By Colleen Meosky
It was a Tuesday afternoon when I watched as my AP gov classmates exchange scandalized glances as they listened to the PA. It was as if Ms. Charleson-Smith was admitting to tax fraud but no–she was explaining the new bathroom procedures. Why would laboratories cause such controversy and upheaval? Anyone who has been late to class because both stalls have been taken over by vapers would likely understand. Of course, I also assume that said bathroom vapers would also have strong opinions on this.
Vaping is obviously problematic, but it also serves to show underlying issues with East’s restrooms. Before this new protocol was in place, there would only be four – yes, FOUR – stalls per bathroom available during class time (the green bathrooms on the first floors). As much as I love East’s open layout for encouraging a buzz in the air, it’s safe to say some 70s architects went overboard with this open concept. Who in their right mind would see a math classroom and think that nothing helps learning algebra like the sound of a toilet flushing? And that was before the school opted to reduce paper consumption by adding in hand dryers loud enough to wake great aunt Alice from the grave. For such reasons, a total of six lavatories have been closed while classes are ongoing. Of course, this is not a fault of the administration but rather an inherent design flaw that has disadvantaged generations of students with small bladders.
Mrs. Sardina has had a student enter her nurse’s office just to vape in the bathroom. Faculty are understandably not allowed to enter a stall while it’s in use, nor do I presume they’d like to, but this means that students have largely been able to vape without consequence.
These students unnecessarily occupy a stall, exacerbating the layout issues, especially during passing time when bathrooms are in high demand. A flock of a vaper and their six closest friends exiting the accessibility stall never fails to amaze me. There’s no shortage of space to socialize in, so why would you ever sit on the floor of a heavily frequented bathroom? To make matters worse, they don’t bother washing their hands on the way out (the new signs should help).
Most importantly, the highly addictive nicotine can hurt brain development, and e-cigarettes’ aerosols include carcinogens and chemicals damaging to lung health. I sympathize with anyone who struggles with this addiction; that being said, I find it highly selfish for vapers to expose their classmates to these same aerosols. There is a sizable population at East with health concerns that could be triggered from these chemicals. This can be especially dangerous considering that health issues may occur while these students are locked in a stall. I urge any person who vapes to reconsider for the sake of their own health and of others particularly vulnerable to these concerns. These students don’t choose to inhale these chemicals; frankly, they just want to pee and get back to class.
I agree with some who have said that the new lavatory rules feel like we’re back in middle school. That being said, apparently the student body hasn’t left this juvenile behavior behind. We joke about the signs reminding us to wash our hands, but it’s unbelievable to me that a bunch of fifteen year olds seemingly missed that lesson in kindergarten. Perhaps some students need to ditch the ragers in the big stalls in order for everyone to be treated like high schoolers.
I am thankful that the administration has taken measures to try fixing this issue. Although this issue has yet to be fully resolved, I have found lines to be shorter and haven’t recently gagged from any aerosols. Fortunately, administration also reopened the bathrooms in the tech and business wings, doubling the number of available stalls during class time.
I usually consider East as a remarkably mature community for a high school, but this glaring issue proves me wrong. With the vaping and so-called devious licks that have been popular over the last few years, I am just hoping kids learn how to use the lavatories for their intended purpose by the time I graduate in June.
