Bed bug infestation hits Rutgers dorm

A Rutgers University dormitory has been dealing with an ongoing bed bug infestation that the school has not done enough to fix, according to some students and their families.
Jameson Hall, a residence hall on Rutgers’ Douglass Campus in New Brunswick, is being treated for bed bugs, a university spokeswoman said. The dorm is part of the school’s Kathleen Ludwig Global Village Living and Learning Community, a hub for global education at Rutgers.
“Residence and Life Facilities staff are working directly with residents at Jameson Hall to eradicate the bed bug problem and prevent future infestations,” said Patti Zielinski, a Rutgers spokesperson.
“Staff members met with residents and parents last night to hear concerns, answer questions, provide support and share guidance from pest control experts, and will continue to manage mitigation efforts and respond to any new issues that might arise,” she said Wednesday.
A petition started on Change.org last week by a resident of the dorm had more than 530 signatures Thursday morning.
The petition outlines health and quality of life concerns. It also alleges university officials have not taken the bed bug issue seriously and initially dismissed the first complaint as a rumor. Residents have continually expressed concerns to university officials about the bed bugs, which have been a problem since March, according to the petition’s organizer.
A student who slept in the hall’s lounge “unknowingly transferred bed bugs to her bedding when she moved to her bed,” the petition said. The bugs led to “a severe case of cellulitis due to intense itching,” requiring a visit to the medical center on campus, the petition said.
Since March, the number of bed bug complaints has increased, with students reporting bites on their faces, arms, legs, feet and backs, the petition’s organizer said.
“This has led some residents to commute by train to the Rutgers University campus, as they felt uncomfortable living in a bedbug infested dorm, resulting in reliance on personal expenses for travel despite paying $4,800 to $5,500 per semester for on-campus housing,” the petition said.
The university requested bed bug samples for testing and brought in a pest control firm for inspections, according to the petition. The treatment has included the use of chemicals, covering mattresses with bed bug encasements and placing bed bug interceptor bowls under beds.
The residents are requesting a thorough inspection of all affected rooms by a specifically-trained bed bug company, a fumigation service for the entire building and information provided to students on preventive measures and post-treatment guidelines, according to the petition.
Built in 1927, Jameson Hall is one of the university’s traditional residence halls. Located near the Douglass Student Center, the building has three floors and sleeps 280 students, according to Rutgers’ website.
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Brianna Kudisch may be reached at [email protected].