Although the Government of the Student Body does not yet have much information, it seems students are not able to sell food on campus due to a city of Ames regulation, a change from previous years. Exactly where the change in regulation has occurred is still unclear.

“I’m not aware of it being an issue in the past. I know that a lot of groups rely on it for fundraising,” said Spencer Hughes, president of GSB. “So at this point it’s something that we’re going to need to look into and see if we can come up with a solution that either continues to allow for student groups or provides an alternate avenue for them to raise funds.”

This issue was brought to the attention of Nicholas Terhall, GSB senator for the College of Engineering, by the Society of Women Engineers when its largest fundraiser, pizza sales on Fridays, was denied by Event Authorization due to the changes in regulations.

The society has in the past brought in approximately $150 to $200 a week because of its pizza sales.

According to the city of Ames website, a vending license is required any time food is sold on public property. To obtain a license like this, proof that the appropriate State licenses have been granted or applied for must be submitted, as well as acquiring an insurance certificate and an annual fee of $50 must be paid.

Vending licenses are only valid for one year.

“[It] seems like quite a bit for a student organization, in my opinion, a student organization with limited resources,” Terhall said.

Terhall said he contacted Alex Harvey, student liaison for the Ames City Council, on Wednesday to see how GSB could collaborate with the City Council to work around this.

Harvey had no comment at this time.

GSB Senate meetings are Wednesday evenings in the Memorial Union. Terhall said he expects to have more information regarding the matter by next week.