Class of '20 Commons renovated

It boasts everything from beverage and ice cream islands to an expanded serving area to chilled salad bar plates. It has wood-panelled walls, blue carpeting and tiling, and a conveyor belt for waste disposal. And now they even put the mustard and mayonnaise on your sandwich. Yes, gourmands, the renovations to the Class of 1920 Commons, after three years and a couple of a million dollars, are complete. According to Dining Services Director William Canney, the goal behind the renovations was "to improve the ambiance and create a warmer atmosphere." Canney said the work was designed to improve the dining hall's efficiency. But students said that after the renovations the lines are longer than ever and criticized the new "scatter system" intended to reduce congestion which requires diners to go through multiple lines. "This is worse than last year," Wharton junior Marek Gootman said. "The tray line is all screwed up. . . The lines are worse than ever - they go all the way out to the window and down the steps." Nursing sophomore Emily Kales criticized the new arrangement of the serving area, saying that there was too much wasted space in the kitchen with "long, empty, expensive grills." And College and Wharton senior Chris Senopoulos said that the set-up of the salad bar which is placed immediately outside the serving area increased the disorganization. Many students also said the cosmetic improvements were not worth the added confusion. "The seating is nice and once you get up to the food, it's basically all right, but the lines are ridiculous especially where you get the trays," said College sophmore Joe Hilinski. Canney said that he was aware of student complaints and that Dining Services is considering changes. "We are in the process of changing," Canney said. "We want to make minor adjustments in the silverware and tray area."

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