BY SEAN MCINTYRE
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
A New Yorker’s biggest nightmare is the size of an apple seed: bedbugs. They are not able to jump or fly, but they can navigate quickly through residences. This semester a rumor circulated that these creatures were loose on the ninth floor of Horan Hall.
“I can confirm that there are no cases of bed bugs on campus,” Andrew Weingarten, interim director of residence life, said. “Though cases of bed bugs are extremely rare on our campus, we have policies and procedures in place to address such concerns quickly and effectively.”
The rumor sprouted from a student living on the ninth floor who suffered from a skin rash that was treated within 24 hours of it being presented to resident assistant Juliana Alonge.
“The resident told his roommates and came to me. The problem was not at all bedbugs and was very contained,” Alonge said. “We closed the washer machines on the ninth floor during his treatment which could have added to the bedbug rumors.”
Residence Life took the necessary precautions to ensure the health of all Horan residents would not be affected by working with both Health Services and New York City Health Department. Resident Directors researched the student’s skin rash and contacted experts to ensure that bedbugs were not the source of the rash.
“Once the student went to the doctors, he was medicated and healed within a few days,” Alonge said.
According to the NYC Health Deparment, bedbugs are not harmful to an individual’s health since they cannot spread disease. At most an individual will experience bites that could swell and become scratchy.
To exterminate bedbugs, individuals should contact professionals to use pesticides, and individuals should clean their clothing by drying their clothes and sheets on the hottest setting. Using covers for box springs and mattresses can help prevent the spread of bedbugs.
“If students are ever concerned, they can speak to any residence life, housekeeping, physical plant, or public safety personnel and will receive immediate assistance,” Weingarten said.
Even though the rumor has been debunked, some students were concerned with the idea of bedbugs being present at MC.
“I would ask for a new mattress,” Ashley Stec, junior economics student, said. “I would bleach everything.”
“I would call my mom,” said Katie Reese, a sophomore exercise science student.
Even though New York is infamous for these creatures, according to the Huffington Post article “Top Bed Bug Cities: 12 Most Infested Urban Areas,” New York is ranked in ninth place out of all U.S. cities. The top three bedbug infested cities are Cincinnati, Chicago and Detroit.