By Robert Binger, Special to the Chronicle
In the Oct. 20 issue of The Chronicle, an article entitled "Unconfirmed Critters" detailed the ordeal of a few Hofstra students spotting cockroaches in their dorms. A week later, Associate Director of Residential Programs for Operations Jean Anne Smith and Director of Campus Operations Dom Lavin said that the whole ordeal was "a case of misidentification."
Lavin told The Chronicle that when the case mentioned in the October issue was reported, an extermination company came in and set traps. The report was followed up and the traps were checked.
"We have not had any positive sightings, or evidence in traps," he said. "The last article that was in The Chronicle, the picture that was in there, it was a cricket." Lavin went on to say that the picture had been sent to the exterminating company [Assured Environments] for identification and thus this information was obtained.
"Up near the towers we have those evergreens," said Lavin. "They get this certain type of beetle." Smith agreed that this may be what students have seen. These beetles are in no way cockroaches, though they may look like them. The two said that these bugs could get in through open windows or bags that students may have.
Even though Lavin says that the cockroach story is just a misunderstanding, he still encourages students to call in if they see anything. "Make sure you call into this office and we'll send somebody, and we do follow up with it. But the ones we've seen so far, we have not found any cockroaches. But we do treat it anyways."
For any students concerned with toxins in their room as a result of the extermination, Lavin made it clear that "they proactively treat with a very low level type of bait." This bait isn't dangerous to humans, but simply gets on any insects that are around, and carries to bugs they may come into contact with. "These folks are available 24/7 and they will respond within two hours notice," said Lavin.
Lavin especially would like to send this message to students such as Kristina Kovacs, a sophomore, who say that they have seen cockroaches.
"My roommate, Sam, called me into the room when I was in the lounge because she saw a cockroach run out from under her drawers. When I got to the room it was behind our dressers in the corner of the room," said Kovacs.
Kovacs says that the two couldn't even sleep in the room because they were "so skeeved out." Smith and Lavin say that this situation was treated, but as far as cockroaches go, this was just a case of misidentification.
Students are still encouraged to report any possible sightings with which the University will be happy to help. "We try to be as proactive as possible."
If you believe there is a pest in your room, you should call Residential Programs x3-6930 or the Physical Plant Department x3-6619 during the day, and Public Safety x3-6606 after hours.