FAQ
Q. Do I have to get my food/beverage from Bon Appetit Catering?
Yes, you do. The university has an exclusive contract with Bon Appetit Catering to be the sole caterer on campus. If there are extenuating circumstances that require an alternative to Bon Appetit Catering — such as religious or cultural reasons — please contact EM&GS for approval and exceptions. For periodic club meetings that are closed to the public — and with your Event Manager's approval — you may bring baked goods, popcorn, soda, and ice cream. At no time can you bring any other food/beverage from a grocery store, restaurant or other food provider. Potlucks or bringing other home-cooked food is also not allowed.
Q. How do I go about looking at menu options?
Contact your Event Manager, who can pass along menus to you. Your Event Manager can also suggest more popular items, recently added items to the menu, and can suggest alternates.
Q. If I plan to sell baked goods or beverages as a fundraiser, how do I get approval?
University policy allows for registered student organizations to host food/beverage fundraisers on campus at various times throughout the day. Food/beverage fundraisers are limited to no more than two per day and can only be held at Lo Schiavo tabling stations or University Center 1st Floor tabling stations. Generally, the only permitted items you can sell are home baked goods, homemade beverages, and/or ice cream (floats, sundaes, etc.). However, exceptions for the sale of boba drinks or Krispy Kreme donuts under the vendor's fundraising programs will typically be approved.
Please reserve your location with an event title that indicates the student organization and the nature of your fundraiser (i.e. "NSA Boba Fundraiser" or "Tri-Beta Bake Sale"). An executive / officer of the student organization must also submit the Fundraising Proposal Form online. Please submit the form at least one week in advance of your requested fundraiser date; since dates fill up quickly, we recommend submitting the form as early as possible.
Online payment is not an accepted form of payment. DO NOT use Venmo or PayPal. You may only collect cash or checks and obtain a cash box from SLE.
Q. Can we have food trucks at our event?
No; The university has an exclusive contract with Bon Appetit Catering to be the sole carter on campus.
Q. Do I need a sound permit for my event?
At times, the use of amplified sound during campus events requires a sound permit. While a permit is not always necessary, there are situations where we may still choose to obtain one out of caution or courtesy. This decision is made based on factors such as event location, time of day, expected volume, and potential impact on nearby areas.
Amplified Sound Guidelines:
- Amplified sound may only be used outdoors during the designated activity hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:45 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.
- When a sound permit, at cost, is required by the university or city ordinances, we will ensure it is secured in advance.
- Even when not strictly required, event organizers may be asked to pull a permit to avoid disruptions or complaints.
- If you're planning an event with amplified sound and are unsure about the permit requirements, please reach out to our office before proceeding.
The current price for a sound permit is $558, which is determined by the City of San Francisco. This is subject to change.