Courtesy Flushes and Toilet Humor

I, like most people, do not particularly like using public restrooms. They are dirty, uncomfortable and anxiety-provoking. You run into disgusting people with irksome habits, say not washing their hands after using the restroom; didn't their mothers teach them anything? Using a public restroom, unfortunately, is a necessary evil that is part of our everyday lives. We all have horror stories that we could share, but each one touches on the common themes of this blog post.

We have common problems that we all face when we make use of public bathrooms. We may have to deal with disgust, anxiety or fear, along with other negative emotions. This is especially true when we have to tolerate the quirks of the person in the stall next to us. Public restrooms also frustrate us when they are not in working order. Sinks may not be working or toilets may not flush. Sometimes you may question why they even have a restroom!

There is no beating around the bush: public bathrooms are disgusting! The floors and surfaces are often the dirtiest, making the experience miserable. There are often paper towels strewn about, making you wonder which employee is goofing off on his smart phone. Then there is the embarrassment of being the source of the grossness, as when you inadvertently block up the toilet. You don't want to tell anyone for fear of looking like a complete idiot, even though you feel like one!

Empty paper towel dispensers really anger me, especially when there is no hand-dryer. Once again, you have Jack or Jane in the stall next to you contributing sweet smells and cool sounds to the atmosphere around you! Equally disgusting or off-putting may be that person's loud personal conversations on their cell phones, usually laced with profanity and discussing their numerous legal problems. When such a person acts this way, you often prefer to deny that the conversation is even happening, treating it instead as useless noise.

Bar restrooms can be even more disgusting as you have people getting sick and vomiting on the floors. Then you may also see condom dispensers, making you wonder if the things actually vibrate, or even hold! Bar restrooms definitely bring out the worst in people. I once had the disgusting drunken habit of taking my drink into the bathroom with me and finishing it while I was taking a piss. Thankfully, I have outgrown that habit!

There is sometimes a feeling of anxiety or fear as you head into a restroom in a particularly dirty public place, not knowing what you will find! There is also fear of germs or contamination, especially during flu season! Restrooms at public rest stops are even worse than those in bars and convenience stores. They are always disgusting and unsanitary! Plus, they are frequented by rough characters, including unsavory truckers, making you want to get out of there as soon as possible!

Using a public restroom is often awkward for a man. If you run into a guy that you know - for obvious reasons - you don't want seem too talkative or friendly. In addition, you have the awkwardness at the urinals; you don't want to talk and make eye-contact with the guy next to you, for fear that he is the Penis Police, come with ruler in hand! When you're excited after seeing an attractive woman, it can be hard to pee. This also makes a guy look like a fool at the urinal! In short, using the men’s room plays on a man’s insecurities.

Women don't always relish the ladies' room either; I'm sure the last thing many women want is to walk into a crowded ladies' room dominated by useless drama. Ladies may get tired of running into gossip, crying, and snide comments. And, unfortunately, ladies' rooms are often crowded, because women tend to visit them in groups. Restrooms are awkward for women, as well as men.

Restrooms can even be scary or dangerous, especially in bars and rest stops. You may come across offensive graffiti, including X-rated comments, prostitute's cell numbers (think 867-5309!), gang symbols and swastikas drawn by losers who are ready for the Fourth Reich. In bar restrooms, for example, you may witness fistfights, stabbings and threatening language. Think of all the violent movie scenes that are set in public restrooms!

Using a public restroom can also be a source of entertainment, however. For example, I often enjoy using restrooms at area coffee shops. There are some pretty cool decorations in bathrooms at Cosmic Cup, Terra Café and Lit. While high on caffeine in a local coffee shop, I sometimes find myself deep thought - that is how I thought of this blog topic. At some bar/nightclub restrooms, you get to experience the drama of having lovers in the stall next to you! At 70s rock concerts, many kids were conceived in this way! The only thing that I don’t like about coffee shop bathrooms is when people like to tie up the only bathroom or to break off the hinges while you're taking a shit.

