Eighty-seven University of Florida students gathered on the Plaza of the Americas to squat for 10 minutes as part of World Toilet Day, organized by Gators for UNICEF, in an attempt to break the world record of 118 people squatting at once. While they fell short of the record with only 87 participants, the event brought awareness to the fact that 2.4 billion people worldwide lack access to basic sanitation facilities. Some students reported sore legs after participating in the squatting activity.

1. UF students squat on Plaza
Written by: Asia Mckenzie
Eighty-seven people popped a squat on
the Plaza of the Americas on Thursday
afternoon.
Gators for UNICEF hosted World Toilet
Day in the hopes of breaking the world
record of 118 people squatting in one
area for 10 minutes, similarly to how
people sit on toilets.
While they fell 32 people short of
beating the record, Gators for UNICEF
President Jobi Bieluch said they were
still able to educate students about the
2.4 billion people who don’t have access
to bathrooms.
Chloe Bennett, the Gators for UNICEF
treasurer, said the rain may have
affected the event’s turnout.
"We’re a small organization," the UF
political science junior said. "We wanted
an event that would bring a lot of people
and brings awareness to this — to the
fact that not a lot of people around the
world have access to sanitary facilities."
UF criminology and law sophomore
Bryan Boggiano said squatting at the
event made his legs more sore than
they were before.
"My legs are definitely sore from
yesterday," the 19-year-old said.
"Yesterday was leg day for me."
He said he still liked that the group
taught people about the importance of
clean water.
Melissa Turnier, a UF Spanish senior,
squatted with her professor. It was her
favorite part of the event.
"It was cool to see people stop and take
part in the event, especially because we
are so busy the last days of the
semester," the 22-year-old said.