By Lauren Chavez, Aug. 31, 2021
Students now have the chance to study, relax and even engage in games with friends to ease their minds from classes with a reservation to The ASI Games Room, Etc., which is now open as of Aug. 16 after over a yearlong pandemic closure for Cal Poly Pomona students.
Due to COVID-19, changes have been made since the closure and returning students should expect to no longer see a few of their favorites such as the bowling alley, arcades, and the pool tables.
Staff member Cheyenne Caballero, a post graduate agriculture science major stated, “We used to have a bowling alley; we don’t anymore. That recently got taken out and our arcades are going to be taken out…”
According to Caballero, services such as the pool table and console games will not be available for students to use until a tentative date of October.
COVID-19 changed the way the students are able to interact with one another, including in the Games Room. Before the pandemic, the ASI Games Room was full of people participating in the different activities and games, but now there are limits to how many people can be at the same table.
Computer information system student Josue Ruiz shared that he was expecting to be able to study with a group of at least three, but students are limited to single pods at the moment and there are about 22 pods at one pod per person.
Walking into the game room, students are welcomed by the painted walls of characters from various games incorporated with the campus mascot, Billy the Bronco.
At this time, the massive room is dimly lit and has a quieter than usual, but comfortable atmosphere. There is plenty of room for students to be spread out.
Some students prefer the Games Room over other facilities due to the pressure-free environment. “At the library, I can’t talk as loud as I can with my friends because we have to be mindful of being quiet and I think the games room is really just a place to chill for me,” said Ruiz.
In the Games Room, students will also find The Box Office, a place to view the different offers available to students, where they can purchase discounted movie tickets, amusement park tickets and other entertainment passes.
The new Foothill Transit CPP Class Pass can be picked up by students in the Games Room with an online reservation through Transportation Services to pick up their pass.
This new service allows students who are enrolled in at least one credit to ride free all semester for multiple Foothill Transit lines.
Along with The Box Office, the Games Room is known to house the campus lost and found. During March 2020, the working environment changed for all Cal Poly Pomona staff and faculty to switch remotely in a matter of a few weeks due to the pandemic.
During this time, students were unable to pick up lost items due to the campus closure. Items lost in between December 2019 through March 12, 2020 are available for pick up until Dec. 12.
Before going virtual, the Games Room Etc. would discard, donate, or auction lost items after 90 days if no one has picked them up.
Students can check out the Games Room from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday located in Building 35 room 1110 with a reservation.
For more information students can visit the ASI Games Room website.
Featured image courtesy of Humphrey Muleba.
