Let my people go
Perspective
Gregory Royal Pratt
Issue date: 3/8/10 Section: Opinions
Few things have galvanized students on campus quite like the $68,000 toilet in University Hall.
Within hours of the story's publication, a Facebook group called "The $68,000 toilet at UIC" sprung up. It is nearing 1,000 members.
Within days, a poster was posted all over the university arguing that the university was flushing their money down the drain.
Within the last few weeks, we have received more messages about that story than any other.
For the record, I have nothing to do with the creation of that group or the posters. To be honest, I am a little sick of the $68,000 toilet. I only bring it up reluctantly. You see, I am concerned that the university is not getting its money's worth on the $68,000 toilet in University Hall.
Since that story was published, people have approached me to complain that they haven't been allowed to use that toilet. Two friends of mine came up to me shortly after the story was published and said the LAS receptionists told them they couldn't use the toilet because it's still under construction.
Another friend went to the toilet a few weeks ago and was greeted by the receptionist as soon as he got off the elevator. The following is the exchange, as relayed to me.
"Hey, I'm here to use the bathroom," he said.
"Third floor," she responded.
"But there's a bathroom here," he pleaded.
"Third floor!" she repeated.
"Why can't I use this one?"
"It's locked right now and we don't have the key."
He was very disappointed.
University spokesman Bill Burton told me many moons ago that the bathroom was 95% complete. By coincidence, we saw each other on the fourth floor one day over winter break and he offered to show it to me. It wasn't locked then.
I remember going there in January to check it out before we published our story. I don't remember if I used it or not, but I seem to recall that the toilet and sink were working. At the least, I believe it would be strange if a 95% complete toilet didn't work.
My concern, then, is that the toilet is not being used. And if it's not being used, then we're not getting our money's worth. That needs to change, and so I say to the university: let my people go!
Within hours of the story's publication, a Facebook group called "The $68,000 toilet at UIC" sprung up. It is nearing 1,000 members.
Within days, a poster was posted all over the university arguing that the university was flushing their money down the drain.
Within the last few weeks, we have received more messages about that story than any other.
For the record, I have nothing to do with the creation of that group or the posters. To be honest, I am a little sick of the $68,000 toilet. I only bring it up reluctantly. You see, I am concerned that the university is not getting its money's worth on the $68,000 toilet in University Hall.
Since that story was published, people have approached me to complain that they haven't been allowed to use that toilet. Two friends of mine came up to me shortly after the story was published and said the LAS receptionists told them they couldn't use the toilet because it's still under construction.
Another friend went to the toilet a few weeks ago and was greeted by the receptionist as soon as he got off the elevator. The following is the exchange, as relayed to me.
"Hey, I'm here to use the bathroom," he said.
"Third floor," she responded.
"But there's a bathroom here," he pleaded.
"Third floor!" she repeated.
"Why can't I use this one?"
"It's locked right now and we don't have the key."
He was very disappointed.
University spokesman Bill Burton told me many moons ago that the bathroom was 95% complete. By coincidence, we saw each other on the fourth floor one day over winter break and he offered to show it to me. It wasn't locked then.
I remember going there in January to check it out before we published our story. I don't remember if I used it or not, but I seem to recall that the toilet and sink were working. At the least, I believe it would be strange if a 95% complete toilet didn't work.
My concern, then, is that the toilet is not being used. And if it's not being used, then we're not getting our money's worth. That needs to change, and so I say to the university: let my people go!
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