ON THE ONGOING RENOVATION OF THE FACULTY OF ARTS FEMALES’ RESTROOM AND STUDENTS NEED TO ACCESS IT

Foyin Ejilola

The female students of the Faculty of Arts resumed on Monday, October 24, to a restroom that was without roofing and generally not fit for use, which indicated that it was undergoing renovation and could not be used at that time. As the week progressed, the restroom area was demarcated from the rest of the faculty with planks to put a constraint on students’ movements towards or around the toilet area.

The renovation is a much-needed one. From the beginning of the 2021/2022 academic session which began in February, up until February 14, when ASUU embarked on the 8-month strike, the toilet was in terrible condition – there were puddles on the floor, water was not running neither was it available in any form, the door to each toilet had almost fallen apart completely, each water closet was messy and browning as a result of it being used repeatedly without being cleaned, and there was an acrid smell that enveloped the toilet area – and could not be used by female students.

However, it appears as though the renovation is at the expense of students’ convenience. One of the questions on the lips of many which was voiced out by a student (name withheld) is “why was the toilet not renovated while ASUU was on strike?” This question is borne out of the difficulty and disturbances that come with receiving lectures in Room 32 (which is beside the restroom) and other lecture rooms around that area whenever the workers are on site and have to produce unpleasant noises like banging and hammering.

A number of 100-level students claimed that they do not feel the effect of not having access to the faculty toilet for a long time since resumption as they are not used to frequenting it as a result of the shabby condition it was in when they resumed earlier this year. This is not the same for returning students as a number of them have a similar story of rushing down to the toilet area to relieve themselves only to be met by a barricade to their dismay.

The third weeks into resumption, the female students of the Faculty of Arts are still subjected to enduring this discomfort. While complaining that the renovation is taking too long to complete, some of these students spoke about the alternatives that they have found to cope with the situation. For those residing on campus such as in the Halls of Residence, they have to rush down to their hostels to ease themselves when the urge becomes unbearable. Some students also go to other faculties to use the restrooms. For students living off campus, it is a struggle as rushing home is a decision that might have consequences if taken impulsively. A student (name withheld) who lives off-campus spoke with AFAS Press about her experience.

“I was to have classes from 7 am to 7 pm, so I had been in the faculty from 7 am. After a short while, I felt the urge to ease myself but I could not since no one is allowed to use the restroom. I tried to endure it, because I had classes scheduled for virtually every hour until 7 pm, except for one or two breaks in between. When I could no longer bear it, I made a dash for my house, spent money on transportation and still had to return to the faculty as early as possible for the next class.”

Another student, Temitope, (name changed) also expresses that there should be a notice or statement from the faculty addressing the students on the reconstruction and repair of the restroom and an estimated time in which it will be completed and available to be used.