Every year, colleges across the country are stricken by those tiny, biting and annoying critters that hide in sheets, mattresses and corners: bedbugs.
We’re just a couple weeks into the academic year and the bugs have already gone on the offensive. Although far from approaching epidemic levels, DU has already seen a minor outbreak of bedbugs this year, notably in Johnson-McFarlane Hall.
Actions taken by the university have also netted a similar mixed bag of responses. Although the university was quick on their initial response to the situation, some students have said that many emails and phone calls were unanswered. On the other side, the Housing Department reported that students were kept in constant contact. Considering there are conflicting accounts of what happened and breakdown in communication occured, it is clear that the university’s actions throughout the inspection process are certainly worthy of some major changes.
“We were scolded for something that wasn’t our fault,” said Henry Rozenman, a freshman English major from Columbus, Ohio. “The inspection process made us feel like juveniles.” Other residents afflicted by the bugs made mention of the inspectors not responding to student questions, making jokes, neglecting to examine all areas of the room giving a vibe that made them feel like they were responsible for the situation.
Su Pal, the assistant director of housing operations for the Department of Housing and Residential Education, said that she had communicated with the outside vendor that performed the inspections about multiple residents saying that the process was shoddy and rude. If these accounts are true, then the University should immediately cease all associations with this treatment company and find another that will treat students with the respect they deserve.
According to Pal, the last widespread outbreak of bedbugs at DU took place in 2011. One of the changes resulting from that was a policy that encourages students not to sleep in other dorm rooms. This is an unrealistic recommendation—many students have said they feel very uncomfortable about sleeping in their own room, and considering the other option is to camp out in the common areas of dorms, it is time the university revises its policy towards one based on caution, but allowance.
The highest priority for the university and its student body regarding this issue should be a focus on improving awareness and education on bedbugs in dorms. Incoming freshmen during Orientation Week are treated with seminars on, for example, financial aid and alcohol and drugs, which are both critically important, but including information on how to prevent bedbugs and what to do if they are spotted could make these situations less stressful for all.
That being said, there is a problem that reaches far beyond DU when it comes to bedbugs. The harassment and the jokes towards students in this situation needs to stop. This should not be a taboo issue—so instead of sweeping it under the bed, let’s make it a community goal to talk, to educate and to spread awareness. When we couple that with simple improvements to the current policy regarding the inspection and communication process, the end result will be a more positive and less stressed faculty and student body.
