Once again, the Schlosser Residence Hall has fallen victim to student antics. On Friday morning, Oct. 22, the Office of Residence Life notified the community that all East Wing restrooms and the Schlosser lobby (Schlobby) were closed due to displaced water.

After a few hours, water continued to gather in the Schlobby; however, the East Wing restrooms reopened. A bathing suit flushed down the toilet led to the flooding and sewage backup.

In an email sent to all Schlosser residents, Assistant Director of Housing and Residence Life Tara Hoover wrote, “​​Clothing should never be flushed down a toilet. As stated in previous emails, toilet paper is the only item that can and should be flushed down the pipes.”

Since then, the Schlobby has remained closed, much to many students’ dismay.

First-year student and Schlosser second-floor resident Megan Meyer was upset when she heard about the incident. However, she knew something had occurred before the initial email was sent.

“When [the flooding] first happened, it was really stinky and very unpleasant. To me, strong smells are really nauseating,” Meyer said.

Even after this scent dissipated, she described the overwhelming odor of bleach and cleaning supplies the next day, expressing, “I guess that was better, but at the same time, it’s probably not good for you.”

After this, Meyer hoped that the Schlobby would reopen soon. She believes that it is a place that fosters a sense of community, as this is where she met most of her Schlosser friends.

In addition, she stated, “Sometimes, me and my friends would like to go down there and play ping-pong for fun, study to give us a break or go down there to meet people.”

The Schlobby serves as a place where individuals can relax and socialize while remaining on task for their assignments.

Founders resident and first-year student Kylie Fair agrees, and although she does not live in Schlosser, she considers it her home on campus.

“I come to Schlosser because all my friends live here. I know the Schlobby is where everyone hangs out, and it’s where you can always find at least one person,” she said.

Like Meyer, Fair believes that the Schlobby embodies Etown’s overall feeling of friendliness, and with its closure, she worries, “Where am I going to find people now?”

Residents have resorted to gathering in study rooms to decompress after classes, but these are more restrictive due to their small size–which has resulted in the fragmentation of relationships due to an inability to bond.

“I don’t know what went through [the perpetrator’s] head. I honestly don’t understand why they would think to [flush a bathing suit down the toilet]. I’m really confused,” Meyer said, angered by the cause of the flooding.

However, Meyer and Fair both remained optimistic that the Schlobby would reopen shortly, but on Saturday, Oct. 30, they were once again disheartened. Associate Dean of Students for Community Living Jenn Crowder sent an email detailing that the area flooded again, this time due to hair buildup in a second-floor shower.

Since then, the Schlobby has been in a state of disarray, with the carpet ripped up and the smells Meyer described once again present.

She questioned Residence Life, saying, “I really don’t understand why [the flooding] is still a problem. If they know it does it, they should take care of it because I’ve heard that it’s flooded before in past years. I also don’t want my bathroom flooding.”

Overall, the administration would like to quell these shenanigans, asking students to provide any information by submitting a public report so that the beloved Schlobby can swiftly reopen.