@umdbathroomreviews combats change: reviewing home bathrooms
@umdbathroomreviews Instagram profile picture. Photo Courtesy of @umdbathroomreviews
A couple of days after campus closure, UMD Bathroom Review’s Instagram account (@umdbathroomreviews) has shifted the reviews from UMD’s bathrooms to home bathrooms.
The account holder has started asking for home bathroom submissions and has received at least twenty submissions as of April 18, 2020. The account is a source of engagement for the UMD community during these different circumstances.
“I’m having people send in pictures of their bathrooms at home,” the bathroom reviewer said.
There has been a variety of bathroom submissions, mostly from followers.
@umdbathroomreviews Instagram page. Photo courtesy of @umdbathroomreviews
“I’m getting a lot of weird frat houses and childhood houses” the account holder said. “Anywhere from college kids’ holes in the floor or Mickey Mouse curtains.”
When President Gabel first sent out the email of starting online classes, the account holder just thought to hold off the Instagram account for two to three weeks. It wasn’t until a couple of days after campus closed for good that the bathroom reviewer realized that reviewing UMD bathrooms will have to come to an end. However, inspired by friends to ask for submission, the page prevails.
“First my roommate said, ‘Why don’t you just ask people from their bathroom?’” the account holder said. “Messages from people I know were asking the same thing. If more than one person came up with this idea, then it might be good for the meantime.”
The account holder plans to resume reviewing bathrooms once allowed on campus again. In the meantime, there is steady engagement on the new posts. The bathroom reviewer doesn’t necessarily believe that her account holds the UMD community together; however, it is a form of unstructured entertainment and serves as a reminder.
“It might be a little much to say that it is the main link that keeps everyone together,” the bathroom reviewer said. “I think there is a lack of UMD coordinated content and activities that isn’t super-duper formal. You can’t do the nonsense you would do on campus with your friends. I think this account is a reminder of that.”
There is constant content from the Instagram account for the UMD community, including spontaneous stories ranging from Minecraft to followers’ responses about the COVID-19 pandemic. The engagement will continue despite the different times. To submit your bathroom photos, DM them to the @umdbathroomreviews Instagram account.