Photo Credit: Ava Word
RATS!
That’s the word spreading around Caraway Hall as residents report an uptick in unwelcome furry roommates.
While these critters may be small, the frustration and disgust is large – with the cooler, wetter weather settling in, the chances of spotting one in the dorms only increase. But students aren’t stuck dealing with this issue on their own. FAMA is responding, and there are steps residents can take to help keep dorms pest free.
Arkansas Tech student Julie Ross, a Caraway Hall resident who asked that her real name not be used, had a face-to-face encounter with one of the rodents. While in bed one night, she said she saw one run across her desk, which prompted her to climb onto an elevated surface so it could not “get her toes.”
Ross said her immediate reaction was fear. She called friends from down the hall to help and quickly filed a work order with FAMA. She said maintenance responded swiftly and handled the issue in a respectable manner. Their quick evaluation and problem-solving has eased her concerns about sleeping in Caraway Hall.
FAMA has taken the issue seriously, sending pest control to Caraway Hall twice recently in addition to its regular monthly treatments. Director of Facilities Management Drew Dickey said the uptick in rats could stem from several factors, including summer work in the building’s crawl spaces, ongoing construction at the student union or Arkansas’s unusually wet summer.
Dickey noted that students should be patient as the problem is addressed. Unlike a leaky pipe or a broken HVAC system that can be fixed immediately, rodent and insect issues take time before results are noticeable.
Dickey also outlined several ways students can help prevent unwanted roommates in their living spaces.
Keep it clean. Don’t leave food or trash out in the open, and make sure rooms stay tidy.
Store food properly. Keep items in sealed containers with secure lids, preferably off the ground.
Report sightings quickly. Submit a work order as soon as you notice a problem so FAMA can respond as quickly as possible.
It is important for students campus wide to be aware of the possibility of rodents in shared living spaces. Although the recent uptick has been isolated to Caraway Hall, pests are often a common issue in college dorms.
To do your part as a resident and Arkansas Tech University student, keep your spaces clean, store food properly, and report sightings as quickly as possible.
“FAMA is here to help and we are happy to help,” Dickey said.
