It wasn’t that long ago that I took a train to Stockton and I stopped by the satellite campus of California State University, Stanislaus just to look around. While I was there, I noticed something surprising that San Francisco State University doesn’t have — massage chairs, available for everyone to use for free.
This sparked a journey to see which other CSUs also have massage chairs. Through phone calls, in-person visits, and online searches, I’ve determined that there are more CSUs that do have massage chairs (14) than ones that don’t (9). Of course SFSU is in the minority. It doesn’t surprise me that SFSU is behind a majority of the CSUs in providing proper services and facilities to students; despite new construction, most buildings are old and filled with asbestos.
76.9% of SFSU students reported feeling stressed, according to a National College Health Assessment report from April this year. Stress beats every other mental health issue in impacting SFSU students’ degree progress and academics, according to a version of that assessment in 2021.
Based on those sources, I think it’s clear thousands of people on campus are feeling stressed to some degree. Meanwhile, massage chairs are one of the most popular ways for people to relax and de-stress.
Now I don’t like massage chairs but I know people who do. Massage chairs allow people to be fondled by furniture and that’s one of the most popular things for people to enjoy these days.
Just look at the data. A recent report published in 2023 revealed that massage chair sales are going up. The massage chair industry is projected to be valued at $9.96 billion by 2030 and it makes sense. The pandemic was stressful, the economy is stressful, and life is stressful — a study from 2022 shows that massage chairs can reduce stress.
You could argue that SFSU can’t afford them but $599.99 is the price for one highly-rated, yet relatively inexpensive massage chair from Walmart. According to invoices obtained through a public records request, SFSU spent a total of $2,814,285.83 to furnish West Grove Commons. If the university is willing to spend that much money on its students, it can spend a little more — why not buy 10 of those massage chairs?
Where would they go? A room somewhere could be permanently converted into a space dedicated to rest and relaxation, like what Sacramento State, San Jose State, Cal State San Bernardino, Chico State and other CSUs have because they value their students’ health.
Right now, the Holistic Health Learning Center is the closest thing to a permanent space for relaxing, since the Zen Den only operates twice a week. Both of these spaces are just classrooms, not environments created with peace and quiet in mind.
Don’t SFSU students deserve a room with massage chairs and nap areas as much as any other CSU students since we pay a similar amount in tuition and fees? I sure think so.
Faculty would also benefit from the massage chairs.
A rapid scoping review published in 2023 shows that massage chairs can reduce stress, including chronic stress in elders, which is what 23.4% of instructors in the CSU system are or are close to becoming.
Besides that, all instructors at SFSU deserve to relax in massage chairs. Lecturers are worried about staying employed as professors think about how budget cuts will impact their lessons.
Massage chairs would make life better for everybody who wants to use them. SFSU should join the majority of CSUs in adding massage chairs.
