Seven Minute Rule and ID Scanning Reshape Bathroom Policy
Image: Angela Zou x ChatGPT
By ANGELA ZOU and YAN CHEN
The ten minute bathroom rule has been replaced this fall by a slightly more lenient seven minute policy. Going forward, students are not allowed to use the bathroom during the five minutes of passing nor the first and last seven minutes of class.
According to Mr. Richard Franzese, the assistant principal of safety and security, the waiting period is designed to provide time for custodians to clean and restock bathrooms while reducing unnecessary hallway traffic. Administration did not feel comfortable doing away with the policy, but after years of student complaints, the school agreed to a shortened “no use” window.
Previously, students only had the middle 25 minutes of a class to use the bathroom. Now, the time is expanded to 31 minutes per period, a 24% increase in a Hornet’s opportunity to pee during class.
Some students think the change doesn’t go far enough. Under the old rule, students were restricted from bathroom access for 50% of their entire school day. The updated policy reduces that restricted time to 38% of the school day. While it is an improvement, it still places strict limits on when students can use the restroom.
“Even though they added six more minutes per period, it doesn’t feel like much of a difference,” said Lena Li ‘26. “That’s barely enough time for one extra person to use the bathroom, so it’s hard to notice the change.”
Some students felt the timing of the window was not ideal for educational purposes.
“I’m worried that going in the middle of class might make me miss something important,” said senior Winnie Wang. “On the other hand, I feel like the first and last ten minutes are usually the least important, so it doesn’t really make sense to block off that time.”
Concerns have also been raised about students with medical needs. Mr. Franzese emphasized that student health is always the school’s first priority. "If the students have a medical issue, then we can understand," he said.
The new seven minute rule is not the only change. Starting this October, students need to tap their ID cards before entering the bathroom. So if you are planning a quick trip, remember to bring your identification.
Mr. Franzese explained that this system will help ensure fairness. “We only have a limited number of bathrooms in the school, so we want to give everyone an opportunity to go,” he said. “If we know the same students are using the bathroom over and over again, it is unfair to students who really need to use it.”
Student reaction to the plan was mixed, with some welcoming the tracking system while others weren’t as happy.
“It’s kinda controlling in a way,” said Marjona Akhmatova ‘26. “And I think it might be a little extreme to tap in because God forbid I want to use the bathroom [and I forget my ID].”
“Many students skip class on a daily basis,” said Daniel Ghoprial, the school’s senior president. “I feel that tapping your ID, especially with having educators and faculty watching over these devices as students enter the bathroom, would ensure that every student is where they are supposed to be throughout the day.”