On busy school days in APB, a recent change has caused confusion, and debate among students. What used to be a simple and effective way for students to know what’s on the lunch menu has now become more difficult, the lunch whiteboard has been moved.
The whiteboard showed the daily lunch options placed on the right side of the lunch window, a spot that made it easy for students to check the menu as they got to the counter. Students could quickly glance up to see what meal was being served, allowing them to make a decision as they stood in line or before they got in line. But recently, the whiteboard has been relocated from the left side to the right side.
Before the change in APB, students had a simple way to know what was for lunch. The new spot for it is covered by students who are scanning their ID’s, and it’s also covered by the red salad bar.
More importantly, the positioning of the whiteboard allowed students to be able to take a quick look, making the whole process smooth and efficient. It saved time, reduced confusion, and helped maintain what can sometimes be a chaotic environment, particularly during peak lunch hours.
The movement of the whiteboard has caused many issues. Ahead of the lunch window, students now have to walk ahead of the counter, often causing a traffic jam. This move, which might have been intended to free up space, has disturbed the simple flow of the line.
Students now have to either stand in front of the whiteboard awkwardly, trying to memorize the menu in advance, or look over the heads of other people in front of them, this can cause people to not form lines and make everything crowded. Those in the back of the line won’t see what’s for lunch until they’re up at the counter. For those in a rush or unfamiliar with the layout, this can lead to delays, making lunch lines longer.
“I didn’t know where to look,” said Katerin Garcia. “I had to ask what was being served when I got to the front and it caused a delay”
Beyond just small inconveniences, the movement of the whiteboard has started to cause annoyance. With the whiteboard now out of view, many students find themselves in a more confused situation when they finally reach the counter. Instead of making a quick decision, they now have to ask the cafeteria staff for the options, which causes delays in speed.
This also can have an effect on the cafeteria workers, who are already busy managing the line. They have to tell students to get in line because many were crowding near the whiteboard, blocking the view for other students who wanna see the menu.
For students, this change feels like a small but important change that affects their mood. We interviewed a student about this, “It’s frustrating. I just want to know what’s for lunch, but now I have to either walk up to the board or wait until I’m right in front of the lunch line.” said Wendy Salazar.
While some students have started to get used to the change, majority still feel bothered by it. However, there are a few solutions that could fix the issue.
The simplest solution would be to move the whiteboard back to its original location above the counter. This would allow students to easily view the lunch options as they wait in line without causing delays or confusion.
Several students have suggested possible solutions, The best solution would be adding a second whiteboard in the area of the lunch line. This would ensure that the menu is visible to all students, no matter where they are in the line.
The move of a lunch whiteboard might seem like a minor change, but it’s clear that it has had its effect. Whether the solution is a return to the original spot or adding a new board, one thing is clear, a small change in the lunch line can have a bad outcome.
As schools continue to evolve and adapt to the needs of students, it’s important to remember the design of these everyday systems like the lunch line should be quick and easy to get lunch since students still need time to enjoy their meal. After all, lunch is supposed to be a break from the stresses of the day.
