Walking
into the coffee shop on campus on Friday morning, the place is relatively
empty. There’s a few workers behind the counter, restocking shelves and filling
coffee cups. The three computers are free from students rapidly typing up last
minute papers. There are a few girls sipping coffee and chatting by the
windows. The radio can be heard from the speakers lining the ceiling. The most
comfortable spot there, the sofa by the fireplace, is fair game.
When searching for
a cozy place to study and get a bite to eat, Common Grounds serves as the ideal
place. At about 11 a.m. every weekday morning, students are led by their
growling stomachs to get in line for their delicious Erbert and Gerbert’s sub
sandwich. Not only are sub sandwiches
available but also a variety of beverages, soups of the day, and items a la
cart. Whatever craving someone may have,
the coffee shop has it covered.
The first thing everyone does is get into
line, praying it will move faster. A few men come in and take a seat, waiting
for the line to go down. The line remains within the roped off area, not as
long as usual. After the long, snake-like line begins to diminish, the eating
tables that fill the center of the room become occupied quickly. Although the
silence turns to a distinct murmur of voices and a continuous crumpling of
wrappers, the atmosphere remains pleasant. The soft couches provide a great
place to sink into a book while the tables serve as a strict study zone.
Once the food is
gone, the noise level changes completely. The soft murmurs turn into loud
bursts of laughter. The large TV by the stage is changed from a muted CNN to
MTV’s Jersey Shore, volume blasted. A
group of girls close their large nursing textbooks to join the crowd around the
television, beginning their weekend early.
By noon, the cycle
begins all over again. Most students from the first lunch rush have either gone
to class or have left. The rest remain near the TV discussing their plans for
the weekend. The food line begins to wrap around again, this time almost
reaching the doors of the entrance. Acquaintances in line make small talk about
absurd amounts of reading assignments. A girl embraces her friend as if they
haven’t seen each other in years.
The buzz of the
crowd makes it difficult to study. A whole page can be read with only a few
words being registered. It’s much easier to people watch, taking in the feel of
the place. The atmosphere is filled with happiness and excitement for the
weekend. There’s only a few voices heard that seem to complain about
everything. The complainers quickly leave and head off toward the parking lot
while the rest remain until they slowly diminish along with the minutes.
By 1
p.m., the room is empty, leaving behind it the echo of talk
and laughter. Once again, the radio can be heard. The lunch rush is over.
