Imagine stepping out of the shower to wear your pajamas and favorite fuzzy socks. All seems well until something brushes against your leg. You watch in silent horror as a cricket skitters across the floor. I had this exact experience two weeks ago.
If, like me, the sight of most critters leaves you petrified, you might wonder how I survived such an ordeal. While students typically do not find crickets in their socks, most on-campus residents share two problems: mold and bug infestations.
“When we first moved in, mold was all over our dorm, but maintenance cleaned it that day,” Sophomore social work major Stirling Terry said. “However, two or so weeks ago, we noticed mold completely covering our suitemates’ side of the bathroom door.”
Although maintenance responded to the complaint within a couple of days, the mold had already ruined some of the suitemates’ belongings.
“I put in several fix tickets for the mold issue, the most recent one being on Sep. 25. The next day, maintenance came to check out the problem,” Freshman psychology major Lacey Cox, Terry’s roommate, said. “The maintenance man said he would have to take pictures for the office since they had already ‘fixed’ it when we moved in. It was eventually fixed on Sep. 30.”
Louisiana’s high moisture levels are the ideal environment for mold growth. To counter this, we need to take preventative measures. One solution could be updating or sealing open crevices in rooms. Properly sealed cracks, windows and corners will significantly decrease mold growth.
Now, the grievance I hold close to my heart: the crickets. Before I stepped on campus, an upperclassman warned me about the ongoing issue with crickets in Masur Hall. I expected the dorm would have a few quirks due to age, but the cricket issue goes beyond creaky doors and steep staircases. The pesky insects lurk outside of doorways, in the bathrooms and even within the light fixtures in Masur Hall.
Though I spray the inside and outside of my dorm for bugs nearly three times a week, my efforts are in vain. Students should be concerned because crickets can damage natural fabrics by chewing on them. I haven’t even mentioned the irritating chirping in the early hours of the morning. Residential life should order more frequent pest control treatments and address sealant issues to keep them out.
Overall, I’ve come to appreciate the opportunity to live on campus, but the residential buildings need serious improvements. With a booming student population, it’s only fair to provide current and future Warhawks with the best possible on-campus living experience. After all, shouldn’t ULM be your home away from home?