Our school is constantly changing, and it is almost always under construction. From the brand new pool, to the remodeled cafeteria, to the courtyards, to the North Star room, Niles North is always working to improve its facilities.  But the one place almost all students and teachers agree that needs remodeling is the bathrooms.  Our rather pleasant looking school has less than satisfactory restrooms, which disappoints and annoys numerous students every day.

The girls’ bathrooms found in the 1500, 2500, and 2200 hallways are absolutely repulsive.  There is a permanent odor of waste that lingers in the air, regardless of how recently the bathroom has been cleaned.  The lighting is terrible and creates a yellow aura, probably a reflection of the unpleasant colored stalls.  Many of the stalls do not close properly, seeing as they have missing or broken locks.  And at least one toilet a day is leaking, creating a nasty puddle that slowly spreads to the stall next to it.  The stalls are so close to the sink, and the bathroom itself is so cramped, that it can be difficult for students to put their hair up in a ponytail without either hitting someone else or bumping into something.

The newer restrooms, such as the one in the 1200 hallway, are not much of an improvement.  To start with, there are no doors on the entrance to the bathroom.  A restroom is a place for privacy, and it’s a little discomforting to know that any person walking by can hear everything happening inside.  Many students refuse to use these bathrooms simply because they do not like the idea of not having any barrier between the bathroom and the rest of the school.  Additionally, the stalls in the bathroom are tiny.  They are so small that pretty much anyone over 100 pounds struggles to maneuver themselves and their backpack into the claustrophobic space.  Even without a backpack people are forced to step over the toilet and rub up against the dirty bathroom walls.

Bathrooms, such as those located on the third floor or 2000 hallway, are the ‘in-between’ ones.  While many of the doors are broken, the stalls and general bathroom area are more spacious. There is actually room to breathe and move around, without disrupting everyone else who may also be in the restroom.

Within the majority of the bathrooms, hand washing is also hassle.  The temperature of the water is either boiling hot or arctic cold, with no consistency in temperature whatsoever.  How are people expected to wash their hands with soap and water long enough to sing “Happy Birthday” when after only a few seconds their hands are numb and on their way towards hypothermia or towards third degree burns?  Since there are no paper towels, students can either use a piece of toilet paper (which will basically disintegrate) or use a hand dryer, which will take forever and still leave their hands wet.  Therefore, the majority of the students chose to wipe their hands on their pants and move on with their day.

It just seems unfathomable that such a nice school would have such unappealing bathrooms. And seeing as our school has no hesitation with regards to construction, it only seems reasonable that they make their next project (and priority) remodeling the bathrooms.