Students Aren't the Only Residents in Housing

Recently, Fordham University senior Michelle Hopkins sued her residence halls for negligence-negligence toward her growing bed bug problem at the end of September. Though this occurred in The New Yorker Hotel, those in charge were Educational Housing Services (EHS), the same company that provides University housing at the St. George Hotel and on John St.

Students are well aware that the St. George Hotel is a historic (meaning old) building. Many rooms are fair to poorly maintained and damages done by previous residents are usually not fixed but merely covered up, aiding the invasions of repugnant bugs.

Despite this, students have gotten used to the seemingly endless problems, including plumbing issues, poor plaster and paint jobs, carpets that seem to have originated with the building, rooms that seem to have not been cleaned thoroughly between residents and so on. But students do not want to shrug their shoulders over problem like roaches and bed bugs.

Roach problems are not new in NYC, but at thousands of dollars a semester, students are upset that they have to deal with problems of the like at all. It only adds stress for students who already worry about school, internship or a job, a personal life and so on.

Sophomore and marketing major Janeen McNeish says that she expects more from the University and EHS. "They shouldn't wait until there is a bug problem, but should spray the entire building regularly. Something needs to be done," she said.

Genevieve Jacko, a junior English major said, "I think its messed up when you can't even get your clothes out of your drawer in the morning without having to worry about a cockroach coming out of it, like you don't know if they're going to be in your clothing." She continued, "It's kind of scary. I hate that we're living here and paying so much money and we have this problem."

So what can you do about this besides getting an apartment? If you have problems with bed bugs or roaches, go to either an EHS officer or the Housing office.

If you've got roaches, sign up for a work order and describe your problem, or go to the EHS office where you will be asked your room name and number. An exterminator comes every Wednesday to rooms which report problems. If it is a relatively minor problem, the exterminator will spray the corners of the room.

If there is an infestation, the entire room may be bombed, but you will have to leave for a few hours, remove everything from the floors and clean sheets and other surfaces afterwards.

If bed bugs are your guests (they are visible to your naked eye), you must make sure that the room does in fact have an infestation. Most of the time, residents are usually moved to another room temporarily or permanently. EHS will bring a professional exterminator to fumigate the room.

To keep your room bug-free, follow these tips. These might seem like common sense but they must be constantly practiced it you don't want any unwanted visitors:

Throw anything with traces of food or drink out in the garbage room immediately after use. Only keep a trashcan in the room for non-food or drink items.

Keep your room clean-minimize clutter, to eliminate hiding space for bugs. Use storage containers, shelves or anything to keep less stuff off of the ground. Keep books and paper off of the ground, as roaches enjoy snacking on them as well. Also, you must vacuum regularly. Clean dirty dishes right away or store them in the fridge until you can clean them seriously. If you're using roach bait trays, it is essential to place them in corners or against the edge of the wall and floor; otherwise they are far less effective.

Although roaches tend to be associated with unsanitary conditions, the reason they originate in a building is by being transported there from another infested place. According to St. George resident advisor Thesa Loving, " cardboard boxes, items from grocery stores or take-out containers," will attract unsightly visitors. "The St. George is an old building, so it's going to have issues. We have restaurants and stores downstairs, so the bugs can migrate."

In the end it comes down to keeping your room as clean as you can and inspecting outside items before bringing them in your room to prevent bugs from getting in, and if you have a problem to report it immediately.