Based on an aversion to dirty, shared restrooms, I have developed a rubric that I use to judge them. Recently, I decided to evaluate the facilities at Georgetown.
The criteria consists of six and a half categories: cleanliness, privacy, ambiance, accommodations, technology, availability, and the half-point category of little extras, like informative wall graffiti.
That said, here are the top five restrooms Georgetown has to offer.
5. Woodstock Theological Center Library. Despite its seclusion in Lauinger’s basement, Woodstock Library facilities are always clean and usually empty, remarkable given the state of Lauinger’s other restrooms. They are small but have efficient locks, toilets, sinks and paper towels. It is a quiet area, which is not good, considering its small size. Another downside is its availability: Woodstock Library is only open Monday through Friday, eight to eight.
4. New North Privates. These restrooms are fantastically private, which I assume is because they are intended for the ominous professors lurking the halls. The biggest problem with these bathrooms is the terrible inaccessibility to students who have little reason to be in New North. Moreover, the toilets are incredibly far from the doors they face, thus making it quite possible for someone to walk in on a restroom user.
3. Leavey Center Restrooms (Uncommon Grounds Location). The Leavey Center restrooms are marked by their advanced technological appeal. Most of Georgetown’s technically savvy restrooms are simply annoying (toilets that refuse to be sensor-flushed, hand dryers that do not turn off and faucets that run long enough to reduce oceans to lakes, etc.). This facility is constantly clean, sufficiently private, and has an extra sink in the women’s room for prepping one’s appearance. Leavey’s restrooms are easily accessible to students and greatly cared for by the facility’s operators.
2. Davis Performing Arts Center. These bathrooms are amazing. They are new, abundant in white noise, spacious, and offer both private and public facilities in the lower level and second level, respectively. Unfortunately they are a bit out of the way for non-Davis Center students. Also, the private women’s restroom is frequently dirty and the private men’s restroom sink never works. If these two problems were tended to, then the Davis Center would probably have the best bathroom on campus.
1. ICC Disabled/Privates. These accessible restrooms are immaculate for such a high traffic area—a breath of fresh air for the paruesis sufferer. Located on every floor near the elevators or in the rear near the back staircase, these restrooms are designated for the physically disabled (which I implore everyone to remember). The bathrooms have sturdy locks, are well supplied, usually unoccupied, and refreshing in their lack of technologically sound offerings. One tip: the fifth and sixth floors are the least used—worth hiking up a few more staircases.
additional reporting by Elise Lemle
