South SFV Today

A group of Stanford University students recently experimented with a pop-up pub to enhance social life on campus, resulting in positive feedback. The Rough Draught Pub was managed by students and supported by staff and the Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU). Over two nights, more than 550 people attended the event held at 550 Lasuen Row.

Sarah Jade Yao, a senior and lead interior designer for the pub, said she was excited about creating a space where students could safely enjoy alcoholic beverages outside of a party setting. "I thought it was a great opportunity to create a new community space on campus," Yao stated.

The initiative was led by Danny Kim, who coordinated a team of 12 students. "At the beginning of the quarter, we had nothing except the words of the administration saying, ‘That’s a great idea,’” Kim remarked.

The team undertook various tasks such as planning operations for kitchen service, bar management, interior design, events organization, marketing strategies, and financial management. They transformed both the interior and backyard spaces with themes like ski-inspired entryways for food orders and sports-themed back rooms for games.

Yao's design team sourced second-hand items from Facebook Marketplace and flea markets to decorate the venue. Sam Jonker served as kitchen manager and head chef; his team filled 675 food orders despite having no prior restaurant experience. "It went fantastically," Jonker noted.

Graham Griffin managed the bar operations that served over 1,800 drinks during the event. He commented on how quickly time passed while serving drinks due to everyone enjoying themselves so much.

Activities included karaoke and trivia on one night and live music from student bands on another. Rachel Lit organized these activities aiming to provide an inclusive environment beyond Greek life or dormitory parties.

Amanda Rodriguez praised this student-led initiative: “The Rough Draught Pub highlights students’ creativity and entrepreneurship.” She added that it offered an enjoyable third space for evening socializing alongside existing campus offerings.

Support from university administrators such as Amanda Rodriguez and Samuel Santos Jr., along with funding assistance from ASSU (excluding alcohol), contributed significantly to its success according to organizers who are considering making it permanent after receiving overwhelmingly positive survey responses post-event. "It really felt like the whole Stanford community was accepted there," Griffin concluded.