includes good and bad elements. The State Hornet is including both if the Residential Life folks are not anxious to reveal the dark truth.

Fact One: In spite of all of the notations about what punishments are going to be levied for binge drinking and its aftermath of sacrificing oneís dinner to the porcelain goddess, it still happens. Expect one Saturday morning to walk into the bathroom and become intimately aware of what someone had the other night before they went clubbing. Sorry. It's a fact of life that not everyone is going to be as neat and tidy as the most contentious residence-hall resident. If you are the one making the sacrifice, sacrifice at the toilet, not in the sink.

Fact Two: Socialization is expected, and sometimes force is required. All residents have a Residential Advisor hired by Residential Life to interact and provide fun, companionship, supervision, etc. Part of their job is to complete a series of group events or presentations. Be aware that they want support for their programs. Don't be surprised if you are hauled away from a vital Friday night discussion of nuclear physics and its relation to the pick-and-roll in basketball to hear a short presentation of campus services, go bowling, or head to T.G.I. Friday's for appetizers.

Fact Three: Food is part of the package. Unfortunately, the kitchen is catering to the tastes of about 800 people. So, just be warned that somewhere, someone got the idea that tater-tot casserole with tuna fish was something 799 other residents would love to eat. The same goes for chicken fried steak. In all honesty, the Dining Commons (DC) has been getting better thanks to some Marriott consultants. But be warned, there are still some, shall we say, interesting entrees.

Fact Four: In light of Fact Three, bring alternative food. Think seriously about renting a fridge from Residential Life. Or, a new one will set your (more likely Mom & Dad's) checkbook back about $130 to $150. The day will come when the choice between clam strips and garden burgers is overwhelmingly difficult to make. Keep a pot to boil water, silverware, cups, plates, and cereal bowls. Stock the fridge with milk and quick meal foods for late night snacks or beating the inevitable day when nothing the DC is serving seems appetizing.

Fact Five: As a dorm rat, you realize that being on campus 24-7 gets old quick. When you're at your breaking point from the stress of studying and living with a stranger, getting off campus to enjoy Sacramento's bookstores, restaurants and malls may keep you from being featured on the evening news. Biking opportunities are great with the American River Parkway right next to campus. Light Rail stops off the south end of campus on Folsom Blvd., and the bus stops on the end of the Esplanade by Sacramento Hall.

Fact Six: Unless you parted with an additional $400 for your own smaller, single digs at the dorms, expect a roommate. Furthermore, expect them to be quite a bit different than you. Sometimes they will be, sometimes they will be the twin you never knew you wanted. Try to settle disagreements quickly and make arrangements for overnight guests, late night study sessions or early morning weight lifting before you plot more murder plots than a bad game of Clue. This includes phone use, cleanliness, and music taste (or lack thereof).

Fact Seven: Sooner or later, you will probably have a run in with an RA over something. First, try to understand that they are given room and board in exchange for handling the huddled masses. They don't make the rules; Residential Life does. Sometimes interpretations, yours and theirs, are different. But they tend to win those fights. Give in, then leave campus to party elsewhere. Everyone typically ends up a lot happier.

Union expansion brings new services to CSUS

Bass Tickets

The Store

Smart Cuts

Copy Graphics

The Copy Graphics Center near the Hornet Bookstore will maintain the following hours: Monday through Thursday 7:45 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Food for every taste and price range

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to avoid all those oh-so-appetizing leftovers at your apartment (or dorm cubbyhole) and eat on campus.

Most students are lazy and are held captive by their need for a close parking space. They refuse to flee this university for the golden arches or for that soggy deli sandwich at the Safeway up Howe Avenue.

The mission to eat on campus is a shared struggle among 24,000 hungry students. So how do you win and grab that tasty morsel for yourself without paying through the nose as if you were at the airport?

There are tactics.

(The dollar signs represent expense to the poor student seeking a full meal -- $ = $1-2, $$ = $2-4, $$$ = $4-6, etc.)

River Front Market

If you are not one of those diet-conscious folks, Burger King is fast, convenient and allows you to shell out your few dollars through the Point of Sale machine, using your ATM card. This is quite handy if you don't want to withdraw $20 from your piddly account or if you don't bank at Bank of America, USE Credit Union or Wells Fargo (the three banks that operate ATMs on campus). The restaurant has a large television, plenty of seating and even serves breakfast to the bleary-eyed, hung-over masses. The coffee is not too bad, either. These fries, new and improved, are the best in town (or even out of town). Burger King is located behind River Front Market.

The Grill $$

This is the place in the Market where everything is fried, fatty - and good, according to one Hornet staff member. You can choose from among several lunch and dinner choices, along with an assortment of sodas. Coffee is also available. The lines aren't usually too long. A good choice if none of the others appeal to your fat tooth.

Pub $$

Of course, the biggest attraction of this section of the Market is the beer. There are several kinds of beer here, and you can even buy your own mug to be personalized and kept cold for later drinking use. Of course, the beer may not be taken out of the building. But it is a great motivator (in moderation) for those public speaking classes. You can also get some great coffee in the mornings here. The lines are not too long here and the prices are the cheapest on campus.

