First day of semester a busy one at
Tivoli Student Union

By Rob Larimer
The Metropolitan

Frustrated students standing in long, crowded lines can mean only one thing this time of year ÷ a new semester has arrived.

The scene at the Tivoli  reflected this Aug. 25 as students lined the halls, waiting up to an hour for student IDs, books, food or a crack at a cash machine.

ãIt is ridiculous, but I expected it,ä said Julie Uthe, a Metro freshman who was waiting for an ID card.

Keith Green, a student who was also waiting for a card, said it took him an hour just to get to the front door of the ID office. Green then waited another 30 minutes to get his student ID.

Some students waiting in line at the Ticketmaster window for an ID renewal sticker said they only waited for about five minutes.

Lori Bennett, a Metro student for three years, said waits in lines around campus havenât changed much over the years, but she was able to avoid a prolonged wait in the Auraria Book Center.

ãLuckily, I havenât had to wait very long in any lines this semester,ä she said. ãAt the bookstore, youâre just in and out.ä

This might be because the bookstoreâs credit card system is one of the fastest in the country, helping reduce waiting time, said Melanie Hadley, assistant director of the Auraria Book Center.

Hadley said that lines have been ãpretty terrificä because the cashiers are quick to get people through the lines. The storeâs busiest hours are between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and the average waiting time in line during those hours is about 25 minutes, she said.

ãThings are running really, really smoothly,ä Hadley said, adding the bookstore put in new visual aids to help guide students through the store, such as bright, fluorescent orange footsteps taped to the floor.