opinions OPINIONS EDITOR /// opinions@theconcordian.com DAVID EASEY
EDITORIAL
LB building should leave bathrooms neutral The latest refurbished section of the downtown library was revealed Friday with students free to explore the airy renovated space. Gentler lighting, bright colours splashed across the walls, clean white orderly tables and brightly coloured carpets to match greeted students. The space has been granted a much-needed facelift to modernize its dark, dingy interior that depressed more than inspired.
But how much has the library really modernized? After all, new lights and desks are great for students, but the bathroom policy still segregates and discriminates against many Concordians. The new washrooms after all are only for men or women. No gender neutral bathrooms exist within the library space, which is open 24 hours to students. A PDF, which lists all of the gender neutral bathrooms
Photo by Michelle Gamage.
on campus, says there is only one neutral bathroom in the building on ‘LB 0.’ Campus security did not know where this was, and a search of the library did not reveal the mythical bathroom. But here’s the thing. The fifth floor of the LB building is still having the finishing touches put on it, with signs identifying what gender a bathroom ‘belongs’ to still to be added. On Friday the bathrooms were gender neutral. Concordia had made a progressive step to making the fifth floor a safe space for anyone who had to pee. However, over the weekend paper signs were put on the doors, and more permanent signs will likely be installed separating those who sit and stand to pee. Those signs should never be installed, and Concordia University should instead allow the fifth floor washrooms to be gender neutral. Put up signs like the Hive Cafe in the Hall building, identifying which bathrooms have urinals and which ones have stalls. Let students decide for themselves which bathroom they’d prefer, gender aside.
For students who are more comfortable in a washroom with an assigned gender, all of the other floors of the LB building will still host gendered washrooms. But let’s make a progressive step towards making a safer space for all students and leave the washrooms on the fifth floor gender neutral. After all, students doing homework at the library have better things to think about than if they identify more with the little figure wearing a skirt or pants. Concordia officially offers the choice to identify as male, female, or just by your name on your diploma, degree, or certificate. There is also an impressive host of gender neutral bathrooms scattered throughout both campuses. But the LB building has been neglected in these developments—until now. Here’s to hoping Concordia can recognize this amazing opportunity and do the right thing. Looking for gender neutral washroom locations? Google ‘Concordia gender neutral washrooms’ and check out the PDF which list s all of the washrooms on campus.
WELLNESS
Being bitter can take the sweetness out of life Harbouring bitterness can create walls between those we love BY JESSICA KINNARI ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR Being bitter and holding onto emotions for too long is absolutely detrimental to friendships—and believe me, it nearly destroyed one of mine. Harbouring negativity will just lead to resentment, unhappiness and an overall poor state of mental health. In the end the best thing to do is let it go, for bitterness is toxic and can poison all aspects of your life. One of my closest friends and I had a falling out some time ago over a communication issue. Both of us were feeling a tremendous amount of emotion, but couldn’t properly express it. Our miscommunications eventually led to the disintegration of our friendship. According to the book entitled Embitterment: Societal, psychological and clinical perspectives, bitterness occurs when an individual feels like they’ve lost control over a particular situation. Since they couldn’t prevent an undesired outcome, negative emotions begin to resonate. My personal feelings align with the information above, because I felt like I lost control of the situation despite, my best intentions. Normally time heals all things though, but not in this case. After a bit of distance, we tried to catch up not too long ago over lunch, but couldn’t seem to patch things up. The bitterness still resides deep within
my being, and I can no longer connect with this individual. Bitterness affects your entire life, and it is like a cancer that eventually spreads to other domains. I think about our fight every day, wishing I wasn’t so angry and upset over the way things ended up. I think about it constantly, regretting how I should’ve initiated a conversation with him, and understand the rea s on of our falling out. “Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them,” said Bruce Lee. If something bothers you everyday then it is a problem, one that needs
to be addressed. I carry around this bitter need to fix things, and it affects my daily life. Just walking home from school or going to class can be a battle if I’ve been thinking about the fight. I’ll sometimes choose to not go places or hang out with my friends because the bitterness makes me go to a dark and horrible place. The feelings of resentment now have turned inwards towards myself and are affecting my own personal happiness. Letting these feelings get in the way of your own well being is not a healthy emotion. I firmly believe that you are in charge of your own happiness. Sometimes letting go and working it out is the best way to fix the situation. Letting go of the bitterness will make things better,
even if the friendship has ended at least there will be less pain. The greatest example of not letting bitterness take control is Nelson Mandela. If he can forgive and forget those who mistreated him, then we can forgive the little things that we have done, even if it’s difficult to accept. Bitterness is a toxin that will seep into all the crevasses of your mind. It will affect your happiness, your friends, and sometimes even your family. “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong,” said Mahatma Gandhi, a sentiment we should all adhere to.
Want your voice heard? Have something to say? Write for the Opinions section opinions@ theconcordian.com
Graphic by Thom Bell.