Scrappy and Proud
The student-run On Call Café aspires to more than latte art. Come for the caffeine, stay for the much-needed connection.
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Once upon a time, cafés were a vibrant social crossroads, where conversation and ideas flowed freely. Today, they’re often a place to scroll TikTok while waiting for your mobile order.
Enter On Call Café.
If you’ve spent time on the Farm lately, you already know that Stanford’s student-run, after-hours hideout in Old Union has the scruffy magic of a place built not for profit, but for people. You know about the impromptu karaoke, spontaneous piano jams, Beyoncé sing-alongs, and more. You know that you don’t go for the perfect cappuccino; you go because where else will you strike up a debate with a stranger about Socrates over fresh-baked focaccia? You know that On Call is scrappy, a little chaotic, and fully magnetic.
Knowing all of this, we invite you on a behind-the-scenes tour of this singular spot, courtesy of two On Call employees, Lauren Grace Williams, ’26, MS&E, and Aaron Zhang, ’27, Design. The photos were snapped by a slew of On Call employees and students, as well as Momentum’s Jess Alvarenga. (Special shout-out to Kailani Webb, ’27!)
We need more places like this in the world. At a time when community feels like a luxury item, On Call serves it nightly.
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“We have a staff of 60—baristas, toastmasters, graphic designers, ops people—and we’re proud that everything is 100 percent student-run and scrappy. Part of the original idea was recreating those late-night conversations in dorms, or summer camp vibes—third spaces that happen when students are just in a room together.”Aaron Zhang
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“One of our values is being exothermic—spreading warmth to everyone. At Starbucks or CoHo, you see a lot more people on laptops working alone. At On Call, there’s this pull toward connecting. When you see people around you talking, you want to be part of it too.”Lauren Grace Williams
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“I think a lot of our generation’s problems—whether with devices or politics—could be addressed by just being in rooms with strangers and talking. I’m not even a coffee person. I come here for the people.”Aaron Zhang
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“I think one of the big things our generation is relearning how to do is to sit next to a stranger and realize that, even if you do have different political beliefs, you’re in the same econ class, and you both like ice cream, you know?”Lauren Grace Williams
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“Students here have so many responsibilities—jobs, tuition, classes. On Call can be that safe space where you just let go for a while. During NSO week, one of my friends led a line dancing session, and over a hundred people showed up. The balcony was packed, everyone shoulder to shoulder, just having fun. That joy, that kid-like wonder, is what makes On Call special.”Lauren Grace Williams
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“The idea has always been to be both a café and a living room for campus—a place for all of Stanford to gather.”Aaron Zhang
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Preparing Citizens: The impact
Why it matters
In a time when so much of student life happens through screens, On Call Café offers something rare: real connection. Entirely student-run and fueled by philanthropy—including 24 donors who leveraged matching funds available during the annual Stanford Day of Giving—it gives students a place to belong; to meet new people, exchange ideas, and rediscover the joy of community. Nights at On Call often turn into something bigger than coffee or conversation. They become moments of belonging that shape the Stanford experience itself. Spaces like this remind students that the heart of innovation isn’t found in isolation, but in connection—one cup (and karaoke song) at a time.
The opportunity
Stanford is committed to fostering experiences, relationships, and environments that let every student feel at home here—supported, connected, part of something larger than themselves. Investing in community resources like On Call encourages intellectual exchange, social engagement, and community-building. Each gift strengthens the culture of peer leadership and community that defines Stanford at its best.
Learn more about Undergraduate Education & Student Life.
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