web extra: The Shit List
OU’s not so perfect Water Closets
With the good comes the bad. And with the bad comes the ugly. Here’s a look at some of OU’s restrooms that didn’t quite make the cut.
Research and Technology Building – 3rd Floor
What’s with the heat?
An unusually hot, cramped experience awaits bathroom visitors in the R-Tech building, located across from Bentley Hall at the top of Richland Bridge. Poor lighting and virtually no privacy gives this facility a creepy, voyeuristic feel. With no foyer separation and only one stall featuring an actual door (sans door lock), the R-Tech restroom is one worth holding for.
Central Classroom Building – 2nd floor
Antz!
An older edifice overlooking West Green, the CCB’s lavatory is surprisingly private. Although it’s unclear which gender this particular restroom is for, one thing is certain: you won’t be alone. In the midst of lockers and household cleaners sits a small civilization of ants. Scurrying about the well-lit floors, some even venture up to the large, old-fashioned sink. These little creatures are yet another intriguing but unnecessary feature of this eerie W.C.
Bryan Hall – Basement Level
Seriously?
A delightful entity for our exhibitionist friends, the first thing one notices upon entering Bryan Hall’s men’s room on the bottom floor, is the lack of…well, everything. Picture two toilets, side-by-side…Voila! A lack of door locks got you worked up? Try no doors. Like lights? Try a medieval dungeon. Bryan’s bathroom truly hits rock-bottom on the list of where-not-to-stop.
Let’s see what the facility managers have to say..
Angela Cain – 7 years at OU facilities management
Jacqueline Sinclair – 9 years at OU facilities management, custodians at Putnam and Cutler Halls
BD: Talk a little bit about the sense of family that goes into being an OU custodian.
JS: Definitely a family sense about being here. Everyone is so open with us and they always let us know what needs more attention or where something needs cleaned. When you leave at the end of the night, there is definitely a sense of accomplishment.
AC: We mop and wipe everything down every night so that everyone feels comfortable about going to the bathroom here.
JS: And don’t forget the [drinking] fountains! Those are highly important in dance. Sometimes I’ll notice there are actually lines forming by the fountains and I see it as very important to keep those clean for the dancers.
BD: Do you guys notice any differences when cleaning unfamiliar bathrooms?
JS: Definitely, all the custodians do. Some bathrooms are older, but everyone works hard to keep them up to par.
AC: Yeah, the college green houses have been here forever. Although they aren’t as new and pretty as the new Baker Center, they should definitely be kept just as clean and tidy.
BD: Do you guys ever get a chance to go and watch any of the dance performances?
AC: It’s so neat! The kids, they save us tickets and it’s really an honor. Sometimes they even ask us, “Hey! Are you coming to the show?”
JS: The kids are amazing. Some of the stuff they do, it blows me away. I always try to go when I can. It kind of gives us an idea of what they are up to behind all those closed doors.
AC: But with those bigger shows comes more cleaning.
JS: Yeah, we are definitely at our busiest then. Putnam’s first floor bathroom can get pretty messy. So we go in and clean them before the show. And then just tidy it up and restock for the next day after the show. It can get pretty intense.
Tammy Bump – 13 years at OU facilities management, custodian at Kantner Hall
BD: What is it like during performance week [at Kantner]? Is it tough to stay on top of things when there are productions several nights in a row?
TB: Well, before and after the shows, it must be clean. We do what we can and always come back to the bathrooms last so they are clean for the next day.
BD: A lot of students know you by first name. Do you feel a sense of family while working here in the theatre building?
TB: I look at them as family, definitely. Just as I wouldn’t want my family using a dirty facility, I don’t want the students to either.
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