Doors serve as a gateway, a threshold that can determine whether one braves the elements outside or finds refuge within the air conditioning of a building. A mere twist, pull or firm push of a handle unveils the world that lies beyond the door. Yes, the doors of ULM buildings are frequently locked, leaving students in a frantic search for entry, while the bathroom doors fail to fulfil their fairly simple purpose.
Building Doors
I recognize that my struggle with building doors is not a unique experience, but that does little to alleviate the frustration that wells within me. Buildings, like Stubbs, have several access points for students; however, the majority remain locked, meaning only a select few are consistent in granting students passage into the building.
Most students approach Stubbs from the other side of Mitchell Street or Strauss, so they must first confront the trio set of doors along the side of the building. Given their proximity to where many students emerge, one may be naive enough to assume these doors would be open. Alas, this is rarely the case.
Locked doors are of course meant to keep unwanted company, but if the people being kept out are students, then we might need to rethink some things.
The doors to the left are frequently closed. I often found myself tugging at the handle for what felt like an eternity, wishing that I possessed some magical power to summon them open. Regrettably, as I am not a magical being, my attempts were in vain.
Naturally, I would continue my journey down the row, hoping that perhaps one of the others might grant me entry that day. Typically, they did not, and I found myself having traversed the entire length of the building before I could finally step inside Stubbs.
On occasion, the central set of doors would be unlocked, though in truth, someone propped them open. For a while, I could approach them with the assurance that I need not fret over the other entrances. Yet, I still felt an anxious flutter in my stomach, hoping to see that nothing had changed as I neared the doors.
Eventually, as nothing good lasts forever, the doors stopped being consistently propped, so now I do not even bother withthem. My preferred entryway has now become the series of doors situated in front of the ULM Business Incubator. The only downside of this is its distance compared to the other doorways. While this is usually fine, it presents an issue during inclement weather.
Recently, the sky opened with heavy rainfall, and in a predictable turn of events, I forgot my umbrella. Thus, while traversing from the Hub to Stubbs in relentless downpour remains an undesirable endeavor, having access to the nearer set of doors would have spared me countless raindrops on my attire.
What piques my curiosity is the presence of doors adorned with a sign proclaiming, “This door remains locked,” because none of the other typically secured ones bear such warnings.
While Walker does not have as many doors that are consistently locked, there are instances when a door that is usually welcoming randomly denies entry.
The struggle to navigate the doors in search of the nearest unlocked one can mean the difference between being late or on time for class. The persistent locking of these doors is merely an inconvenience that serves no obvious purpose.
Bathroom Doors
Venturing into ULM restrooms is already a dismal affair. The odors that greet me upon entry compel me to turn around and forget I ever had to use the bathroom. Yet, an uncommonly discussed issue looms larger: the stall door dilemma.
As many may know, the United States has a reputation for having bathroom stalls with the widest gaps at the base known to humankind. When compared to those of other countries, it is almost comical how large the gaps are.
While stall gaps serve a practical purpose by facilitating easier access for cleaning and ensuring visibility in case of an emergency, the women’s restroom on the first floor of Stubbs elevates this issue to an entirely new level.
The stalls possess gaps nearly reaching the midpoint of my knees, and at 5’3”, this is a ridiculous height. Utilizing the restrooms here instills a sense of caution regarding how low I lower my garments, because of how easy it is for someone to tilt their head a bit and see everything from under the stall. Similar to most, I do not take pleasure in that visual.
Now, let us venture to Strauss, where the stall situation is equally unfortunate in looks and function. Although the gaps at the bottom of the stalls are less significant than those in Stubbs, the gaps and locks on the side of the stall tell a different tale.
As I cross the threshold from the tolerable world of the hallway into the dingy confines of the second-floor Strauss bathrooms, dread kicks in immediately.
When you look around, it becomes painfully evident, without even stepping into any stalls, that your experience will be less than pleasant. From the outside looking in, it is easy to spot those inside the stalls as the gap renders them visible. I have always made an attempt to expedite the process in my past encounters with this restroom. From the inside looking out, I can see everyone else standing near the sinks.
Once, a child, likely a professor’s, was in the bathroom at the same time as me; due to the gap, he was able to gaze directly at me. Being a child, I understand that he was unaware that he should not do that, but it was still very uncomfortable for me.
Beyond the gap, some locks are unreliable. There have been several instances when the stall swung open while in the middle of my business, as the lock chose that moment to slide out of place.
We can mostly agree that a million things need to be updated before ULM begins renovating the restrooms or making sure every door stays unlocked during school hours. However, these are still concerns of students and should be kept in mind.