Luckily, there is often the option of holding it until you get home. When I don’t have to take the bus, I often choose this option! Then I don't have to become outraged when I see other people who don't know how to behave in public, or even what it means to be human. You often get confused or dumbfounded when you try to figure out why a person is acting the way they do. Your best bet is to use your home bathroom or to ignore what is going on around and head to the nearest public restroom.

Lafayette Leopards at Leisure

In my lifetime, Lafayette College, despite occupying an important spot in Easton, Pennsylvania, had never fallen into the scope of my experience - that is, until November 2014. Before that pivotal time, my only exposure to Lafayette consisted of hearing about its famed, contentious sports rivalry with Lehigh University. In 2014, at age 31, I re-connected via Facebook with my friend Marybeth Large, with whom I graduated from Notre Dame High School in 2002. I visited her at Cosmic Cup, a coffee shop near Lafayette where she worked as a barista, putting me into contact with Lafayette students.

I was impressed with the kids right off the bat. Liking public buildings, I also became very curious about the physical campus and its library, where I have since spent many an afternoon reading old magazines in the basement. American history is a consuming interest of mine and I enjoy the old Time magazines at Skillman Library. As such, Lafayette College remains on the periphery of my life experience, but still influences me in positive ways.

Lafayette College has a beautiful campus, situated on scenic, quaint College Hill, in Easton. Lafayette's buildings are aesthetically pleasing, as are the gorgeous green landscaping, old statues and walking trails; the campus is very old, dating to 1826. I also love the appearance of Lafayette's fraternity/sorority buildings, with many of the Greek houses looking like the infamous frat house from Animal House, enhancing the mystique of Lafayette's realm of existence. I use the campus's steps to move from College Hill to Downtown Easton, dubbing them the Steps into Mordor due to how steep they are!

The College Hill neighborhood is tied in with Lafayette College and definitely feeds on the school's presence. Many Lafayette professors and other professionals live in the large, historic houses of College Hill. Around the periphery of Lafayette, College Hill has a vibrant social community made up of artists, bohemians and fun, social individuals who work in the service industry. I have a number of fun, close friends who live in College Hill and enjoy the stimulating atmosphere fostered by the college. 

Lafayette students originally hail from numerous states and foreign countries. The student body impresses me with its intelligence, politeness and enthusiasm. They are young people who are very happy to be starting their lives and pursuing rewarding careers. Many students take a keen interest in the College Hill community, showing attention to the dog of an older couple at the coffee shop, or making a fuss over my friend's newborn son. I greatly appreciate the students who have been friendly and courteous to me and my "townie" friends at the Cosmic Cup.

Economically and otherwise, Lafayette College is becoming a larger part of Easton. Recently, Lafayette has been making a push toward Downtown Easton to integrate the college with the city. Lafayette students patronize local establishments in Downtown Easton, especially along Northampton Street. They visit bars and restaurants that are clustered throughout the city. These kids also attend Easton's street festivals, such as Bacon Fest. Who doesn't love bacon?! Students and professors find reasons to visit Center City Easton, representing the college.

In all honesty, I do feel at least a little torn by the Lafayette-Lehigh sports rivalry. I frequent the Cosmic Cup, a coffee shop very close to Lafayette's campus, but I also used to live near Lehigh University, so I do feel a little bit connected to both schools. Lafayette, however, is more integrated with College Hill of Easton than Lehigh University is with South Bethlehem. Lafayette College has a different vibe to it, students more social and broadminded.

 

In my opinion, Lafayette College stacks up well against nearby schools, having its own unique character. Lafayette College is somewhat larger than Moravian College of Bethlehem, but has much the same feel to it. It is a small private, liberal arts college that attracts a middle-to-upper class student body mostly from the Northeast. Its small size has created a campus culture in which one student knows nearly every other student. Since, Lafayette is not a university, like Lehigh, it does not have graduate students and its undergraduates are between the ages of 17 and 23.

I have the great hope that the majority of Lafayette's students will become ethical, productive citizens. I know that many of its seniors get accepted into graduate schools and that the college has produced a number of wealthy alumni. The combination of social awareness, hard work, intelligence, and academic rigor is one that cannot fail in its goals for an educated, well-rounded, ethical society.