COMMUNICATIONS SENT OUT BY THE UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA CLAIM THERE ARE NO ACTIVE INFESTATIONS, BUT ANXIETY IS STILL RISING AMONG STUDENTS
Through an email sent to the student body on Nov. 25, the University of Ottawa claims there are no active cases or infestations of bed bugs on campus, despite sightings reported by students.
In the past week, r/GeeGees, the University of Ottawa’s student-run Reddit page, exploded with concern following sightings at the Learning Crossroads (CRX), the University Centre (UCU), and the circulation of videos showing the bugs at the Morisset library.
University of Ottawa spokesperson, Jesse Robichaud, told the Fulcrum the University is aware of the social media reports, and “has established protocols to prevent and respond to the presence of bed bugs.”
Despite this, Adele Klassen, a masters student in security and defense studies, had a bed bug cross her laptop in CRX 408 on Friday Nov. 21.
Klassen reported that after returning from the washroom, there was a “little red thing on [her] keyboard,” proceeding to kill it, and resuming class. After wondering what bug it was, Klassen confirmed through Google images and notified her professor.
To Klassen, the experience was “troubling,” saying that if she would have introduced an infestation into her home it would be “life crippling”. Now, she brings her belongings to campus in a garbage bag to avoid bringing any bugs home, which has created “an atmosphere of anxiety and panic” among her friends.
Currently, r/GeeGees is dominated by students skeptical of the university’s transparency and the possible fear mongering created by the social media.
The University’s statement continued, noting that “bed bug traps have been installed… taking all necessary precautions to ensure the well-being of students.”
The statement however claimed that “bed bug situations are rare,” despite Stephane Villeneuve, a service manager with Regionex — one of the pest control companies contracted by campus — considering it to be “normal for a place [like the university] to have a case of bed bugs every month.”
According to the service provider, given the large student body and shared spaces on campus, individuals tend to transport bed bugs “on their person or within their bags without even realizing it.”
Official numbers of how often Regionex treats infestations at the University of Ottawa were unavailable, but according to Robichaud, in September, there were three cases of bed bugs in student residences.
Notably, a group of students living in the Annex dorm faced an infestation and were left with a $2,000 hotel bill after being informed that housing insurance offered by the university does not extend to bugs. The students still have not been reimbursed for the hotel bill, despite moving out being suggested.
Emotional impacts on students
Villeneuve told the Fulcrum that within his line of work, he often sees clients suffering from various emotional impacts when faced with an infestation.
“There are some people who are just afraid of bugs, but bed bugs are worse because they take your blood,” said Villeneuve. Villeneuve told the Fulcrum that some clients refuse to stay in their houses until infestations are fully cleared out — a process that can take multiple weeks.
The government of Canada has reported that in some cases, individuals with infestations may report mental health impacts including anxiety and insomnia.
Andres Martinez, a fourth year philosophy and political science student, told the Fulcrum “I was actually [at the library] working on an essay the same day the [first] post was made,” leaving students “ feeling [un]comfortable and [un]safe going to the library.”
One U of O student who experienced living with bed bugs in 2021 told the Fulcrum that “it’s basically like having no safe space at home, because you know that all the bugs are under you, waiting for you to sleep.”
The same student told the Fulcrum that their landlord contributed to the stress and “kept trying to convince [them] to pay for treating [the pests],” harming their overall home environment.
Moving forward
The University of Ottawa’s Student Union (UOSU) has acknowledged that with finals starting next week, there is enough stress among students “without having the worry of bringing home a bed bug infestation after a long night of working in the library.”
UOSU has launched a form for students to submit pictures of bed bugs found on campus to
“Better advocate for virtual classes, greater transparency, resources for students in residence, and more.”
Furthermore, Villeneuve told the Fulcrum of the proactive initiatives Regionex carries out, such as monthly inspections of common areas, but stressed the importance of students taking photos and reporting possible sightings of bugs — saying that inspections usually take place within 24 hours.
