Ram's Den is a popular spot at midday

The chaotic rush of students and faculty converging at the University of Rhode Island's Ram's Den around noon was a lightning storm of stressed and starving patrons looking for lunchtime relief in a Rhody Burger.

Four lines at the checkout counters stretched six to seven people deep, with trays full of burgers, salads, sandwiches and hot meals like macaroni and cheese or roast beef.

Student-workers manned the grills, prepared the sandwiches and worked the registers during this hectic period. Waiting up to 20 minutes for their food, patrons cluttered the floor in front of the serving counters.

Wednesday, a bustling day on the Kingston campus, reached its peak at the Ram's Den during lunch hour. This public cafeteria in the Memorial Union is a place for mid-day congregation for students and faculty.

It is a diverse dining hall, utilized by students, faculty and visitors. That diversity was evident Wednesday as faculty relaxed and ate lunch after completing a tight and strenuous morning schedule, while students crammed for late-afternoon exams.

The Ram's Den serves as a central meeting place for student and faculty meetings. Meghan O'Shea and her colleagues in the elementary education program grabbed a table Wednesday to prepare for a test later that day.

Because most off-campus students do not have meal plans that would allow them to eat at other dining halls, the Ram's Den is a popular lunchtime destination for these students. The Ram's Den accepts cash and it's a great place to kill time between classes or grab lunch.

Students at the Ram's Den can use points or the Ram Account any time, but are only allowed to use meal plans after 4 p.m. on weekdays, and all day on Saturdays and Sundays.

-- Nat Binns