We all have seen these signs: “Clean up after yourself! You mother doesn’t work here!” However, signs like these need to be posted, plastered, embroidered, tattooed or placed in any way possible that would get the point across in MATC’s restrooms.The two biggest problem areas are the restrooms on the second floor of the S Building by the Testing office, and the restroom by the auditorium on the main floor at our Oak Creek campus. I haven’t been in any restrooms in Mequon, and West Allis doesn’t seem to be as bad.

However, the ones I have mentioned are just downright horrible.
What is unfortunate is when I overhear students blaming the custodians. The custodians can’t be there every moment of
every day; this leaves students cleaning up after themselves.

What is most troubling is the lack of concern for others. Besides not caring about the environment that others share, there are safety issues to be concerned with.

An unclean bathroom is not only gross to use, but also can spread illnesses. These illnesses, including the flu, not only affect the student body, but our families as well.

I can’t believe that the people who leave these messes are
leaving the same kinds of messes at home. We are at MATC for many reasons, one being cost factors, which means few, if any, of us can afford maids.

So, many are left to wonder why it seems difficult for people to clean up after themselves here. One thought is that many students are still living at home. And sure, maybe their parents still clean up after them.

I wonder how many people would leave their parents’ bathroom in the same shape as they are willing to leave the bathrooms here.

And if they do, then there is some bad parenting going on if they allow their adult children to leave “products” lying about or simply not flush. At some time, being able to clean up after oneself just has to be expected.

Another thought is maybe people feel a sense of “who cares?” We all should. It isn’t just one person using the restrooms here. We all have to use them at some time.

Yet, when we need to, some person has left the facilities in such a nasty condition that one would rather have their bladder explode than enter.

Adding to the “who cares?” school of thought is those who feel that others will and should clean up after them anyway. What they fail to realize is it’s not anyone’s job to clean up after such laziness unless you hire that person yourself.

The custodians who work here are required to clean the restrooms, true. Flushing, not leaving items lying around,
wiping off toilet seats, these are simple tasks that as adults we all should be able to do. Expecting someone else to have to clean up after that kind of gross laziness is just uncalled for.

We are adults attending a college, which should mean we have some kind of intelligence. Taking the responsibility to keep the bathrooms clean for not only our own use, but for others as well, is something that at this stage in our lives we should be able to do.

We are smart enough to know doing so not only provides us with a clean environment to do our business, but also will help keep all of us from getting sick.