
A new esports room at Baskin Engineering has opened its doors to the UC Santa Cruz Slug Gaming club. Made possible by a donation from Baskin Engineering Dean Alex Wolf, the space provides a dedicated area for competitive gaming and community-building, underscoring the school’s commitment to providing collaborative environments for students.
Gaming organizations are highly popular on college campuses, and UCSC Slug Gaming is no exception. The student-led club brings together gamers of all levels and academic backgrounds, with a majority of members being Baskin Engineering students.
Slug Gaming esports teams have expanded in recent years, competing in major tournaments against universities nationwide. Their Valorant, League of Legends, and Apex teams frequently place in the top two of four at competitions, earning recognition and cash prizes. With over 75 players across more than 20 competitive teams, the club needed a space to support its growing community.
Baskin Engineering answered that need, providing competitive Slug Gaming members with a new home. After a multi-year effort, the esports room opened in fall 2024, and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including desktop computers, monitors, keyboards, mice, headphones, and more—all housed in the Jack Baskin Engineering Building.

“Baskin Engineering was very generous with what they gave us,” said Kapeeshwar Sharma, a second-year astrophysics major and Slug Gaming’s esports lead. “The equipment was above and beyond what we had ever imagined.”
The esports room helps teams work together in a setting comparable to gaming spaces at other UC campuses. Students use the space to practice and compete in national tournaments, making it a vital resource for UCSC’s growing esports presence. It also accommodates coaches and directors, allowing them to observe and guide teams during competitions.
“Our players are interacting and bonding with one another because of the space,” said Serene Wong, a second-year games and playable media major and president of Slug Gaming. “It’s a way to build friendships beyond just being teammates, and helps our players support one another.”
Before the esports room, many Slug Gaming teams could only connect virtually from personal computers, making this new in-person interaction within the space a valuable experience.

“The space gives our teams a chance to grow their chemistry in-person,” said Sharma. “Some teammates had only ever met online.”
The room’s technology also reduces barriers to entry for students interested in competitive gaming.
“Having the space and equipment has significantly increased opportunities for our members,” said Sharma. “Some students wanted to play competitively but couldn’t because they didn’t have their own equipment. Now, we can welcome students regardless of what they own personally.”
Slug Gaming views the esports room as a chance to gain visibility at UCSC, and elevate its status alongside other university esports teams.
“As a club, we’ve always wanted an official gaming computer lab,” said Wong. “The esports room will help us gain more recognition on campus, and across collegiate-level esports as a whole.”
This project was supported by Baskin Engineering Dean Alex Wolf, with facilities and installation support led by Director of Laboratories and Facilities Peter Minogue and Director of Space Planning Brad Angell. Technical leads were Senior Systems Engineer Tristan Carkeet and Systems Engineer Ryan Meckel, with a collaborative effort from the entire Baskin Engineering ITS team. The room’s design was led by Director of Communications Andrea Limas and Graphic Designer/Web Strategist Molly Fine. BE teams also collaborated with the Division of Student Affairs and Success, UCSC Student Business Services, and Sign Makers Ian Bell and Michael Munoz with the UCSC Sign Shop.
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