This Wednesday, the University’s Construction & Renovation Services Department announced sweeping Grounds-wide bathroom renovations.
UVA’s public and dorm restrooms are notoriously out of date, so the announcement was initially met with celebration, followed by abject horror when the department’s Associate Director, Pepper Thomas, elaborated on the specific renovations in mind.
“At UVA, we really value the community we’ve fostered between students,” they reported, “However, we’ve noticed that some of our facilities have hindered the growth of that community.”
Thomas elaborated, explaining that although many bathroom stall doors are currently fitted with a half-inch gap or more, this is not nearly enough.
“We want students to feel comfortable connecting with their peers. When the most you can catch is a passing glance, one might start to feel isolated and alone, which is something we never want for any of our students.”
The University hopes that by increasing the gap to 1-1.5 inches, students will feel more included in the University’s community, even while using the restroom.
“We want students to know they are seen,” Thomas said, “This is a long overdue update.”
The renovations will begin this February, and are estimated to conclude in the fall of 2037.
