Restroom closures in Allgood Hall frustrate students amid repairs
By Butch Cross | Staff Writer
Students and faculty have faced frustration in recent weeks as restrooms on two out of the three floors of Allgood Hall remain closed for repairs, with signs posted not showing a clear or estimated time of repair completion. The closures, affecting both male and female restrooms, have been ongoing since at least Oct. 23, causing major crowding during peak usage times between classes.
This was extremely evident on Oct. 30, when even the third floor restrooms were closed for cleaning during the 10:50 am – 11:00 am break, causing many students to go up and down the main stairs, looking for an available restroom.
A janitor’s cart stands beside a “Restroom Closed” sign on the third floor of Allgood Hall, where ongoing repairs have kept two floors of bathrooms out of service since late October.
Thad Sands, the manager of Environmental Services explained the hiccup that occurred during that day.
“All restrooms are frequently monitored and refreshed to ensure an acceptable level of cleanliness. Bathroom refresh is typically done during routine class times when activity levels are lowest. In this instance someone got sick and required an immediate response for cleanup.”
Sands did not confirm why both restrooms on the third floor needed to be closed at that time.
Upon reaching out for further comment, Jason Crafton, a member of the facilities management team, explained the situation in an interview with The Bell Ringer. Crafton noted that an incident over the weekend of Oct. 19-20 led to substantial water damage in multiple areas.
“A urinal on the second floor overflowed, resulting in damage not only to the second-floor restroom, but also to those on the floors below, as well as the adjacent common hallway. This incident affect the drywall, ceiling tiles, and light fixtures,” said Crafton.
The cleanup and restoration work, managed by an outside vendor, remains ongoing as materials are awaited to complete the repairs. Crafton shared that Environmental Health and Safety recommended consulting with a specialized cleaning and restoration vendor to address the damage.
According to Crafton, the restrooms are expected to reopen by the end of this week, providing some relief to students and faculty who have to navigate the crowded facilities on the third floor or seek restrooms in nearby buildings.
Facilities management has advised patience as they work to resolve the issues and restore all restrooms for public use.
Contact Butch Cross at bucross@augusta.edu
Top photo: Closed restrooms on the first floor of Allgood Hall continue to inconvenience students. Photo by Butch Cross
