Every week the editorial board reflects on a current issue in Our View. The position taken does not reflect the opinions of everyone on the Hilltop Views staff.

Viewpoints Editors Sara Katona and Max Lillard recently investigated the conditions of  some of St. Edward’s University’s restrooms. They visited two prime pooping buildings — Moody and Ragsdale — and two lesser- frequented locations — Andre and Holy Cross Hall.      

Our grades for bathrooms incorporated several factors: cleanliness, space, comfort, smell and aesthetics.

Now, it is time for the editor’s pick.

If you are looking for a short getaway, need a privacy privy or just find yourself in the area, you should walk to Holy Cross Hall. 

Using the evaluation criteria of Lillard and Katona, Holy Cross Hall bathrooms ranked proficient or advanced in all aspects.

The ground floor of Holy Cross Hall was a surprising dark horse on our restroom expedition. Both the men’s and women’s restrooms are roomy without too much space, come equipped with large futuristic sinks and contain no asbestos, unlike Andre.

On the second and third floor in the women’s restrooms, the editors found a urinal arboretum that helped purify the air and add a pleasing aesthetic. The third floor even boasted restrooms which contained artwork. 

One might think these niceties are too much for a bathroom, but the simplicity of the shrubbery and the soothing presence of art only made the space more inviting. 

If none of that works for you, consider the fact that some of these restrooms are fully equipped with fancy hand lotion.

If you are thinking about stopping by Holy Cross Hall, you will not want to be without a newspaper or book so you can enjoy the room to its fullest.

Next off is the building that just does not make the cut.

The first floor of Andre is a shining bastion of hope with its gender-neutral restroom, that is, until you go inside. The first thing that hits you is an uncomfortable warmth coupled with a feeling of pervasive moisture.

The women’s bathroom on the first floor of Andre is the complete opposite of the gender neutral restroom.  It is freezing, small and smells of frost-burnt Salisbury steak. While the gender-neutral bathroom is trying too hard to be comfortable and inviting, the women’s bathroom is just off-putting.

The men’s restroom is much the same.

Finally, we have Moody Hall. Moody’s first-floor restrooms were well equiped and clean. However, as you move up floors in Moody the privies get worse. 

St. Edward’s needs to address this problem: Why do students not have access to bathrooms adorned with lotion, flowers and art?