Good Morning

5:31 pm, 2/14/08

Good Morning

Here's a story, courtesy of reader Maureen, that'll warm your heart:

How do you get 6,000 college students whipped up into a lather?

Here's one way: Secretly install low-flow, eco-shower heads in their dorms over winter break.

With a fury normally reserved for the University of California-Berkeley, students complained in an e-mail petition, a letter-writing campaign, a newspaper editorial and meetings with Stanford officials.

"It is like showering under a sink faucet," said Christian Tom, a junior whose pro-pressure petition in the West Lagunita dorm garnered 50 signatures in just one day.

Leftists accused the school of profiteering - "it's just a good excuse to save a few bucks" - and demanded a break on their room costs. A conservative blamed the idea on "some vegan freak who should move to Russia rather than pollute American soil with his communist ideas."

One stressed-out student worried about time management: "This translates into more time spent in the shower. Does everyone really have all those extra minutes?"

A few students charged their classmates with hypocrisy. "Students are all for environmental advocacy, so long as it doesn't impact them personally," wrote one. But others questioned why they should suffer the Big Chill when Stanford drenches its lawns, lights labs at night and keeps the fountain flowing in front of Memorial Auditorium.

...and then? Democracy happened.

Officials now promise to retrofit hundreds of showers with politically incorrect, higher-pressure nozzles.

One hand-held shower head will be installed in each bath. Not only does it dispense lots of water - but it can be raised to accommodate tall students, said Nik Kaestner of Stanford Housing.

Engineers suggested simply fixing the problem with a wrench.

Enjoy your Valentine's Day, everybody.