HONORS CLUB AIMS TO BRING SINGLE-USER BATHROOMS TO CAMPUS

It’s possible that you’ve noticed the ‘porcelain throne’ set up outside of the Bookstore bathrooms this term. In case you haven’t had time to stop by, or grab some candy from the bowl, allow me to explain the sparkle-y toilet on campus.

Rho Theta, the honors student club at Mt. Hood, is using the toilet to raise awareness for its yearly project – a project in cooperation with MHCC leaders that fits within the college’s outreach goals for either students or the surrounding community.

This year, Rho Theta wants to build two new single-user restrooms on campus that would be gender-neutral. They would not only give any member of the transgender community a safe space to use the restroom, but also a more private bathroom setting for any and all students, and others, who might use them.

The gender-neutral bathrooms also would help parents accompanied by young children, or users with mobility/disability issues.

The “Potty Project” would cost the school an estimated $50,000. Since there’s not much extra money in the MHCC budget, Rho Theta is working to obtain grants to cover the cost.

As of right now, the focus is to raise awareness and complete user surveys.

“Our surveys are showing strong support for the project,” said Beth Sammons, Rho Theta’s faculty adviser. The next step will be seeking grants and other funding, which has not yet started.

Beyond its annual community service project, Rho Theta is a dedicated to helping the students at MHCC. The club here is a chapter of the organization called Phi Theta Kappa, the honors society for two-year college students across the nation (Phi Beta Kappa is the honors society for four-year college and university students).

According to its website, the mission statement of the organization is to “recognize academic achievement of college students and to provide opportunities for them to grow as scholars and leaders.”

Danielle Whitlock, club vice president, said the mission of the Rho Theta chapter here at Mt. Hood is to “help students reach their dreams.” The club pursues this mission by offering aid to students who need help finding scholarships, ways to get involved in the community, and professional opportunities in their chosen field.

Whitlock learned about Rho Theta in middle school after her mother returned to college for studies and became involved. As a teen, Whitlock got to watch as her mother “really grew as a person” because of her involvement with Rho Theta, she said.

Sammons, the club’s faculty adviser, describes  her involvement as “the most rewarding thing I‘ve done as part of the community college.”

Both she and the club will soon undergo changes, as she plans to resign from her adviser role after 16 years of service. The club has not yet chosen her replacement. She will stay in the adviser role until June 2019, and hopes to train the next leader during spring to ensure a smooth transition.

Sammons said her hope for the club is that it will continue offering opportunities for students to grow personally and professionally.

More immediately, Rho Theta invites students to join them for pizza this Friday, Nov. 30, for an induction ceremony as the club formally welcomes its newest members. The ceremony should run noon to 1 p.m.

Normally Rho Theta meetings are held 3 to 5 p.m. every Monday in the Bob Scott Room, inside the MHCC Library, Whitlock said.

Meetings are open to the public, and students are welcome to attend and ask questions or meet the officers. Club dues are $75 and participants will remain members for life. To qualify, students must have completed 12 credits at MHCC and posses a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Otherwise, reach Rho Theta officers with any questions by emailing them at [email protected] or calling 503-491-7020.