 "Photo: Ben Tambaschi, Editor in Chief")
 "Photo: Ben Tambaschi, Editor in Chief")
San Diego State welcomed "Veronica Mars," a CW network television show, onto its campus for the third time early last week.
Although some were skeptical of the presence of a television show taping during New Student Orientation, the relationship between SDSU and "Mars" is still amiable, appearing to be a lasting one.
"It's up to our production designer and director to decide where we film, and Alfred Sole, the production designer, really liked the look and feel of the school," Assistant Location Manager Steven Lee said. "(SDSU) has invited us with open arms.
"We'll be back in August and throughout the (fall) semester for sure."
The cast and crew filmed at various locations on campus - including The Daily Aztec offices, the Communication building, Hepner Hall and the grass area next to Scripps Cottage - to wrap up the first two episodes of the upcoming 23-episode season.
The first episode, "Welcome Wagon," is set to air at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12.
The season focuses on Veronica Mars, played by Kristen Bell, beginning her college career at "Hearst College," the TV show's name for the SDSU campus.
The plot unfolds as Hearst College experiences a rash of crime immediately after school begins, including an incident involving fraternity members who rape a female student and shave her head, Lee said.
It becomes Mars' job as a private investigator to find out "who done it."
Mars later befriends a writer for the school's newspaper, "The Hearst Free Press," and with investigative and journalistic abilities combined, she may be able to expose the suspects.
The story develops throughout the season, which will include more filming at SDSU, though the show is usually taped at film stages in Clairemont, Calif.
While the idea of a television show being filmed on campus is exciting for some, other SDSU students and faculty would prefer they stayed at their usual location.
"If orientation hadn't been here, (the filming) would have gone a lot smoother," Facilities Rentals representative Kathi Glenn said. "I know that orientation is a big deal here on campus, and ('Mars') got in the way, but as a whole, things went really well."
Apart from "Mars" employees and SDSU ambassadors vying to conduct business at the same spots on campus, the taping of the show at SDSU led to monetary and employment benefits for the university and its students. The money from the fees was deposited into the SDSU facilities fund to help maintain different campus buildings, Glenn said.
Also, there are current and old SDSU students involved with the show - alumni are working as crewmembers and current students are working as actors.
"I'd say about half the extras we used for these shows are students from the SDSU film department," Lee said. "We try to involve the students who want to be in film and give them a little bit of experience."
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