86% of students polled by The Express said bathrooms at SJHHS are dirty or only moderately clean. Only 14% said they were clean.

The survey also showed that 63% believed students were to blame for the foul conditions in the bathrooms and only 2% said it was the fault of custodial staff.

According to respondents the bathroom conditions vary depending on the building, but nonetheless, every student bathroom has flaws. 37% of students said bathroom conditions were the worst in the H building. Another 16% each said C and E buildings were the dirtiest.

The poll was conducted on Dec. 10 through English classes. An equal number of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors were polled as well as an equal number of males and females. All had an opportunity to write-in observations as well as choose selections from multiple choice responses.

59% thought other students used e-cigarettes, or “vaped,” in the stalls. Other observations reported by students: sharpie markings, blood (as well as urine and feces) on the floor, birth control, and piles of toilet paper thrown all over the ground in a sopping mess.

Despite daily efforts by custodians to clean the bathrooms they are usually trashed by the middle of the day. Who is at fault and what may be done to fix the problem?

“When the district designed the school they put in hand dryers, not paper towel dispensers,” said head custodian Enrico Galang. “Sometimes the students urinate on the commode (toilet) and others who need to sit down use the toilet paper to clean up first. Then they throw it on the floor.”

Sometimes this mess clogs floor drains or causes the sinks to overflow.

94% of students say they wash their hands after using the bathroom. Some students complained the hand dryers in the bathrooms do not sufficiently dry their hands, 59% said the hand dryers were not effective and 18% said they didn’t use them. Many times individuals then become rushed or frustrated and choose to walk out before their hands are dried, which accounts for the wet floors.