After a handful of student and teacher interviews, the most common words said were “dirty, old, gross, and unsafe,” which are common words used to describe the 500 Bungalow bathrooms. However, thanks to a few teachers, the problems may be resolved through the “500 Bathroom Survey.”
The teachers who helped create the survey were Mrs. Alexander, Mrs. Gutierrez, Ms. Ferguson, and Ms. Bishop.
Mrs. Gutierrez, the Social Justice teacher in PEACE, shared that, “Once we gather the data from the survey, we want to make sure that we are addressing the problems that the kids believe are problems.”
In interviews, many students have said that the lines have been long at lunch and take up the majority of the short period, since there are only four stalls. Often, at least one of these stalls is out of order as well. Mrs. Alexander, the head AVID teacher and SEGA Modern World History teacher, offers some solutions, saying, “I feel like if there was any kind of other restroom facility, like another bungalow bathroom, that could alleviate it.”
During nutrition and lunch, students have access to a few bathrooms around campus. Mr. Brown, the SEGA assistant principal, confirmed saying, “the bathrooms that are supposed to be open for lunch, unless they get damaged, misused, or break down are the 500, the large gym, the 11000, and the 800.”
Besides the survey, students have spoken out. In an interview with Lina Ameur, a sophomore in QUEST, she said that the bathroom stall doors “haven’t properly locked,” and that “the restrooms aren’t clean.” The feedback of long lines, cleanliness, and outdated design are all problems that are hoped to be fixed in the future and have been advocated for with this survey.
As the teachers gather the data on Friday, November 21, students look forward to real change inside the bathrooms. Some gave input and hope to see proper locks, more bathrooms, mirrors, and a more hygienic environment.
Gwenyth Esoy • Feb 3, 2026 at 1:19 pm
On December 3, 2025 Sofia Alas wrote an article titled “How do you feel about the 500 Bathrooms?”. Personally, like many others, I have been terrified of the 500 bathrooms since my freshman year. Though I don’t find any of the bathrooms at school the most sanitary, the 500 bathrooms are the ones I choose to avoid the most. However, Alas’s article presented to me that there are staff on campus who are working to fix the 500 bathrooms, which is news that I am pleased to hear. It is extremely kind of Mrs. Alexander, Mrs. Gutierrez, Ms. Ferguson, and Ms. Bishop to take our thoughts into consideration.
Beyond the hygienic issues within the bathroom, Alas also presented how there are major traffic issues regarding these bathrooms. Many students attempt to use these bathrooms during nutrition, lunch, and passing periods before their classes, but because of the limited stalls, the wait often causes a tremendous amount of tardies. This is the reality that is presented through the article, proving that there are definite problems with the 500 bathrooms and their convenience.
Overall, Alas’s article was very well written. It was both informative and spoke to the readers, who are Millikan students. Most students on campus can relate to this article and what is presented, making this article more interesting. It was also great to hear that improvements are in progress for these restrooms, because I have found it necessary for years! This article was a great read.