The new common hour, while implemented for the benefit of students, has affected their ability to get lunch in a timely manner, leading to frustration among the student body.

Common hour is a regularly scheduled block of time in which no classes occur. During these times, various community events are held for both students and staff to attend. This is Quinnipiac University’s first year of implementing the practice.

Quinnipiac’s common hour is scheduled for every Tuesday and Thursday, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. However, this also falls with traditional lunch times. With no classes, many students will use this time to get something to eat.

This influx has resulted in increased wait times, negatively affecting many students. 

“I actually don’t get lunch anymore,” Eliza Farinhas, second-year nursing major said. “This is a very rare occurrence that I can get lunch because I have classes back to back, and then when I come here, the lines are so long that I just go back to my dorm.”

Alison Hares, a junior 3+1 computer science major agreed with Farinhas’ sentiments. 

“I go to class and then I go eat, but now I have to wait maybe another half hour depending on where I go… that (Sushi Do) line’s the longest I’ve ever seen it in my three years here,” Hares said.

Catie McCarthy, a junior physical therapy undergraduate in the direct entry program, also commented on the increased wait times.

“They were a lot longer than normal,” McCarthy said. “I think you know, the activities are good and all, but like most people, realistically, are not going to that. That’s their time to grab lunch.”

These increased wait times have also disrupted the schedules of many students. 

“I think the common hour has affected my ability to get lunch because there’s increased wait times,” Gianna Robinson, first-year biomedical marketing major said. “I definitely do like to spend my time studying or just being able to do things throughout the day… So it has changed my schedule a little bit, and I have to work around that now.”