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Guide to Services - P Section
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Contents:
P
Paint odors
Pests
 Roaches
and Mice
Wasps
Fleas
Ants
Birds
and Bats
After
Hours Response
Power Out?
Public area paint
Service Guide Index
A B C
D E F
G H I J K L
M N O P Q R S
T U V W X Y Z
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| Paint Odors |
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Our painters work year-round.�
Sometimes, paint work is scheduled during the semester
in hallways, stairwells, lounges or other public areas
of resident floors.� We know from experience that some
individuals are unusually sensitive to paint as it dries.�
Even by using fans and opening windows in the hallway,
stairwell or lounge, some folks experience respiratory
distress that usually causes them to avoid areas of fresh
paint.� But, since we don't know who may be sensitive,
here's how we'll proceed when public area painting is
planned for the residential floors. |
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Before
We Paint.
At least one week in advance of any new project, we will
post signs on the floors where we have scheduled public
area painting to occur.� These signs will announce our
planned paint schedule and ask individuals who are unusually
sensitive to paint smells to call us.�
Once We�ve Started.
Call us if you�re truly bothered by the odor.� Based on
our conversation with anyone who calls, we will try to
coordinate our schedules so that the individual is inconvenienced
the least.� If necessary, schedules may be changed.� If
no accommodation can be reasonably reached, the painting
of the selected area will be postponed and the residents
of the affected floor notified. |
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Pests
Just like your own home, residence halls have ample harborage
for small insects and mice.� Complaints we receive are given
to our staff biologists.� Often, however, the lifestyles of
others may cause an insect or rodent problem in your space. |
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Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is
a process developed by agricultural researchers about
35 years ago when chemical controls for farm insect
pests began to fail.� The IPM process relies heavily
on inspection, problem identification, selection from
an array of chemical and non-chemical control options
and monitoring if and when control measures are taken.�
In our urban, residential setting, IPM practitioners
have begun to replace the pest control applicators whose
sole approach is to spray baseboards when attempting
to solve many insect infestations.
Our least-risk approach to resolving pest problems
often involves non-chemical, preventive methods such
as screening, sanitation, trapping and structural modification.�
Not surprisingly, these methods also tend to result
in long term problem resolution, thereby making the
use of pesticides unnecessary.� While our non-chemical
methods can often be the safest, most effective and
most economical, they often require your cooperation.�
For example, an exterior door with an effective door
sweep can only keep rodents and insects out if it is
not propped open and an insect screen can only keep
mosquitoes and wasps outside as long as it remains securely
in the window frame.
When we determine that a pesticide represents the best,
least-risk answer to a pest problem, we select products
and methods for their safety and effectiveness.� Before
we use a dust or liquid pesticide in your rooms or apartments,
we may require you to leave that space for a certain
length of time.� At other times, the best resolution
calls for a pesticide bait which we can place while
you are present and leave in place indefinitely.
As part of our periodic building inspection process,
we place 2" x 4" white cardboard sticky traps
in and around buildings to monitor insect activity.�
You may find one of these traps in your assignment or
in one of the public areas of your building when you
check-in.� If you happen to see one of these traps,
you will be helping us by leaving the trap where we
placed it so that we can develop a more complete picture
of conditions in your building.� When we leave these
traps in resident spaces, we may ask the person assigned
to the space to monitor the traps and phone us if they
see an insect has been trapped.
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Roaches
and Mice
Cooking in rooms, not removing trash, abandoned cardboard
boxes, and pets do directly affect your chances of "sharing
an infestation."� Mice, on the other hand, seek shelter
and come into our halls just as readily as they would
want to move into your basement at home.
