Paper towels are back
Slick-handed students will no longer be wiping their pants— paper towels are back in the Student Union Building (SUB) bathrooms this fall, in an effort to curb the flu season, after almost 10 paper-free years.
Paper towels were removed from the SUB in 1999, and replaced with air dryers to cut down on janitorial costs. The building has remained paper free, until a particularly violent flu season threatened the campus.
The installation of paper towel dispensers in all buildings is part of UVic’s H1N1 strategy, according to SUB General Manager Marne Jensen — and the SUB will comply with this, despite paper-free initiatives.
“Once a person has washed his or her hands, he or she can then use the paper towel to turn off the taps and open the bathroom door to avoid recontamination from people who do not properly wash their hands and have touched the same surfaces,” said Jensen, adding that the H1N1 virus can live on a surface, like a door handle, for more than a day.
The air dryers will remain in the washrooms. Jensen says the cost of paper towel installation and removal will be covered by the university.
In terms of environmental impact versus health concerns, Jensen says she trusts the university’s decisions.
“UVic has a committee and a strategy to address H1N1, and [the university is] in contact regularly with the heath region. They are the experts on public health matters and I trust their judgment,” she said.
The paper towel dispensers are scheduled to be removed at the end of this flu season.
14 Comments
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Leo Zhang Oct. 22, 2009, 12:59 p.m.
Finally...it takes forever to have my hand relatively dried with hot air...
Leo Zhang Oct. 22, 2009, 12:59 p.m.
Finally...it takes forever to have my hand relatively dried with hot air...
Jennifer Oct. 22, 2009, 1:31 p.m.
When I voted for FAST, I expected us to be making steps forward on sustainability, not steps backward like this. Regardless if UVic is paying for it, the Student's Society can still say no.
Jennifer Oct. 22, 2009, 1:31 p.m.
When I voted for FAST, I expected us to be making steps forward on sustainability, not steps backward like this. Regardless if UVic is paying for it, the Student's Society can still say no.
David Oct. 22, 2009, 2:05 p.m.
Nah I disagree with Jennifer. Students are smart enough to decide whether they want to use a hand-dryer or paper towels. If people are health conscious or just prefer towels, they can use them. If students want to save a tree, they can use a dryer.
We don't need elected representatives to make simple decisions on our behalf when people can easily decide for themselves. Letting people decide for themselves is the best option.
David Oct. 22, 2009, 2:05 p.m.
Nah I disagree with Jennifer. Students are smart enough to decide whether they want to use a hand-dryer or paper towels. If people are health conscious or just prefer towels, they can use them. If students want to save a tree, they can use a dryer.
We don't need elected representatives to make simple decisions on our behalf when people can easily decide for themselves. Letting people decide for themselves is the best option.
Orly? Oct. 24, 2009, 1:04 a.m.
A lot of students don’t know about the issues and don’t know about the facts. We have to make this decision for students.-Christine ComrieOrly? Oct. 24, 2009, 1:04 a.m.
A lot of students don’t know about the issues and don’t know about the facts. We have to make this decision for students.-Christine ComrieNathan Oct. 25, 2009, 5:54 p.m.
Jenn, this is not an issue about sustainability, it has become an issue of public health. The measure is temporary as stated in the article. After the flu season has passed and all the worries about H1N1 (which I think are blown out of proportion) they will be removed again.
Nathan Oct. 25, 2009, 5:54 p.m.
Jenn, this is not an issue about sustainability, it has become an issue of public health. The measure is temporary as stated in the article. After the flu season has passed and all the worries about H1N1 (which I think are blown out of proportion) they will be removed again.
Kevin Oct. 27, 2009, 4:06 a.m.
Fuck trees, I'd much rather not catch this flu bug going around.
Kevin Oct. 27, 2009, 4:06 a.m.
Fuck trees, I'd much rather not catch this flu bug going around.
Bill Hepburn Oct. 30, 2009, 12:57 p.m.
Thank God! I hate those bacteria breeding hot air driers!
Bill Hepburn Oct. 30, 2009, 12:57 p.m.
Thank God! I hate those bacteria breeding hot air driers!