Mobile Toilets in Universities

The application of mobile toilets in universities involves two different scenarios: practical needs and formalism.

I. Mobile Toilet Applications Driven by Practical Needs
Some universities procure or lease mobile toilets to meet sanitation needs in temporary or special scenarios. For example, Wenzhou University once purchased a trial device for a mobile toilet with on-site sewage resource treatment, with a project budget of 256,000 yuan and a final transaction price of 252,000 yuan, supplied by Yixing Enchuang Environmental Protection Co., Ltd. Such mobile toilets may be used for temporary events, construction areas, or remote areas on campus, with their core function being to address sewage resource treatment issues, demonstrating technological practicality.
Sichuan Normal University, in response to the needs of its 2026 sports admissions exams, plans to lease 10 single-unit plastic environmentally friendly storage-type mobile toilets with a budget of 31,200 yuan. These toilets, with dimensions not less than 1000×1000×2400mm, are equipped with sinks, lighting facilities, and sewage tanks with a volume of not less than 300L, and must be delivered to the designated site before the exams. Such designs are explicitly tailored for high-traffic, short-cycle exam scenarios, emphasizing functionality and convenience, representing a typical case of "demand-based configuration."

II. Controversies Arising from Formalistic Designs
Some universities exhibit a tendency towards formalism in the construction of mobile toilets or sanitation facilities, resulting in low practicality. For instance, the "independent bathroom" design in a university dormitory was criticized by students: the partition featured a lattice structure that only obscured the upper half of the body, leaving the waist and below completely exposed, severely compromising privacy. Although labeled as an "independent bathroom," such a design has virtually no practical function, becoming a mere facade.
The root cause of such issues lies in the failure to fully consider user needs during the design phase, with an excessive focus on appearance or conceptual innovation at the expense of basic functionality. For example, the lattice partition may have been intended to save materials or create a sense of "openness," but in practice, it fails to meet privacy protection needs, highlighting the disconnect between design decisions and actual requirements.

III. Summary and Recommendations
The construction of mobile toilets in universities should be guided by practical needs to avoid formalism. For temporary needs, priority should be given to mobile toilets with clear functions and reasonable configurations, such as Sichuan Normal University's leasing plan. For long-term facilities, user surveys should be conducted to ensure design practicality, avoiding repeated controversies like the "lattice bathroom" case. As public service providers, universities should link resource investment to usage effectiveness, ensuring that every facility truly serves the needs of teachers and students.