The god-like app also known as Tik Tok created a demon-like trend called the “devious lick” last year. The trend may have lasted a month in 2021, but did it leave a permanent imprint or influence on the students of North Park because, to this day, washroom doors are being locked left and right. However, for some reason, some students of North Park don’t understand how these “funny” jokes are in fact harming themselves, their friends and others.
Everyone needs bathrooms in order to maintain proper hygiene. People need to be able to access clean and functioning washrooms throughout the day. Do not even begin to mention summer to me. Pollen is in the air, and allergies are worse than ever. It’s no shock that students have to go to the bathroom 24/7 in order to freshen up and throw some water over their burning red eyes. However, with many doors sealed like the chamber of secrets due to vandalism, we have students in classes constantly coughing and sneezing, needing tissues and sanitizers–items that most classrooms aren’t equipped with. Yes, students can bring their own necessities and use them in class. However this is a school where students should have access to sanitary products and the ability to use the washroom.
The on-going vandalism has a huge impact on our custodians. Due to such vandalism in the washrooms, and doors being locked causing students to be unhygienic in classrooms, most custodians have to work even harder to clean up because, God help us, the world would end if we stopped behaving like toddlers for a few months. We commemorate them every year on Custodion’s Day, but if we keep adding needless tasks to their already full schedule, is it truly worth the thank yous and accolades? Sure, it may be their job. But students having a bit of decorum wouldn’t hurt, right?
Now, you may be wondering: if it’s such a big problem, why aren’t teachers trying to do anything other than locking the washroom doors? Well, surprise, surprise–they have been. Teachers have set up hall passes, have been leaving their classroom doors open in order to regulate hallways, and have even set up kindergarten-like sign-in sheets in order to make sure bathrooms are open and accessible to all students. However, students have still found loopholes in the system like they’re Harvey Specter or something. Not knowing that at the end of the day, it’s actually affecting them.
Washrooms are a place for students to freshen up but, over the months, they has turned into a war zone. As easy as it is to blame the school for restricting the washrooms, we must understand that it’s not the school or the teachers but we students who are the problem and the social media we consume. I understand, reporting these acts of vandalism can be difficult. However, is it really worth hiding some bit of info if custodians, the people who work day and night in order to provide us with a safe and clean school, are the ones being harmed? Or the people we love and care for don’t have access to basic necessities? We can say that we are activists all we want but does that really do anything if we aren’t picking up after ourselves, calling out unfairness when we see it? Paying attention to the social media posts we are promoting? Or educating our peers on the consequences of vandalism? I mean, if you see something, why not say something, right? Remember, change starts here.
THE NORTH STAR 