COLUMBUS, Ohio-Students at Whetstone High School are facing significant challenges when it comes to using the bathrooms. Freshman Nora Hardesty described the facilities as dirty, often locked, and lacking mirrors. Students have to wait in long lines under teacher supervision, leading to frustration. Hardesty recounted a recent incident where she urgently needed to use the restroom but found them all locked, causing her to wait for ten minutes. Columbus City Schools (CCS) has implemented this bathroom policy for student safety, citing previous incidents of fights in the restrooms. CCS Media Relations Coordinator Tyler Carter explained that while one main bathroom is closed for repairs, students can use another during breaks. If they need to go during class, they must get a hall pass to access individual bathrooms, which staff must unlock. However, students report that this process can be inconvenient and time-consuming, requiring them to find staff to unlock the doors.
