Cal State Fullerton’s new Zen Den celebrated its grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, officially opening its doors to students.
Located on the first floor of the Titan Student Union, the Zen Den gives students access to different wellness modalities, including compression therapy, aromatherapy and vibroacoustic technology.
The den currently has approximately 12 spaces for equipment, but the modalities and equipment in the space will change each semester, according to Sylvana Cicero, assistant executive director of wellness and recreation for Associated Students Inc.
The grand opening ceremony featured speeches from ASI leadership, a tour of the wellness space, a button-making corner and a gratitude wall for attendees. Attendees were introduced to the space’s equipment and were also provided refreshments after the speeches concluded and goodie bags upon exiting.
Dr. Dave Edwards, ASI’s associate vice president and executive director, began the opening speeches by highlighting student feedback that helped shape the initiative.
“Fourteen thousand students participated in our outreach that led to the Student Wellness Initiative,” Edwards said. “The message we received was pretty clear: Wellness matters to our students.”
The Zen Den is part of ASI’s Student Wellness Initiative, a multi-year plan which includes developing a new wellness center, renovating and expanding the Student Recreation Center and TSU, introducing healthier food options at the campus food court and establishing a centralized basic needs center.
According to Cicero, the Zen Den is a pilot program designed to gather feedback and show current students how their fees are being used.
“At the end of every session, we ask for a quick survey to tell us what you like, (what) you don’t like,” Cicero said. “We’re gathering all the data again to help us explore in the future for what to bring to our students.”
The first phase of the wellness initiative was approved by CSUF President Ronald Rochon in March 2025 through an increase in the campus union fee to include wellness services. The total annual campus union fee currently sits at $279.25 and is set to increase annually, reaching $536 by 2028.
Edwards said the initiative is designed to remove barriers faced by students, including food insecurity, finding community or “needing a place to reset and de-stress after class,” so they can focus on academic success.
“We’re planning for these investments in the future, but our students are here now, and they have needs now,” Edwards said. “[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.”
This focus on investment, student needs and student feedback was also reflected in a speech by Deniz Suzer, a fourth-year student at CSUF and chair of the ASI Board of Directors.
As chair of the ASI Board of Directors, Suzer is part of the elected student leadership that ensures students’ voices are included in the decision-making processes. Closing out her speech, Suzer stated the long-term impact that the wellness initiative could have on future students.
“Years from now, another group of Titans could be walking into spaces we’re talking about and planning today,” Suzer said. “We’re only here for a short time, but we get a chance to leave something behind for the students who come after us. That’s pretty special.”
The ceremony concluded with ASI leadership cutting the ribbon and opening the Zen Den for students to tour.
Those interested in visiting the Zen Den can book a 30-minute session online or drop in for available hours. Students must first complete the SRC waiver and a 15-minute orientation before using the equipment.