PLYMOUTH-Students are believed to be destroying dispensers across Plymouth State University’s bathrooms in search of free toilet paper.In the last two weeks there has been a surprising amount of toilet paper theft across campus, most notably in the Hartman Union Building, but also thefts occurred in Mary Lyon Hall, and the Silver Center. According to Kerry Keating, Associate Director of the Hartman Union Building, the HUB alone has lost 14 rolls of toilet paper in the last two weeks.
“The issue with this is that each time a roll of toilet paper gets stolen, the dispenser must be broken in order to access it,” says Keating, “Physical Plant will be ordering replacements which are industrial, steel-grade, penitentiary-safe units that cost $110.00 EACH”.
But here are the numbers that are sure to astound. The current units cost $60 apiece and one roll of toilet paper is approximately $9. The new unit is $110 per unit not including the cost of shipping and labor. The cost for replacement dispensers including shipping and labor is equivalent of one stolen roll of toilet paper, or $250 per roll. According to Keating, “for the HUB alone, that brings our cost for the lost rolls in the past couple of weeks to roughly a whopping $3500”.
Keating also said that “Chris Johnson from Physical Plant even thought to come up with a program of placing rolls of toilet paper in restrooms with signs that say, “If you need toilet paper- take these. Please do not destroy our dispensers- they are costly to replace.” But fears of misuse – like a rise in TP’d trees – has left the proposal up in the air. With money tight for everyone these days, it is easy to understand the struggle. Everyone is inching along by making cuts here and there in their budgets of wants versus needs. However, reverting to stealing and vandalism is simply unacceptable. “I think students aren’t aware of the possible resources on campus” adds Keating, “Things like what the Campus Ministries offers, where you can apply for grant money, sometimes twice a semester if you are really struggling. It is a program not a lot of students know about, and if students are struggling for money so much so that they need to steal TOILET PAPER, how are they affording food, gas, etc.?”Other possible programs on campus to turn to if a financial situation turns for the worse include visiting the Bagley center for budgeting information and financial wellness, the financial aid office for scholarships and grants or emergency funds, and also the counseling center as a place to relieve the stress. ” We have resources to help them,” Said Keating, “So perhaps this is a good opportunity to take a bad situation and turn it into a learning process for those who need financial help”.