Editor — Every time I have the misfortune of needing to use one of the bathrooms on campus, I really wonder about the character of students we serve here at Laney and their sense of pride — not just about the college, but about themselves. 
I always thought that men’s rooms were worse than women’s, but now I’m not so sure. Is it because women hesitate to sit on public toilets? For some reason they miss the bowl as often as the men. 
But not only must we contend with urine-covered toilets, there is paper thrown in and around the cubicles, and bowls sometimes stuffed with both used and unused paper. Last week I saw a used sanitary napkin lying next to the toilet! 
Every night there is a maintenance crew that cleans up after us. Yet by 11 a.m. it looks like Katrina has stormed through the women’s restrooms. Nothing is spared, not the floors, sinks, mirrors nor toilet bowls . 
Unfortunately for everyone, this creates breeding grounds for disease. It’s no mystery that colds, flus and bacterial infections sweep through the student body with abandon!
What is wrong with us? Where is our sense of decency? 
It would be nice if each person simply cleaned up after herself so that the next person needn’t subject themselves to gut-wrenching filth and germs. It’s really not asking for much, just common decency and self-respect.

Alison Stapp
Laney Tutor

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