Ivy League Toilet Paper
Dec 4, 2009
What's in these dorm room stalls? 1 ply or 2 ply?
As high school juniors & seniors across the select what college to attend for higher education, many factors play a role in this monumental decision. Where will I get the best education? Where will I enjoy my surroundings the most? How strong is the school’s community? What kind of toilet paper will there be in their restrooms? Is it one ply or two-ply?
As ridiculous as this question sounds, the issue is a subject of constant debate across many college campuses and even at American’s top Ivy League institutions. The issue was so important to students at Princeton University that the top candidates for Student Government President recently used the platform for a switch to 2-ply in university restrooms as a top campaign promises.
Advocates for the softer, more comfortable 2-ply toilet paper say the switch would meet the demands of the student body. They also claim while the rest of the university suffers from harshness of 1-ply, many of the administrators’, president’s, and executive offices are actually stocked with the cushioner 2-ply. In response to these claims, administrators argue switching the entire university to two-ply toilet paper goes against Princeton’s sustainability practices and would not make sense environmentally or economically.
Personally, it sounds as if this is a case of “Do as I say, not as I do.”. If the administration isn’t willing to give up their 2-ply, I don’t think the rest of the student body should have to either. And for the record, Harvard University made the switch to 2-ply a long time ago (back in 1998) and Yale followed suit a year later. Both universities are miraculously still able to balance their budgets AND boast impressive sustainability programs. For example, Harvard is the leading buying of wind power in all of New England while six of Yale’s buildings and labs carry the prestigious LEED certification.
Windmill farms…
Windmills farms usually have a huge building with long blades attached high above the ground. You might have seen such buildings in many movies or cartoons as it is very synonymous with the farms and ranches…
The high school system is obviously much different as our german schools. I guess the toiletpaper question would nobody ask here. Nevertheless, aniInteresting post, thanks for this.
I think its great that the student body are able to give input to decisions that seem mundane but does actually have significant environmental impacts.
Yeah i think its an improvement that colleges are now switching 2 ply. It can be helpful in many ways..It may sound funny but little things like these go a very long way!
i still don’t get it. 1ply 2ply, it’s just the same for me.
Hi, it is nice to see how high schools are around the world. In Norway they are quite differente. Actually we have what we call “fagskole” that is a school specialize in certain education, for example, cinema studiers, web design and so on… they are very good and they give the student the opportunity of qualifying in what they are interested on.
Thanks for sharing
Sorry but I come from norway and I would really like to know what you guys mean by “1ply” and 2ply… could you explain it more in detail??
Thanks, interesting topic
Hi there- thanks for the comment. Ply is just a term for layer. 1 ply means 1 layer of paper, 2 ply means two layer. 2 ply is generally preferable because it is thicker and stronger. Sometimes it is hard to tell the amount of plys thought because they bond the paper together with a special glue. Let me know if you have any other questions- and you can always refer to the Toilet Paper Encyclopedia! http://encyclopedia.toiletpaperworld.com
Well honestly I don’t know why these types of things need to worry and change a certain system of the college. True this can be a deciding factor. But just having 2 ply toilet paper will solve all the trouble.
Well,it’s better to know that the university is doing something good for the environment. I know it’s a small program/campaign for the nature but it doesn’t matter how small it is as long as its for good purposes.
So, I know I can’t really toilet paper my apartment, but that doesn’t mean I can’t throw a roll or two all around my roommate’s room. Prank wars – it gets intense.
Well if they are asking the student body to give it up then they should lead by example.
That’s a good point! I’m sure there are plenty of other ways that costs can be kept down other than toilet paper choices.
Brilliant post, beautifully written… This is a smart blog. I mean it. You have so much knowledge about this issue, and so much passion.
Did you guys ever have to endure ‘Izal’ paper?
It was used in public toilets in the UK and in our primary school.
A vicious material somewhere between greaseproof cooking paper and cardboard.
It was mercifully single-ply. Heaven help us if it had been double.
Well, I know at Oregon we had 2-ply, but we had that powdered soap which was ridiculous!
1 or 2 ply, cost might not be much different if you only bough one but for a university time that with a few thousand and you could save thousands.
So they just want to cuts costs on the “less iportant” people.
Or that is how i see it
Extremes meet
I’ve seen this stuff on my daughter’s school comfort rooms and I think it was a brilliant idea.
Seriously? There is no way that this is an actual consideration of the potential students. This could be subject to change at any moment.
Great Article – excellent read, my view – 2 ply
I never wonder if there’s really a difference at all but atleast that’s a refreshing idea that there is also some prestigious thing on a simple toilet paper just because it is found on an Ivy League Institution!
Well,it’s better to know that the university is doing something good for the environment. I know it’s a small program/campaign for the nature but it doesn’t matter how small it is as long as its for good purposes.1