by Molly Schecter ‘27

lling the use of vapes and marajuana by students in the restrooms. One strategy security has relied on to catch kids is by walking into the restrooms to clear and punish students. However, the school recently lost two female security guards, leaving them with an all-male security staff who cannot enter girls restrooms. To address this, it appears that the school has resorted to locking more of the girls restrooms. This is not a solution that is fair to female students who simply need to use the bathroom

Locking girls restrooms results in students missing instructional time by using restrooms further from their classes. The increased number of locked bathrooms is unfair for students who don’t smoke yet still face the consequences. Additionally, female students need access to bathrooms when their menstrual cycle may cause an emergency to use the restroom. Limiting the number of bathrooms for students to use also leads to the open ones being more crowded and less hygienic. Sherwood should keep all bathrooms open and ask other female staff to monitor bathrooms until the school hires female security guards. Using the bathroom is not a privilege, it’s a right, and access shouldn’t be limited for all female students because of the actions of a few.