Common Space Policies

General Policies

  • All common spaces are subject to the MIT alcohol policy. Events with alcohol in public spaces (any location other than your apartment), must be registered. For events with 25 or fewer people serving alcohol, you must fill out the "Alcohol Registration Form for Events in Graduate Residences" found here. After you obtain the appropriate signature from the House Manager or Housemaster, you will keep your signed form with you at the event as proof of permission to hold your event with alcohol. Events with more than 25 people serving alcohol must be registered through MIT (registration information can be found here.) Remember that having alcohol in common spaces is a privilege that not all MIT grad dorms enjoy. Please do not ruin it for everyone else in SP!
  • If a resident (or his/her guest) damages, breaks, or otherwise renders unusable an item that is part of SP's common space (such as furniture, music equipment, game room equipment, etc.), that resident is responsible for paying the costs of replacing that item. The determination of negligence shall be made by the SP trustees.
  • No smoking inside Sidney-Pacific or the courtyard.
  • Quiet hours are from 12am-8am Sun-Thur, 1am-8am Fri-Sat.
  • Residents are responsible for the behavior of their guests.
  • Lost keys result in a fee (currently $50.00).
  • "Event notices" do not constitute reservations; they are notices to help others plan, all residents are welcome at all times.

Floor Kitchens, TV Lounges, and Study Lounges/Rooms

These spaces cannot be reserved. No events with more than 20 people present are permitted. Residents may post "event notices" outside the door, notifying fellow residents of a planned event. Such notices should always include the date and the contact information of the person planning the event.

Multipurpose Room

On Friday and Saturday evenings, one segment of the multipurpose room will be available, by reservation, to S-P residents. Reservations are made through the House Manager and can be made up to one month in advance. There is a $25 non-refundable rental fee at the time of booking. One hundred dollars will be charged to the host's bursar account if:

  • the room is not clean by 8:00 am the next morning
  • the event ends after 1:00 am
  • there is a violation of the MIT alcohol policy

Multipurpose Room Kitchen

Multipurpose Room Kitchen can be reserved separately by Sidney-Pacific residents by submitting a $50 deposit to the House Manager. Once the event is over and the kitchen is left in similar (or better) condition, the deposit will be returned. House events take priority over personal events, even if an event notice has been posted. Reservations DO NOT include access to the pantry or the equipment in the kitchen; utensils, pans, and any necessary cooking devices and food must be brought by the resident or outside party who has reserved the room.

Michael Owu House Common Room

  • Individuals and groups can reserve the Owu Room and Seminar Room up to one month in advance.
  • Residents may write an "event notice" on the calendar outside the Owu or Seminar Room. All event notices must list:
    • The organizer's contact information - written LEGIBLY
    • The date and time of the event
    • Brief description or title of the event
  • Recurring bookings can be given only once per week with a two-hour time limit.
  • If alcoholic beverages are to be consumed, the event organizer must fill out an event registration form.
  • House events take priority over personal events, even if an event notice has been posted.
  • The Owu room can be reserved by private parties, but this will incur a fee ($25 per two-hour time period) with a four hour limit. If the reserving party wishes to use the room free of charge, it must:
    • Hold an event of significant public interest
    • Advertise the event in the SP-Anno (TODO link)
    • Have the event be open and free to S-P residents
  • The Seminar room capacity for events is 30 people. If this capacity is exceeded, the organizer may be charged a fine of no more than $100.
  • The rooms must be left clean!

The House Manager reserves the right to apply these rules and guidelines on a case-by-case basis and grant exceptions.

Game Room

This space cannot be reserved. Food and drink are not to be placed on game tables at any time.

Seminar Room

  • Room capacity for events is 30 people. If this capacity is exceeded, the organizer may be charged a fine of no more than $100.
  • Residents may write an "event notice" on the calendar outside the seminar room. All event notices must list
    • The organizer's contact information
    • The date and time of the event
    • Brief description or title of the event
  • If alcoholic beverages are to be consumed in this room, the event organizer must fill out an event registration form.
  • House events take priority over personal events, even if an event notice has been posted.

Courtyard

This space cannot be reserved. The GAS GRILLS can be reserved through the House Manager with a full-price MULTIPURPOSE ROOM rental (currently $125).

Music Room

Key may be checked out for 2 HOURS at the front desk. There is a $1/hour, $10 maximum late fee.

Questions

Questions about this policy can be addressed to the House Manager. Suggestions and comments for future changes to this policy can be directed to the House Government at spec (at mit.edu).