The Best Bathrooms At Lawrenceville

This article is not a Features article, and not satire either, so it should be taken very seriously. 

          Coming in as a new Lawrentian, I had many questions–what would life in Raymond be like? How would I adjust to the academics?  By far, the most pressing issue on my soon-to-be II form mind was that of bathroom selection. Ever since elementary school, I have always lived by one rule: Never, ever, under any circumstances, use the bathroom at school. Indeed, my youth was centered around it: I prided myself on the fact that I never caved, no matter how much food I had eaten the day prior. 

          Freshman fall, after I packed my bags and readied myself for my newest chapter, I was constantly reminded of impending threats to my bathroom comfort. You see, what got me through the ordeals of middle school was the knowledge that once 3:00 came and the bell sounded, I would be on my way home, with a lavender-scented, squeaky-clean lavatory patiently awaiting my arrival. At Lawrenceville, I was no longer granted solitude, and would be snapped out of the flow-state by rambunctious passerby. As soon as my feet touched campus, I began my years-long mission to find the most comfortable, serene, and immersive locations to go to the loo. Here is the official list, compiled–with sweat, toil, and tears–of the best bathrooms on campus:

I am a big advocate for locked bathrooms, because secluded spaces are good for focus and concentration. In the Bunn Library, the two bathrooms upstairs are always clean, smell very nice, and have some tasteful flower decor to make you feel right at home. These bathrooms would be higher on the list without one major drawback: As we all know, the library is the busiest place on campus, and for someone who is in a jam, the likelihood of these bathrooms being available is very slim. Although these bathrooms are nice, they are very rarely available and if occupied for over 10 minutes, will certainly warrant a couple angry knocks. 

Although not as nice or as private as Bunn, the KMSC bathroom clocks in at a solid fourth place. What distinguishes it from Bunn’s is the absolutely stunning mirror: After all that hard work, there is nothing better than admiring your accomplishments in that amazingly well-lit glass. It’s also one of the only bathrooms containing hand dryers, for when you don’t feel like using towels. The biggest drawback of this location is still the commotion: The KMSC is a very busy building, with people shuffling in and out of the bathroom frequently. Despite this, its upper-level bathroom is a solid location.

With GCAD, we approach even better bathroom territory. For starters, a locked bathroom ensures maximum efficiency; it’s very clean, and has a good mirror and lighting (although not as noteworthy as the KMSC’s). What makes this bathroom truly great is its availability. GCAD is inherently a laid-back, calm environment, and there isn't much commotion even during peak bathroom-using hours. When you're planning on making shockwaves, GCAD facilitates an ideal environment for you to do so. The only problem with this option is the distance: unless you're taking art, GCAD is inconveniently outside of your daily traveling route.

The upstairs bathrooms of Pop are amazing choices. Despite the many students roaming Pop, the upstairs bathrooms remain clean, lockable, mostly smooth-smelling, and (most importantly) unoccupied. As they are right outside the Rotunda, it is easy to miss them, so these bathrooms don't garner much attraction. These bathrooms contain all the markers of a high quality space: great lighting, mirrors, the subtle scent of lavender (which reminds me of home!), and a great view (if you choose to lift up the blinds, which I advise you to attempt with caution). What truly makes the Pop upstairs bathrooms so good is their art; there is nothing better than analyzing some Claude Monet while hard at work. These distinctive decorations do a lot for creating an environment where one can feel at ease, and it is for this reason that this bathroom is the second best on campus.

Initially, I thought that Tsai’s lack of main-floor bathrooms was a major design flaw. I now consider it the building’s very best attribute. Because of the arduous trek to reach it, the downstairs bathroom at Tsai is almost never occupied. I have walked there on countless Saturday lunches with a pleasant-smelling, large, and unoccupied haven awaiting me. Its obsolescence is puzzling, but I’m not complaining. While it has neither the fancy artwork of Pop or the single-stall format of Bunn, its vibe more than makes up for these weaknesses. The faint murmurs from above offer opportunity for peaceful contemplation. This bathroom truly encourages its users to prepare mentally for travails to come. The lack of cell service is another merit: While initially annoying, I grew to enjoy my daily digital detox, further immersing myself in the experience. In my opinion, the downstairs Tsai bathrooms are the most relaxing, quiet, clean, and available bathrooms on campus. Check them out for yourself!