However, the articles in this issue have missed a very good point, and the oversight is something that no one else seemed willing to correct. While it may not be good for my reputation, I’m going to tell you some of the most important information that you as a student need to know: where to go when you have to “go.”
If you’ve ever been to a large, heavily populated place, you know that there is a definite difference in how well maintained the bathrooms are and how good the construction is. No one wants to do their business in stalls unfit for human occupation. On the other side of the argument, though, everyone wants to feel like a king—why else would healthy young men and women take the handicapped stall if not to feel as pampered as the gods are? Thus, I feel as though the campus needs a quick guide to choosing a great bathroom.
There are the obvious choices for the good bathrooms on campus: the business building and the student center. These are well constructed and aesthetically pleasing places to be though their major downfall is, in fact, their popularity. Certainly, stall size and construction are important, but having to practice proper stall etiquette (such as choosing the correct urinal or not pressuring others to complete their tasks before their time) creates more mental work when you are trying to feel the relief of a job well done. These bathrooms will suffice, so long as you are willing to navigate the logistics in finding a place to transact business.
The LRC bathrooms are also quite nice, and for the men the bees that are glazed into the urinals are a nice touch, removing aiming from that aforementioned process. As a nice bonus, they’re less crowded as fewer students have non-bathroom related business in there, meaning that one can take their time there and not feel the panic of someone waiting on the stalls. These bathrooms, while certainly wonderful places to be, only fall short in that they’re right in the middle of everything, so you still get incidental students wandering into them, ruining the experience.
As recently as last semester, there was one set of bathrooms that should have been avoided: the first floor library bathrooms. While they didn’t suffer from neglect or disrepair, the design itself lead to the main issue: fitting into the stalls was downright painful. They were small and cramped, leading to bad posture and numbness issues for even the shortest of stays. This is not to suggest any slight against the library staff, of course; the plumbing and age of the building dictated their location at the time. However, this semester made them usable once again, as cramping and numbness has been alleviated by a complete remodel.
However, the ultimate bathroom on campus is a single-occupancy room, hidden well amongst the classrooms and offices. The cleanliness of the room is something to behold; a guy desperate for a quiet place to do homework wouldn’t think twice of popping a squat on the floor and doing it there. They’re not well trafficked, and unless you’ve had business there you wouldn’t even know of their quality. Where are these bathrooms that are designed by the patron saint of bathroom comfort, you ask? Well, sorry to say, I’m not telling. That’s the bathroom I use, and you all are certainly not spoiling my experience. Find your own favorite.
Welcome home, fellow students! Enjoy your “business” as much as you’re able!Vote for your favorite bathroom in our poll, or comment below!
