Boulder High’s Bathrooms: An Investigation
The girls’ bathroom in the science wing shows off its winter TP look. Photo courtesy of Gavriel Mulligan.
Over the past semester, many Boulder High students have relentlessly complained about the condition of our school’s restrooms. While many have been renovated and are kept relatively clean, the main concerns stem from the fact that a substantial portion of our school’s stalls don’t have locks. Not only is this a privacy concern, but it is a seemingly basic necessity that has been neglected by our administration. Joe Mulligan, a Boulder High senior, commented that he has noticed the absence of locks since last year, and it’s been incredibly aggravating as the stalls with functioning locks are almost always occupied. Many students, such as Boulder High senior Bryce Myers, questioned the school’s priorities, stating, “It’s sad that the school can buy hallway cameras and microphones but not stall door locks.”
We looked into the situation and found a total of nine stalls that were missing functional locks. Some looked as though they were installed incorrectly or ripped off altogether. The majority of defective stall doors were within the boys bathrooms, which is especially debilitating as they generally contain fewer stalls that the girls’.
Many students have speculated that perhaps the absence of stall door locks is a preventative measure to decrease vaping, or that the locks may provide other security concerns.
However, when these questions were turned to Boulder High’s Assistant Principal Eddie Hartnett, he seemed genuinely surprised and told us this was the first he’d been made aware of the issue. While admittedly anticlimactic, it seems the issue causing the absence of stall door locks is that students aren’t advocating for solutions to issues they find around the school. Rest assured, Mr. Hartnett informed us that he had ordered new locks and that they should be installed and functioning shortly.
Arum Grace is a senior at Boulder High and a journalist for The OWL. For her, publications and the journalistic works they entail play a crucial role in maintaining an informed and educated society. From fluff entertainment pieces to the grueling work of conflict zone reports, journalism as a whole contributes immensely to the well being and prosperity of communities everywhere, which is why she leaped at the opportunity to participate in the essential publication that is our high school newspaper. In addition to reporting, she enjoys painting whatever is in her vicinity. When she isn't in school, working for The Owl, or making drawings, you can often find her at creek feeding the ducks and enjoying...
Oscar Gralnick is a senior at Boulder High School and a writer for the Owl. He enjoys journalism because it gives him a chance to meet new people and learn about them, and to leave a personal legacy enshrined at Boulder High. Through the Owl, Oscar wants to spread the truth and enlarge students’ knowledge of the goings on at Boulder High. He enjoys creating interesting content for people to enjoy, and wants to find exciting stories to enrich the lives of his fellow students. Oscar also wants to take a closer look at the activities of the school administration, and uncover the truth—is it injustice and power abuse, or safe policies with the good of the students in mind? One of his inspirations...
