By Lesley Dawson Staff Writer dawson14@up.edu
As a consistent on-campus bathroom-goer, I sometimes find myself in need of some inspiration. For me and other students with the same needs, many dorm bathrooms on campus feature themed stalls catered to the interests of their users.
To spice up the "bathroom experience," Shipstad's female wings feature bathroom stalls affectionately named the "Hottie Potty," the "Thoughty Potty" and, my personal favorite, the "Inspirational Potty."
Located in the 2A wing of Shipstad, the "Thoughty Potty" poses a new question to its users each week, like "What are you most excited about this upcoming school year?" Residents and non-residents can answer that question or write whatever they want on the large piece of construction paper covering the side of the stall.
The walls of the "Hottie Potty" are covered with pictures and magazine cutouts of such "hotties" as Justin Bieber, Leonardo DiCaprio, Taylor Lautner and Ryan Gosling.
The best stall in the bathroom, and in my opinion all of campus, is the "Inspirational Potty." The stall is plastered with hundreds of inspirational quotes from figures including Helen Keller, Tina Turner, George Bernard Shaw and Buddhist leader Thich Nhat Hanh.
The female bathrooms on campus are for the most part extremely welcoming in both academic and residential buildings. In both female and male dorms, they are very relaxing and clean. I would like to give a particular shout out to the women's bathroom in Christie Hall. You guys really know how to take care of your women.
Although I have thoroughly enjoyed the tour of campus bathrooms, one stands above the rest. That's right y'all, the Donald P. Shiley Engineering Building has the greatest bathrooms in all of campus.
With its soothing neutral wall tones and earthy rock motifs, going to the bathroom in Shiley is an inspirational and enlightening experience. From the majestic basin sinks to the space-age Dyson AirBlade handdryers, I would expect no less from an engineering school that focuses on the needs of their patrons.
I think all bathrooms on campus should take a page out of Shiley's book, creating a true experience for the ladies and gentlemen of the University of Portland.
However, some bathrooms simply do not make the cut. Though The Commons bathrooms are comparable to those in Shiley, the facilities featured in the Pilot House are similar to those of a Greyhound station. The feel of the Pilot House is just so saddening that I can hardly go in them, except in the case of an emergency.
Other than the Pilot House, bathrooms around campus are clean and inviting. The bathrooms in Shiley are simply a dream. All bathrooms on campus should hold themselves to the same standard of excellence.
