When the new class schedule that began this year was initially announced, administrators lauded it as a potential solution to the perennial problem of overcrowded buses and endless lunch lines. Only one week into the first semester, students are already feeling at least a little relief from the time and space crunches of last year.
In years past, it’s been difficult to slide into a seat on the buses, junior Marissa McDaniel said. “Most of the time you were standing up if you weren’t crowding to get in,” she said. “This year, though, it’s been a pretty good ride.”
Freshman Matt Manocherian said he has never had to wait amid a sea of students for a second bus as he’s watched one arrive, fill up with students and pull away. “Buses’ve been very mobbed. They’ve been very crowded,” he said. “But everybody just tries to make it so that everyone can fit in as best as they can.”
At peak times in the midafternoon, however, sophomore Joanna Noble said she had to wait for the third bus to come before she could edge her way in. “And I really had to push,” she said.
Regular riders told the familiar tales of students crowding into the aisles, standing in the back stairways and hanging onto the poles in the front, and several bus drivers said they have not noticed more room on the buses.
Denis Arnold, who drives an East-West bus from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m., said his bus transports about 1,600 people each day. Last year his buses moved about 600 people on a standard day, he said.
During the time between classes, Arnold said the buses are being packed with as many as 80 students each trip.
Cathy Reeve, director of parking and transportation services, said this summer that the department would make no major changes to the bus schedule to adjust to the new class times. Nine buses run continuously among East, West and Central Campus each day.
Even though the buses have still been packed with students, the food outlets have been a little less crowded.
Jim Wulforst, director of dining services, said schedules of food service employees had been adjusted to ensure sufficient staffing during the between-class pockets when students rush to grab lunch before afternoon classes.
Lines at many campus eateries—particularly noontime hot spots like Subway, McDonald’s and Alpine Bagels and Brews—have been shorter, students said.
“You almost couldn’t go to Subway before if you only had 20 minutes between classes,” junior Katie Greene said. “Now it’s a lot more manageable.”
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.