An opinion | by KATHLEEN HOUGH

Over the past two weeks, I’ve noticed a sharp decline in the attendance of the students in my classes, and I haven’t said a word. During announcements everyday I have peacefully sat in my advisory on the third floor of M&A and listened to the administration address our lovely school’s mini-outbreak of sickness. I’ve heard them say over and over again, “don’t share food or water bottles,” “sneeze/cough into your arm,” “properly dispose of your tissues,” “don’t hug anyone,” “don’t touch anyone.” I have also accepted the signs hanging around the school…everywhere I turn…following me wherever I go… yelling at me, “KEEP THEM CLEAN.”

And I haven’t said one word about the fact that every day for the last two weeks I’ve used the bathroom on the second floor of M&A, and I have yet to find soap in the dispensers.

I’ve been optimistic. “I’m the first person to discover no soap in this bathroom,” I said to myself the first time. Three days later, “The custodians must be slacking; I’ll let it slide.” Yesterday, “Come on now, people! What is this?”

STA, I WILL NO LONGER BE SILENT. I demand soap!

First of all, I’m pretty sure that I learned that hand-washing is the number one way to prevent the spreading of germs in the first grade. I’m also pretty sure that I still laugh out loud when I see those very same posters stalking me in my high school years: “Sing happy birthday to yourself while you wash,” says the poster over the sink in the bathroom. “Lather, rinse, repeat,” says the sign next to the [empty] soap dispenser (How ironic!). “Don’t forget to wash!” yells the stall door as I finish my business. Thank you, Ms. Montag’s biology class, for these friendly reminders. But news flash; I’m not washing my hands after I use the restroom. Why? Well, it’s not because I forgot, or I am too lazy, or I ignore your lovely works of art; I actually WANT to wash my hands. But how do you expect me to “keep them clean” if I have no disinfectant available?

I guess my number one question here is: How do we go two weeks without restocking our bathrooms with soap? And the second floor M&A bathroom of all places? Seriously, people, think! Who cares if the bathroom in the basement of M&A has soap in its dispensers? That bathroom, with or without soap, is its own health hazard. With its moldy look, moldy smell, and moldy feel, it probably has received less visitors in the past year than the second floor bathroom has received in the last hour. No one goes in there; everyone in M&A uses the bathroom on the second floor. Therefore, for the past two weeks, most likely every student at STA has used the second floor bathroom of M&A; most likely every student has searched for soap in the dispensers; and most likely every student has not washed her hands.

So, how did all of our students get sick in the last two weeks? You do the math. STA students plus no soap for two weeks equals a breeding house for germs. This outbreak isn’t a result of hugging our friends in the quad. It’s a result of no soap in our dispensers. So, here’s my resolution: go to the supply closet, get soap refills, and fill the dispensers with soap. It’s as easy as 1-2-3. The STA population will be healthy, and we can have short announcements again. But until then, I’m putting my foot down. No longer will I refrain from sharing a Dorito at lunch. No longer will I avoid contact with my friends. And no longer will I listen to your announcements peacefully in my advisory. So please, STA administration, I beg of you, supply us with soap.