The grass field in front of the Malcolm X plaza was filled with Astro-jumps, blowup boxing rinks and foam gladiator-style combat pits all in the name of healthy stress release.

The Stress Release Carnival, organized by the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), is a bi-yearly event put on around the middle of every semester to coincide with midterm examinations.

SHAC is a student run committee that works as an advisory board for the Health Center and represents student interests. The Stress Release Carnival was funded from the Associated Students.

"We want to give people a breather from midterm stress and educate them on ways to relieve stress," said David Haung, a Post baccalaureate chemistry student and the president of the SHAC.

"There is a lot of information that is constructive and positive on how to deal with stress in way that is not destructive,"Haung said.

Tables set up along the walkway offered information on health services on campus, holistic health care and sexual education.

"Sometimes when people are stressed they turn to alcohol and drugs. To help those people we provide information and resources to give them alternatives," said Isabel Mendoza, a senior psychology major who works for the Creating Empowerment through Alcohol and Substance-abuse Education program. C.E.A.S.E., a confidentiality assured program, located in the student services building, offers information and counseling services to students seeking help from substance abuse and addiction problems.

According to a survey of 100 students, 11 percent said they drink alcohol to relieve stress.

Many of the students utilizing the stress releasing devices had never heard of the SHAC before, but are thankful for the chance to reap the benefits of their services. After swinging punches in a bouncy boxing rink with oversized padded gloves, Ven Baker, a 21-year-old BECCA major said.

"I am tired now. I was able to expend some stressful energy and I feel like a healthier person for it," he said.

At the SHAC booth, volunteers passed out pamphlets that gave advice and suggestions to achieving healthy stress management, such as getting plenty of rest, eating well and exercising. They also passed out stress balls and gave out 'what do you know about stress' quiz to test students knowledge on safely coping with stress.

Local businesses also came out for the Stress Release Carnival to support healthy behavior. Dr. Brad Rottakher, a San Francisco Chiropractor, set up a booth offering free massage and neck and back pain screening.

"This is just a way of providing alternative health care to people of SF State, we are out here three or four times a year doing education and promotion," said Rottacker.

For more information on stress management contact the SHAC, e-mail at shsc@sfsu.edu.