With the stress of school, work and everything in between students at SF State are finding fun ways to relieve the pressure.

The Cesar Chavez Student Center is chock full of recreational activities for those class lulls. In addition to the eclectic variety of eateries, the Center also offers a chance for students to make big bucks sharking a game of pool and even shed pounds dancing to the electronic beats of Dance Dance Revolution.

For those less-active souls, the Pub offers a sanctuary of Lazy Boy chairs and beers. The Pub is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays. The Pub carries a wide array of beers on tap including Pyramid Hefeweizen, Miller Lite, New Castle and Sierra Nevada.

John Agustin prefers billiards over beers and is an employee of Rack-N-Cue, the on-campus pool hall located on the dining level of the Student Center. He has been a patron of the hall for two years and now his dream of working there has recently come true.

“I love it because I get paid to play pool,” said Agustin, an entrepreneur major.

He knows from experience that for students the pool hall is a refuge for those who don’t want to deal with classes.

“Some people come here so much they fail out of college,” said Agustin, holding his custom cue-stick.

Not everyone at Rack-N-Cue is on academic probation. Several students come to refine their shooting skills between classes.

Clinton Michael Roberts, 21; Diego Vallejo, 23; and Herman Escajadillo, 21; are representing SF State at the ACUI 9-Ball Regional Tournament at UC Davis Feb. 20 to 21. The three met while playing pool on campus and practice everyday in between and after class. They say it is “a good way to relax and meet people.”

Some pool hall regulars use the center as a way to increase their income and have a little fun. It isn’t unusual for players to make bets. It is just a matter of the bets being honored.

“There’s never really any fights here but one time I got in an argument when a guy wouldn’t give me the $200 he owed me after I beat him in a game,” said Agustin.

Rack-N-Cue also holds a MoneyBall tournament the first and third Friday of each month where the top prize has been known to be $200 or more. It also has a Crazy Eight Ball Tournament and an Eight Ball Double Dutch.

In addition to Rack-N-Cue, the Student Center has an array of video games on the dining level. The most popular ones are Dance Dance Revolution and Initial D v.2, but Ms. Pacman and Guilty Gear XX also draw a crowd.

In Dance Dance Revolution, players pay 75 cents to shake their booties to their choice of more than 200 dance tunes. Rodney Holgado, a 24-year-old informational systems major, is a regular of the popular video game, and even has his own version at home.

He says he comes to play the game after class to let off steam, but it has also made him a healthier person.

“I’ve been playing this game for four years, and do it for exercise,” Holgado said. “I’ve even lost 30 pounds.”

He found out the Student Center had the game while surfing the DDR Freak Internet site.

According to Dr. Patrick Tierney, a professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, it is important to take a break between classes and make time for recreational activities.

Tierney says a simple walk to Lake Merced, a game of golf or even engaging in a lively conversation with friends can provide a positive health response.

“To recharge the batteries in between a class, doing something active is the best bet,” Tierney said.

So the next time you are waiting for a class to start and are looking for something to stimulate your mind and body, check out the Student Center.

As John Agustin put into perspective, “If you aren’t having fun on campus, you just haven’t been to the pool hall.”