Been there, done that

Who else better to give advice than someone who already has walked in your shoes? We talked to a few students who offered to divulge some important facts about life at Sac State that the people in the admissions office don’t tell you. Read on for some straight talk on good food, bad classes and cheap clothes.

Andy Tienda

Major: Computer Science

Year: Junior

From: Stockton

Best pizza?
“Steve’s Place on Howe Avenue, especially on Two for Tuesdays, when you buy one extra large pizza and get one free.” (This comment was not paid for by Steve.)

Favorite outdoor activity?
“Playing basketball at Northrop Park.”

Best thing about Sac State?
“The girls. They’re … nice.” Something tells us that wasn’t the first adjective that came to mind.

Best place to hang out?
“The library, quad or my apartment.” Wonder which one the nice girls prefer …

Class to avoid?
“Pre-calculus.” Yeah, well, no kidding.

Alicia Lampley

Major: Environmental Studies

Year: Junior

From: Colfax

Best place to go clothes shopping?
“Crossroads—it’s cheap, the clothes are used, and they are cute and stylish.” (This comment was not paid for by Crossroads.)

Best place to meet a love interest?
She rolls her eyes. “I don’t know.” A friend prods her: “What about Hoppy Brewing Company.” More eye rolling. “Sure, I guess. I used to work there.”

Best weekend activity?
“Swimming in the American River.”

Classes to not miss?
“Can I pick more than one?” she asks with much greater enthusiasm than she showed for Hoppy Brewing Company. Sure, have at it. “Botany with Professor Langham, International Environmental Issues, and Environmental Sociology with Kevin Wehr.”

Best thing about Sac State?
“The diversity … and all the trees.” Hmm … starting to see a pattern here?

Joshua Wood

Major: Government

Year: Senior

From: McCloud

Best place to meet a love interest?
“The Union. Lot’s of girls study there, and if they’re studying, you know they’re not dropping out and will be around for a while.” Unless something distracts them, right?

Best pizza?
“Steve’s Place.” An enthusiastic endorsement, but no Andy-style sales pitch.

Best place to hang out?
“The quad—there’s always something going on, like a protest or a concert.”

Good weekend activity?
“The Sac State aquatic center is fun. You can rent a canoe or paddleboat. Also, the Kings or River Cats, and the Sac State theatre puts on some good shows.” Aha, there’s the sales pitch!

Best place to go clothes shopping?
“Goodwill or Ross—I can get $70 ties there for $10.”

Best thing about Sac State?
“The diversity. No place else has this many cultures mixing together—it’s great.”

Ana Suarez-Smith

Major: Liberal Studies

Year: Junior

From: Southern California

Favorite weekend activity?
“Mountain biking up in Salmon Falls or in El Dorado Hills, or bike riding in Midtown.”

Best place to go clothes shopping?
“Forever 21 at Arden Fair Mall has lots of variety and is reasonably priced. I also like Downtown Plaza.”

Best pizza?
“I don’t eat pizza.” Ana might be the only college student to ever speak those words.

Best place to hang out?
“The Union, especially the second floor in one of the music-listening rooms.”

Classes not miss?
“Anything with Dr. Ettinger. I took history class with him and he was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable.” Yeah, and we bet he eats pizza, too.

Eric Braga

Major: Spanish

Year: Junior

From: Fort Bragg

Must-take class?
“Sociology 120—you learn all about pop culture, and it is a really fun class.”

Best place to meet a love interest?
“School events, the Union, just places around campus.” Doesn’t anybody go to frat parties? “Yeah but not to meet people—everybody is drunk and just wants to get laid.” Mom and dad will be thrilled to hear it.

Best place to hang out?
“The Java City coffee shop has a bunch of tables outside and is pretty chill. Players is a nice little bar with cool karaoke.”

Good weekend activity?
“Working out, snowboarding in Tahoe, shooting pool at Stingers, which is a dive but was once voted a top college bar by Playboy magazine.” Starting to see a pattern here?

Best thing about Sac State?
“A lot—the faculty is great, there is a really cool atmosphere, and the location is great. You can ride your bike and it is close to downtown.”

Tiffany Harkness

Major: Communication Studies

Year: Junior

From: Fairfield

Best place for clothes shopping?
“I love Arden Fair Mall!”

Best pizza?
“Roundtable.” Just what we love in a communications major—direct and to the point.

Favorite weekend activity?
“Going to the movies. I don’t care what theatre.”

Best place to meet a love interest?
She shrugs and offers to call her friend and ask. “Avalon if you’re over 21, otherwise frat parties and stuff.” Does your friend know what really happens at frat parties?

Best thing about Sac State?
“It’s an environment where you can be social, and it’s very diverse.”