James Norton, Staff Photographer

Surrounded by holiday ornaments, a decorated pine tree and a buffet fit for a king, the Aztec Shops Board met on Friday for the last time this semester.

And while board members dined on lobster-stuffed raviolis, mashed potatoes and a “yule-log” chocolate dessert, one discussion item stood out that had to do with spirits unrelated to the upcoming holidays.

The California State University Chancellor’s Office banned alcohol sales at athletic events held in CSU facilities last December. However, the ban just took effect at San Diego State at the start of the basketball season.

Fans were surprised, some were disappointed and the Aztec Shops’ revenue has suffered. In past years, alcohol sales at games were a large percentage of the Aztec Shops’ revenue – the sales brought in approximately $160,000 last year between the men and women’s games – with beer selling at $6 per cup, said R.D. Williams, Aztec Shops director of communications and campus relations.

Some people who used to buy alcohol aren’t buying soda but said they would resort to other means of drinking during games.

When the ban was implemented this semester, some thirsty fans lost all hope and said they would either drink more before the games or even sneak alcohol into the arena.

But it seems Associated Students President Matt Keipper and former A.S. Executive Vice President Brian Hamilton have devised a workable plan to allow fans who are 21 years old and older to drink before the games.

Keipper said there will be pregame events lasting for two hours before the men’s basketball games, and the first event is set for Jan. 27. There will be a beer garden and live entertainment presented by SDSU’s Cultural Arts and Special Events. The first pregame event is scheduled to be on the grassy area outside of Cox Arena, Keipper said.

“That game is on a Saturday, but some games are on Tuesday so hosting the event outside Cox Arena brings up noise issues,” Keipper said. “The details of the following events still need to be worked out.”

If any of the pregame events are held in Aztec Center to avoid noise conflicts, Louie’s Suds N’ Sun would be sponsoring them and A.S. would share in the revenue. Louie’s license to sell liquor is only valid on campus in Aztec Center.

When the events are held on the lawn outside of Cox Arena, Aztec Shops Catering will be sponsoring them, which Williams said would allow Aztec Shops to charge less for beer – about $4 per cup.

Williams said that the addition of pregame events may bring in some more revenue for Aztec Shops and A.S., but the amount is incomparable to what alcohol sales during games used to bring in.

“This event would only be for two hours before the game, and only a few thousand people at most would be able to attend,” Williams said. “There’s also going to be a limit on how many drinks one person can buy.”

Bookstore buyback caters to students

As the end of the semester nears, Aztec Shops is encouraging students to sell their books to the SDSU Bookstore – and made sure to make it worth their while.

Students can go to www.sdsubookstore.com, click on the “EZ Buyback For You” button, type in their Red I.D. number and an e-mail will be sent to them soon after stating how much their books are worth at the buyback.

“Sometimes prices even go up, so it’s good to check frequently,” Williams said.

The reason for price increases is because professors submit their book requisitions to the bookstore at different paces.

“If the book will be used again next semester, there’s one sale price,” he said. “But if the books won’t be used again, the buyback price is a lower, wholesale price.

“The best thing to do is to wait until you’re done with the book and sell it back because if (students sell it early and) the requisition isn’t in, you sell it at the wholesaale price, but the requisition could come in later, then you get the higher price.”

Students who sell books back will receive a 20 percent-off coupon good for today through Dec. 16. They will receive an additional 5 percent-off coupon to use toward book sales in the Spring 2007 semester.