Boys at Shawnee Mission Northwest report that stall doors are routinely being kicked in while using the main and locker room restrooms. 

According to an Instagram poll posted by the Northwest Passage 37% of students at Northwest have had their stall door kicked in while using the restroom. 68% of those who answered were male. 

“It’s not too deep,” junior Jackson Haworth said. “But, when it’s in the hallway bathrooms I’ve seen guys get pretty mad.”

Haworth said he’s been witnessing this since freshman year, and for the most part, people see it as a joke or some form of hazing. But others find it to be a violation of their privacy, and a growing source of discomfort.

Boys will avoid using main restrooms, especially during passing periods, and choose to use the privacy restrooms instead — even if it means walking halfway across the building.

Associate principal Britton Haney said administration is aware of what’s happening.

“I would love for any of our staff members , but I would love to see it also occur from the student body leaders as well,” Haney said. “Unfortunately, one of the worst things that could happen, and it is a possibility, is we just take all the doors off the stalls. And I don’t think anybody wants to see that happen.”

School nurse Wendy Woods has recently noticed an increase of people who use the restroom in her already crowded office.

“I don’t like it,” Woods said. “But, if that’s what’s happening, that’s what’s happening. But I do think something needs to be figured out.”

Broken or nonexistent locks on stall doors are also a contributing factor of this issue. Senior Carter Tomac said people will sometimes accidentally nudge them open in the locker rooms, and that a solution would be to buy and install brand new locks.

In the middle of an interview, Haney was called on his radio to investigate a situation in the first floor boys restroom.  

“Sounds like I have to go do that,” Haney said with a sigh.