Last week, the 10 p.m. news on Channel 2 was filled with scenes - on two consecutive nights - of footage taken from hidden cameras in local men's restrooms.
The hidden cameras documented some shocking things going on in those rooms. In short, men have been using the restrooms to solicit sexual encounters from other men.
Perhaps the most disturbing men's room in the report, at least for the University of Houston community, was one in our own Fine Arts Building, where a large, square "glory hole" cut into the wall dividing two stalls facilitated such shady encounters.
UH officials said that an investigation would be launched but initially said they were unaware of the use of our venerable loos for such activity.
This claim is ludicrous. In recent history, there was police activity in the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library's men's rooms to crack down on lewdness.
And any observant restroom-goer could notice the steel plates covering holes in stall dividers and the messages scrawled on walls detailing when and where to meet for some lavatory hanky-panky.
But in all fairness, what can UH do about the situation? Judging from Internet postings describing such activity nationwide, the bathrooms of higher learning everywhere vibrate with male sexual energy. It is not a local phenomenon by any means, and it is not one that's likely to go away.
There are far too many public restrooms on this campus to implement any foolproof plan. Hiring restroom attendants would be too costly; locking the doors would be too inconvenient; and building stalls with floor-to-ceiling steel walls that could not be circumvented or drilled through is both frightening and unpleasant.
The fact is, even with a university investigation and a police strategy under way, it's up to those of us who use the restrooms to ensure that they are only used for comfort's sake. After all, none of us wants to walk in on someone's intimate encounter when nature calls.
So guys, if you get the urge, do us all a favor: Meet wherever you like, but rent a room. A bed is more comfortable anyway.
The gray-box editorials reflect the opinion of The Daily Cougar editorial board and editorial staff. All other opinions, letters, commentaries and cartoons reflect the viewpoint of the writer. Letters to the editor reflect only the opinion of the individual writers. No opinions expressed in The Daily Cougar necessarily reflect those of the University of Houston administration or the student body at large.