48 CommentsBwog received multiple tips today that bed bugs were found on the 4th floor of Butler. According to a tipster who works in the building, the insects were large enough that they were visible to the naked eye on upholstered chairs in room 408. Apparently, someone was living in the area—a coffee pot, toothbrush, luggage, and wet wash cloth were discovered nearby. An exterminator visited the room today, and staffers are removing the chairs. So if you see any abandoned furniture on 114th St., don’t take it.
Bwog has received no official statement from the library or University. We’ve contacted the Butler’s Director of Access Services for further comments.
At least we’re not alone! Earlier this year, bed bugs hit the Waldorf Astoria, Bloomingdale’s, The Empire State Building, The New York Department of Health (oh the irony!), Abercrombie (probs had it coming), and other revered institutions.
Itchy yet?
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48 Comments
@Please clean more in butler I was discussing the general state of filth in butler, not only bedbugs
@Please clean more in butler It has been well known that this floor was filthy and infested, especially the largest room, 403. The real problem is that the floors are rarely cleaned in 403. 403 is the most used room in butler. And, bathrooms on the 3rd and 4th floor are used far more than other bathrooms in butler. There should be more frequency to cleaning based on usage of both these particular bathrooms and 403.
@Anon The bathrooms are kind of irrelevant actually. Bed bugs like upholstered furniture.
@JP CU is now accepting bed bugs on affirmative action… based on the fact that our speciesist anti-bed bug prejudices are the worst among the insect community…
:-/
#transfer #dirty #mylibraryisahomelessshelter
#thanksprezbo
@No way. I bet those buggers would throw off the curve. Evil little shits.
@simmer down! the bed bugs just want to study like us! give them a break.
@Francie Mrkich Thanks to a student’s proactive report of seeing a bedbug in one of the Butler 4th floor group study rooms on Monday morning, we were able to quickly close the two affected rooms and call in professional exterminators for treatment. The exterminators wrapped and discarded the infested chairs, and vacuumed and chemically treated the spaces. The rooms will remain closed until a follow up cleaning occurs. The rooms are planned to reopen by the end of the week.
The exterminators also did an inspection of the other 4th floor study spaces and found no other signs of infestation. Those rooms are being monitored and the exterminators will make a follow up inspection in several days.
The Libraries are also discussing ongoing preventative inspections of our spaces to avoid future infestations.
Francie Mrkich
Director of Access Services
Columbia University Libraries
@Anonymous They should have been doing this all along.
@dude why are you not checking every floor?? that’s ridiculous.
@yuck not to mention that the BB are probably setting up shop inside the books
@yuck From what I’ve read, when bed bugs are crawling around, clearly visible, doesn’t that indicate a very BAD infestation??
@Anonymous Yes. Yes it does.
@SEAS Boy I think the 4th floor is less crowded now. If I could find some bed bug resistant clothing, I think I could study in the exact corner. Don’t worry, I shower (I have to look nice/smell clean for my job…cause you know, that’s a basic skill request to be employed.) I got my own personal study spot that no one is willing to touch.
@Anonymous showering won’t save you from bed bugs
@You are mistaken. There is no such thing as bed bug resistant clothing.
@orly? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/files/2008/10/biohazard.jpg
http://www.semp.us/images/Biot629PhotoC.jpg
I beg to differ
@my neighbor has a farting problem.
@Revered Institutions should not include Abercrombie…
@Anonymous it’s a joke…
@wishful thinking Given the recent NYC bed bug panic and people being on the look-out for them, other insects (mites, immature roaches, young ticks, book lice, etc.) are often misidentified as bed bugs. So until there’s confirmation from an expert it’s possible these aren’t bed bugs. Let’s hope!
@Anonymous it’s not so hard to tell
@Anonymous Trust me, I was working in 407 on monday and one crawled out onto my arm. I and several other people all called Butler and reported it. There is ZERO doubt.
To people who want to study in Butler but stay safe- get a clean white sheet and drape it over the chair before you sit in it. They cant get thru the material and they will leave… evidence if they try.
Of course, now we need to freak out about what OTHER places on campus may have been infested. Ain’t this just GRAND?
@Anonymous Bed Bugs attach to cloth . and are generally microscopic until they feed on your blood & then are visible. A cloth sheet wont be protective but plastic is a friend.
I have a mini bottle of a water based bed bug spray & just hit my clothing & coat w/ a protective layer before I hit the public .http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=jt+eaton&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=8012964823703993761&sa=X&ei=fRyKTbGINqi00QGg9uTuDQ&ved=0CFEQ8wIwBw#
After spending a few thousand on a year & a half of treatment, furniture & cleaning clothing ..be proactive . My exterminator says the bed bugs have been crazy for at least 7 years & the media is just talking in the last 2 years about it.
@Anony-mouse So butler is either 2 years or 7 years behind the ball on being proactive about it. Good to know.
@Anonymous another reason why it’s bad to study…
@Anonymous nothing good happens past the 3rd floor y’all
@WHAT THE FUCK
@CUIT Sleep tight, and don’t let the bed bugs byte.
@Anonymous that’s so gross! I am really skeeved out.
@wha? “Apparently, someone was living in the area” wtf? really!?!
@Anonymous a coffee pot and luggage?
@Don't forget The wet washcloth!
@Anonymous Why does Butler let people sleep there?
There are always several homeless people in those alcove rooms on the third floor. It ruins my elitism buzz
@Gross/scary Enough with the bedbugs, NYC!
But then we also have to ask, who was living in Butler?
@Anonymous my roommates fault. that son of a gun is never home cuz he eats sleeps and defecates in that corner
@Anonymous Foul. Bed bugs can basically fucking ruin your life.
@Anonymous all together now:
PERSPECTIVE
@Bed Bug Guy Sorry everyone!
@ew EW OH MY GOD. good excuse never to go back to butler
@Anonymous how can you people honestly criticize somebody so dedicated to their studies?
@Anonymous if they were really dedicated they would go home and get a good night’s sleep so that they could function well the next day. and you know, SHOWER.
@Anonymous Really? Syfy? I am disappoint.
@Anonymous Much better. Thanks. =P
@Hmm Wonder if I can extend my year abroad for another year…
@Anonymous Definitely glad I’m abroad.
Though smelly roommates after living in a single for the last 5 semesters… I don’t know…
@Thank you!!! It’s you people abroad who are infested with the critters and transport them to the U.S. Yes, please stay far far away from Columbia.
@anonymous and its ignorant folks like you that have no place on our campus at all. peace!
@and it’s ignorant folks like you who write “its” instead of “it’s,” bitch.