In the midst of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, I have found myself consumed with an ironic, yet disturbing problem. I’m convinced the Bartley Exchange ladies think I’m completely crazy, as everyday I dart around from the bagel case to the hot food section to the hot chocolate dispensers, trying to decide just what to use my meal plan points on. There are simply too many choices. If given the chance, I would stand in contemplation for hours at a time.

Whether it be Bartley, the Italian Kitchen, Holy Grounds, or other various a la carte dining locations at Villanova, finding nourishment during peak mealtime hours can best be compared to watching a pack of vultures encircle a rotting carcass.

Although many of us look like we could last through the winter months without food, hunger is nearly impossible to ignore. Nova students, faculty, administrators and staff are constantly rushing around between lectures and meetings, masses and study sessions. If actually sitting down and eating a meal becomes impossible, the option of portable food-bagged sandwiches, scoops of trail mix, coffee to go, etc., is an ideal option.

The only thing standing in between the busy man and his stomach is the inevitable line to the cash register we all seem to get caught in. For me, the worst is the Tuesday, Thursday dash to grab a cup of coffee before my 8:30 class. Never having quite enough motivation to drag myself out of bed five minutes earlier to beat the rush, my face flushes and my hands sweat as I inch closer and closer to pay for my purchase, breathing down the neck of the poor guy in front of me.

By the time I get to the register, I am so concerned that I’m running late that I often pay no attention to the employee who is taking care of me. But I am far from the only one committing this offense. I have noticed persons from the ages of 17-75 treating workers with extreme rudeness. And what have they done? Have they made us late? Have they caused the lines? Have they treated us wrongly? I venture to say that 99 out of 100 times the answer is no.

The responsibility falls on the catalysts of the situations, who should naturally be the rectifiers. The simple fact is that if we have enough time to buy a cappuccino, we have enough time to utter a thank you. Nearly the end of the semester, I’ve got a lot of “coffee talk” to catch up on. I hope there might be others who will do the same.