USC Rocket Lab Info Session
- Club meeting
- Free
- Cuisine: Wings
Must pay $5 general body dues
The proposal
The Problem
Free food is all over USC every week, but most students never find it. Club meetings, info sessions, and campus events give food away constantly, yet you only hear about it if you happen to be on the right email list or in the right group chat.
Meanwhile, money is tight for a lot of students, and food is often the first thing to get cut. Some students go an entire day without eating because they can only afford one meal. That shouldn't happen on a campus with this much food going around.
The Solution
USC Food Map is a web tool that shows students every food option available to them, right now or at any time they choose. It goes beyond the restaurants and fast food chains around campus to surface the club meetings and campus events giving away free food. A student with $5 left in their account can still find a full meal.
How It Works
- Set your location and time. The time defaults to right now, but students can look ahead to plan lunch or dinner.
- Browse what's available. The tool shows every option open at that time, sorted by distance (default) or by price.
- Narrow it down. Students can filter by vendor type (such as restaurant or club meeting), cuisine (such as Italian or Mexican), and price, including free food only.
Each listing shows the name (such as CAVA or USC Rocket Society General Body Meeting), vendor type, cuisine (marked Unknown if not listed), distance, time window, and price, with free options clearly marked.
For club meetings and campus events, the tool also flags any barriers to entry up front, such as $10 general body dues or USC Housing residency. No one should show up expecting a meal they can't get.
Where the Data Comes From
The database combines direct input from the development team with crowdsourced submissions from students. The team will preload campus restaurants, fast food locations, taco stands, food trucks, recurring campus events known to provide food, and public student clubs that meet regularly and serve food.
From there, students keep the map alive. Anyone can add their own club meetings and food giveaways, so the map stays current as new events pop up each week.
Every listing includes:
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| Name | e.g., CAVA or USC Rocket Society GBM |
| Vendor type | Restaurant, fast food, street vendor, club meeting, or campus event |
| Cuisine | Defaults to Unknown |
| Location | Display name plus map coordinates, used to calculate distance |
| Date or recurring days | A single date for one-time events; days of the week for recurring ones |
| Start and end time | When food is available |
| Price | Typical cost of a meal; $0.00 means free |
| Entry requirements | Optional, such as dues or residency |
Who It Serves
The primary audience is USC students, especially those stretching a tight budget. For them, knowing where to find cheap and free food can be the difference between eating once a day and eating well.
The tool also serves the clubs and campus organizations behind the events. Groups looking to grow attendance get a new way to reach students who would never have seen their flyer. Every listing works for both sides: students get fed, and organizations fill the room.
Database
