Meet me at the Sizzle

       "I am really in the mood for a chicken patty today I think I am going to get one." This comes out of the mouths of many people as I walk by people in Scranton Commons. Commons has this feeling about it when you go inside the building. When you walk in you instantly have a craving for certain foods due to the aroma that slaps you in the face. As the people come flowing in through those glass doors with all the smudge marks from greasy hands, the aroma of subway wafts up the double set of stairs. Approaching the podium where the card swiping business takes place, you think to yourself what shall I have today? (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Card swipe in

That soothing sound of your card swiping through the system. The new renovations made it look as if it was the new diner on the block. Everything is bright and clean but then you take a look at the tables and the booths and they have crumbs from the previous people. The look of the constant flowing water fall is mesmerizing, the flowing water between those two panes of glass could keep a person entertained for hours. While you are deciding on what you want to eat, all around you the sounds of timers are going off. Pots and pans are banging together and the popping of grease on the grill of all the meats being prepared at the "Sizzle" line. (figure 2).
        When going through the food lines you sometimes get a smiling face and other times you get a glare. "The worst part of my job is when I have to deal with kid's attitudes," explains Maylyn who is a student worker at commons. "They don't understand that I am also a student." She continued to explain that she enjoys seeing peoples faces and serving them their food but she gets irritated when people are rude to her. There are some students can become a bit short and blunt which can get annoying. Normally students get a chipper hello and a meaningful your welcome when they proceed go through the line which much more pleasant than a cold sharp glare. The amount of time and effort that is needed from every worker is profound. It is neither fun nor easy to be grilling burgers and chicken patties all day along with making sure that the fries get done properly. It takes a surprising amount energy for the workers there to do what they do all day. When the workers get to work before a big meal begins, they need to clean and prepare foods for over 45 minutes then student workers get there for the remaining ten minutes before students are allowed in. Then, after the meal period is over the workers stay after to clean up everything and make sure things are good to go for the next meal or next day. The workers at Commons don't get recognized for their hard work, all they get is complaints that students had to wait an extra 2 minutes to get their French fries.

Figure 2 "Sizzle" line

        Maylyn also explained that there were a few things that students probably would not know about commons. There are still a few mysteries about commons that students do not know about. Commons also makes their own creamy ice cream themselves that sits in a crystal clear show case that shows off the magnificent colors of the different flavors. The ice cream is so rich in decadent flavors. They are proud of their masterpieces that they create. Most students might think they go to the nearest Turkey Hill to get their ice cream.
        Commons' set up is much like that of any buffet restaurant, they have different lines and show cases for different types of foods. For example, the "World Food" line exhibits foods that can be found from the furthest corners of the world. The "Home" line is what it sounds like, the delectable home cooked foods that your mom used to make at home right there. The "Sizzle" line is a crowd favorite due to crispiness of the chicken patty and the juiciness of the burger. Each with a toasted bun to go on either side to complete the perfect back yard barbeque foods we all love. It can be a difficult decision to make whether or not to eat a crunchy golden chicken patty or have a crispy salad. Once the food has been chosen, the next decision to be made is what beverage will indulge in. The "Beverage" section is where all kinds of drinks come into play. This is where it gets to be irritating at times because one does not simply choose one thirst quenching beverage. They offer drinks all the way from chocolate milk to Sobe Life water to fresh fruit waters. (Figure 3).
        Out of all the places on campus to eat, Commons can be the best bang for your buck. Once you swipe your card to get in, you can eat anything you want and as much as you want. It gives you a lot of freedom to do what you want. There is many healthy options there such as the large salad bars which give large assortments of vegetables and greens. On the other hand, you can also have a meal that is very bad for you as well. It may taste phenomenal but the glorious chicken patty has numerous factors in it that make it superbly unhealthy. A balance is a must when dining at the Commons. The commons can make for a great breakfast, lunch, or dinner experience.

Figure 3 Fresh fruit waters