Pop-up tents, a swarm of students and the smell of fresh-cooked food filled Titan Walk and the Becker Amphitheater on Tuesday afternoon, drawing students from their class breaks and study sessions.
The occasion: Associated Students’ 50th anniversary.
ASI, Cal State Fullerton’s student government, funds many on-campus organizations, athletics and events, including the Spring and Fall Concerts and Beyond the Conversation.
The organization was initially voted into existence in 1959, but wasn’t officially named ASI until 1976 when they became a non-profit organization, hence the 50th taking place this year.
“It’s important to acknowledge all the hard work that students like us and the students who’ve come before us have done to create a culture on campus that is long-lasting,” said Liam Ryals, representative for the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
Outside the Titan Student Union, tents lined the walkways, providing students information about different services provided by ASI, such as the Children’s Center and the Food Pantry.
“I feel like sometimes students don’t know about what ASI is doing, or what’s going on,” said ASI Vice President Juan Salguero. “Opportunities like these are times where students can really get to know what we’re up to.”
Interspersed with ASI info booths were vendors for students to visit, like two airbrush companies providing temporary tattoos, along with T-shirts and bags painted with CSUF logos in the traditional carnival-esque airbrushed style.
Students could also take advantage of a massage booth provided, a photo booth and two food trucks, Tacos Chicanx and Messi Burgers, where students could get free food if they filled out a stamp card with six stickers from various ASI booths.
The main event, though, was a performance by No Duh, a world-renowned tribute band of No Doubt.
Since 2004, the tribute has toured internationally, even performing with No Doubt themselves. The band’s lineup has changed over its 22-year lifetime, but bassist EJ Curse has withstood the test of time.
“We started rehearsing and we knew about three songs,” Curse said. “And then we got a call from Interscope Records, saying that they wanted us to play at Gwen Stefani’s CD listening party for (“Love. Angel. Music. Baby.”), her first solo record.”
No Doubt is composed of two former Titans, Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal, the lead singer and bassist, respectively.
Crowds of students gathered in the amphitheater, rocking out to covers of the band’s greatest hits, like “Don’t Speak” and a cover of The Beatles’ “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.”
“I’ve been a fan of them my whole life … not being from the state originally and being here now, and then getting to play on the stage, it kind of blows my mind a little bit,” said Mindy Milburn, lead singer and Gwen Stefani lookalike. “It’s a really special thing.”
One of No Doubt’s earliest performances was at CSUF in 1994 — just a year before their hit album “Tragic Kingdom” was released.
“The No Doubt tribute concert was really cool because I grew up listening to No Doubt with my family,” said Ethan Smith, a third-year business major. “It’s the first time I’ve actually watched a concert here at the Becker Amphitheater.”