Observation #

Watching the interactions between the students in the union and the employees of alpine at two in the afternoon was similar to the other observations. Instead of people coming in large numbers at one time, people were coming in a few at a time but steadily over the course of the hour. Although people had books and computers out they did not seem to be doing much work. Several computers had facebook open. Many of the chairs were turned to face the television was on and playing the NCAA tournament. The union, to my surprise, was much emptier during this time of day then any of the others, yet there were more people passing through. No one was paying any attention to the Alpine employees and the general noise in the room was loud enough to drown them out. I could not hear them, and I was sitting close. The people in alpine worked diligently and since there was constantly someone to serve they did not have time to laugh or joke around. The line moved fast enough that no one left without getting food or looking agitated. Most of the people in the room were socializing with friends and were oblivious to what the alpine workers were doing or saying.