On Monday, an unusual odor spread across campus, leaving students and staff concerned about its source. While some suspected nearby construction work from the new performing arts building, Principal Charles Park later explained the smell was caused by a trash issue.
Junior Kayla Ona described how distracting the odor has been for students to the point where students felt physically uncomfortable in their learning environments or during nutrition or lunch. The odor is not only an inconvenience, but something that directly interferes with student focus.
“It made my head hurt. We’re all covering our mouths and all of that, because, like, you could taste it,” Ona said.
According to Healthline, an American website and provider of health information headquartered in San Francisco, explains that sewer odors often result from dry drain traps, broken seals, or damaged pipes and gases such as hydrogen sulfide, which produces a rotten egg smell. It can cause headaches, nausea, and dizziness even at low concentrations.
This concern aligned with suspicions from campus security, who thought construction might have been the cause.
“I think they hit a sewer line, really. Yeah, they’re doing construction over here by this new theater, and it hasn’t gotten any better,” campus security Jerome Pratt said.
Research published in Water Science and Technology noted that damaged or deteriorated sewer lines are one of the most common causes of persistent odor complaints in public areas.
Teachers noted the impact of the smell on students as well. According to peer counseling advisor and English teacher Jennifer Sun, many of her students have tried to avoid spending time outdoors.
“They’re disgusted. They don’t want to go outside…when they come in at nutrition and lunch, they’re like, relieved to be in here, because it’s so bad outside,” Sun said.
However, not everyone noticed the problem. History teacher Kathryn Cayem said she hadn’t smelled it herself, though she heard students mention it.
“People say it smells like somebody did something gross…this is the first time I’ve heard of it. None of my students has complained so far,” Cayem said.
Pratt added that the smell affected his ability to do his job, forcing him to avoid certain areas. Students often approached him for answers.
“It’s pretty disgusting. It’s hard to be in that area, so I kind of just make my way to a new section. About 20 kids came up to me asking about the smell. I told them where it’s coming from, but it still hasn’t gotten taken care of,” Pratt said.
Pratt’s comments show how off-putting the smell was and the effect it had on the school day. Students were concerned enough to ask him about it, and the smell made being in certain areas uncomfortable. His perspective conveys that what might seem minor to some can actually affect the overall campus environment.
While some suspected construction issues, Park clarified the real reason behind the smell.
“The smell on campus was due to a trash issue, and the minute we figured that it was a trash issue, we were able to clear it,” Park said.
His response validates that the odor did not come from construction or damaged pipes, but from a temporary garbage disposal on campus, an issue that the school was able to address quickly.
The way people experience smells can vary depending on proximity and airflow.
Cayem, whose classroom is farther from the affected areas, says that the smell hasn’t caused problems, though she recognizes that other parts of campus might be more strongly affected.
The steady complaints highlight how the smell is more than just a small inconvenience; it’s something that disrupts students during their breaks, like nutrition and lunch periods. Many students have said it makes being outside uncomfortable and affects how they spend that time.
“Like, they’re just kind of like, it’s nasty. Like, makes you nauseous,” Ona said.
With the administration maintaining that the smell came from a temporary trash issue, the campus looks to move forward without further disruption.