And did we mention food?� Clean up after yourself.�
Store food in its packaging or use plastic bags.� Roaches
also travel inside sewer pipes, which is why our staff
frequently inspect floor drains. |
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Wasps
Paper wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets can occasionally
nest above the outside of your window, either inside or
outside the window screen.� Not much can be done to prevent
this but call x4-WORK to report these stinging
insect nests.� Keep your window closed until staff arrive. |
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Fleas
Almost every year, we have cases of fleas and flea bites caused
by residents' pets.� We are usually able to trace the source
of problems to individual residents and rooms.� As cute and
cuddly as cats or dogs may be, they often are the source for
fleas you or your floormates may get.� You can well expect that
feral cats that residents sometimes befriend from on campus
will be carrying fleas. |
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Ants
You live in a ground-level room?� Ants might be looking
for inside accommodations or come calling for food.� Call
x4-WORK for our "travel agents"
from Urban Biology, who can help your resolve this problem.
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Birds
& Bats
Once they mistakenly enter an open, unscreened window,
they can get trapped, panicked, and fly around looking
to escape our halls.�
Call x4-WORK for their ticket home.� Our
Urban Biology staff will attempt to trap these winged
intruders and escort them from the premises.� |
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After hours
Response
After hours, we also use an outside contractor to perform these
services.� Until they or our staff arrive, try not to aggravate
your guests.� If clean up is required for any little gifts,
the staff responding can also pick up what your guests left
with you.
Do Your Part... Avoid Creating a Problem in the First
Place !!!
Common sense is a lethal weapon against mice and bugs.� Many
roaches adore the living conditions created by their human neighbors.�
Mice just want to come inside. We will probably always
have an occasional insect or other animal pest, but call x4-WORK
to report any signs of these unwelcome guests.
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| Power Out |
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Power Out? What about the
Refrigerator???
From Cornell University's Cooperative Extension
Service:
Keep the refrigerator and freezer door shut as much
as possible.� Food may keep for four to six hours in
a full-size unit, less in a compact unit.� Actual times
will vary depending on your refrigerator.
Discard raw/fresh or cooked meat, poultry, fish
and seafood;
meat-topped pizza; lunchmeats; soups; milk/cream, yogurt,
soft cheese;
eggs and egg substitutes; cooked pasta, potato, rice
and salad prepared from these; cream-filled pastries;
any prepared or cooked foods if the temperature inside
the refrigerator is above 40oF
for over two hours.
Do Not Refreeze frozen food that has completely thawed
unless it is well-wrapped hard cheese, butter or margarine;
bread, pastry without custard filling; fruit or fruit
juice that has taste and still smells good.
Most frozen foods may be safely refrozen if they contain
ice crystals.�
Most completely thawed frozen food that remains below
40oF can be transferred to the
refrigerator for use within a day or two.
Discard partially thawed ice cream; it could be unsafe.
Questions about whether a food is safe to eat -- �call
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Meat & Poultry Hot
Line
1-800-535-4555 between 10 AM and 4 PM�� M-F
Discard packages/products showing signs of spoilage.
When in doubt, throw it out!
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Public
Area Paint
�Do It Yourself� Paint Project
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No, unfortunately, we gave up long ago allowing residents
to paint their own rooms.
We do allow, under certain conditions and with review
and approval from university staff, groups of residents
on a floor to paint a portion of their hallway or lounge
walls.� Traditional buildings only not suites and apartments.�
And glazed blocks in hallways cannot be painted over
under any circumstances.
Interested residents should be prepared to develop a
detailed sketch of the final design, identify colors,
and list those residents who would do the actual work.�
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Resident Life community staff review
the design sketch for content and appropriateness. � Residential
Facilities staff review the design for color selection and the
impact the design would have on the area.�� Colors can�t be
too dark, and the painted area cannot interfere with residents�
ability to evacuate in an emergency so don�t work up a design
with doors, windows or interiors that might tend to confuse
individuals.
We supply all the paint, brushes, drop clothes, etc.� You supply
the labor, care and commitment.� University staff will review
the work and, at our option, will either accept or reject the
finished work.� If accepted, the art work can remain for a period
of at least three years, barring unforeseen damage to the area
or painting.� Once the area requires total repainting, the art
work will be primed and painted over to match the prevailing
color of the area.
Interested???� Contact your community office
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