So you’ve picked up your $6.85 burrito/drink combo from Dos Manos after realizing that the Deli no longer exists. You walk your crushed spirit over to the checkout line only to discover that you’re standing way back by the salad bar.

Yes, different meal options aren’t the only new additions to the Valaida S. Walker Food Court – there are also these fancy, tedious touch screen registers. Sure, they might be better looking than the worn registers of semesters past, but these sleek machines from Micros require a lot more button pushing than the old ones and are greatly slowing down the checkout process.

Mindy Segal, Director of Operations for Sodexho at the SAC food court said that across Main Campus and Ambler, 38 of these Micros registers have been installed. “We’re still having blips,” Segal said. “But once everything irons out, it’ll be a quicker process.”

Segal said that the old registers could only be programmed with 50 items. With the new registers, there is no limit to the items that it can hold. This is why the checkout employees are asking everyone for the exact name or description of what they’re ordering.

Another new feature that students will enjoy is that these registers now accept credit and debit cards.

While I was waiting in line to pay for my roast beef wrap, the girl in front of me was having a difficult time paying for her sushi.

Female student: The sushi is $4.95.

Employee: (in a rather stressed tone) No, honey, I need to know the name of the sushi! What is the name of the roll??

Female student: It’s a Stardust Combo! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!

It’s nice to see the SAC upgrading, but lines that stretch all the way back to the sub par pizza can only be seen as a downgrade. But for all you impatient meal planners, just cool your heels until the employees are fully trained on the machines.

What do you think of the new registers and the longer checkout lines? Have you had any problems?