The University Student Union held an event sponsoring national recreational sports and fitness day at the Plaza del Sol on Tuesday to bring awareness to health issues and the new recreation center being built on campus.

“We want to get awareness that we’re opening the center, and we want people to get healthy,” Aida Johnson, student recreational director said. This event will be held annually and the USU hopes with each coming year, the event will become larger than the previous events, Johnson explained.

The event featured a DJ, Jishin Taiko drum performers, Capoeira exhibition, free sandwiches from Subway, health evaluations,  nutritional advice, games, and giveaways. If students came and participated in the activities, they were offered prizes such as CSUN cups, T-shirts, towels, frisbees, bags, and a grand prize of a Play Station 3. Free day passes were also given out to the fitness center, which are normally $3 for the day.

Students came to the event for different reasons.

Alfred Muteti wasn’t sure he would participate.

“I’m here to see what the events have to offer; there’s a chance I might participate,” the kinesiology studies major said.

Samuel Cuellar came for the food.

“I’m here for free Subway sandwiches. I hope they’re footlongs. I also want to know what diet I need to get in shape, so I might check that out,” the, CTVA studies major said.

This event is the second event sponsored by the recreational center, which opens January 2012. The first event was held in November to commemorate the half-way mark of construction, said Kaila Lavin, graduate assistant for the recreation center, recreation and sports management studies major.

There were multiple stands at the event to help students engage in activities and health analysis. One of the booths was for the Kinesiology Majors Club. “We like to come out and let people know what’s going on, and to get involved,” Carol Martinez, kinesiology studies major said. The club invites people from sports related careers to come and speak to the club members for free, or $5 for any other CSUN student, Martinez said.

Dietetics and Food Science Association also had a booth to “Give out free nutrition assessments and advice,” Dawn Costanzo, peer nutrition counsler said. They encourage students to come to the health center, or the living well lounge for health advice which is free for currently enrolled students.

During the event, the Jishin Taiko CSUN drum club came out and performed a variety of songs and dances, which had the crowd gather in close to watch. After the performance, onlookers were invited to come and try out the drums and learn a thing or two. The president of the club, Blane O’Brien encouraged students to join the club, which is completely student run. “Everyday before practice we run, it takes a lot of physical endurance to do what we do,” O’Brien said.

At first, most of the people who came to the event were only interested in the free Subway. However, the ongoing activities occurring made it difficult to avoid the healthy vibe at the Plaza del Sol.