Stix $$

In the mood for Oriental food? Then Stix has your number. Watch the chefs flash-fry your food in seconds, without burning down the building. The eatery, offering mainly stir-fry dishes in the past, has now expanded its menu to include more Asian favorites, such as fried rice, chow mein, potstickers, and sweet and sour chicken.

Pastina's Italian Café $$

Pastina's, which means “a little dough” in Italian, lives up to its name by offering pizza and pasta at reasonable prices. Cheese, meat or vegetarian pizzas are offered by the slice or the round. For under $4, you can load up on carbohydrates and smother them with your choice of sauces and toppings at the Pasta Station.

Garden Fresh $$

If you're a rabbit, or just health-conscious, this place will appeal to you. No longer home to a picked-over salad bar, Garden Fresh now offers an assortment of already-prepared salads, ranging from vegetable to fruit to pasta-centered creations. There are also “body-friendly” menu selections for those who count calories and fat grams.

The Market Shoppe

A take-out eater's dream, this place offers a little bit of everything. Pre-packaged sandwiches, salads, appetizers, entrees and desserts are available at this brand-new campus provision stop.

Patio Cafe

Togo's, located in the River Front Market, has been described by students as a “deli haven,” a place where more discriminating conisseurs can munch. Its workers serve up delicious hot pastrami reubens (my favorite), and many other grand sandwiches. Because this palace of meat and bread is held in such high esteem by students, it is usually packed. Try to phone ahead your order. It sounds strange, but hey, it might work. The food is definitely filling, even if you only get a 6-inch sub. Togo's also offers soups and salads.

Taco Bell Express $

Taco Bell, the last resort of many students, is as packed as Togo's, but its line moves considerably faster. The food waits for students' eager hands under the rays of a heat lamp. Although the CSUS Taco Bell serves up sublte taste differences from its off-campus counterparts, the food is about as cheap as it gets. But don't be expecting a full menu here; they don't call it “express” for nothing. The prices here are quite close to those off-campus, so don't fret, grab your Beano (a popular anti-flatulent) and have a ball! The Mexican experience is located right next to Togo's.

Crumbs $$

When you must have coffee, and you don't mind waiting in line next to a bunch of people who are about to fall asleep, Crumbs is the place. The tiny eatery inside River Front Market offers coffee drinks (although the mocha is not the best in town), as well as regular coffee. Almost all of the coffee served on campus is brought to you by your friends at Java City. The bright spot at this place is its delicious muffins, which look a lot like upside-down cakes. The baker spends an enormous amount of time on these creations - and it shows. They are available in every flavor from apple cinnamon to zucchini.

La Creperie $$$

The crepes here are fluffy, pancake-like dreams. They can be filled with chicken, spinach and mushrooms or the sweet stuff, such as chocolate, berries and other sugar-filled substances. Although the crepes can run as much as $6, they are worth it when you have the time. Don't go here expecting a quick bite between classes. They are made while you wait (and watch). You'll enjoy yourself if you've got money to burn. La Creperie is located in the River Front Market, not France.

Dining Commons

University Union

This is the Tavern on the Green at CSUS. This place has tables with olive oil and balsamic vinegar all laid out for you. Of course, it should - you have to shell out nearly $8-$10 to eat here. However, the food is prepared by some of the best chefs on campus. And if it's good enough for faculty members, it cannot be that bad. Just try to tuck in your shirt when you go in - they might frown on you otherwise.

Java City Coffee House $$

If you have time to kill and want to unwind, then this might be the place in which to do it. The beverage selection is superb: specialty coffee drinks, Italian sodas, juices and fountain drinks. Skip the food unless you don't mind waiting around 45 minutes while your sandwich is prepared. On the up side, the dining area is the best on campus, with its dim lights, exotic chairs, and soft jazz music playing.

Round Table Pizza $$

Just follow the long line in the University Union and you will end up at the Round Table Pizza stand outside of the Coffee House. Cheese, pepperoni, gourmet veggie, and garlic supreme personal piazzas are offered here, as well as sodas with which to wash them down.

The Hive $$

This place is a sports bar - complete with big-screen TV and beer on tap. The Baked potato bar sounds good, and the Stompin' Frito Pie - a concoction of chili, cheese, beef and Fritos - comes highly recommended by the Hornet's head honcho. Horneteers recommend the pear cider and freshman nachos. (Don't let the name fool you - its huge.)

Java City Union Station $$

Union Station is the place for coffee on campus. The coffee drinks are guaranteed to be a hit with you and your friends. There is one drink that stands out: the fresh-steamed hot chocolate for $1.85.

Hornet's Nest Food Court

Recruited by popular demand, Gordito's is serving up some serious competition to that other Mexican food franchise on campus. Burritos, tacos and other snacks are offered, all under the eatery's premise of authenticity and freedom from lard. This is the only fast-food restaurant on campus to take credit cards.

Pan Asia $$

This Shangri-La for Oriental food buffs offers flavors from all over Asia. Korean, Japanese and Indochinese specialties such as barbecued ribs, sushi and Satay are offered as well as some common Chinese favorites such as Kung Pao chicken.

Burger King Express $$

More of a Burger Prince to the River Front Market's Burger King. The menu is scaled-down from the original.