On Friday, Ann Bailey, director of Housing and Residence Life issued memos to sixth and seventh floor residents of Hamlin Hall mandating relocation and reassignments as the university responds to the bat infestation. The memo stated that since the hall-wide meeting (Sept. 26), the odor had “intensified and spread beyond the suite bathrooms to resident rooms and hallways.”
As a result, additional time and work will be “required to control the odor and complete repair and sanitation needs after the bat relocation.”
While residents of the first through fifth floors were not required to relocate, they could request reassignment if they choose.
Residents of the sixth and seventh floors received first priority and were requested “to contact assignment staff members Margaret Volkenant-Meurer or Josie Brown as soon as possible to request and receive new housing room assignments in Hamlin Hall or another women’s resident halls.”
Both Hamlin Hall and housing assignment staff were available over the weekend to “facilitate a move on Saturday or Sunday.”
Housing facilities staff also helped residents move packed boxes to new rooms and dorms. The staff will continue to help residents between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. throughout the week. The Department of Housing and Residence Life hopes to complete all moves by Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2002.
The memo also included several steps that will be taken over the next six to seven weeks to move the bats from Hamlin Hall. These include:
*One-way ‘bat doors’ will be installed to give bats an exit from the building and to block re-entry.
*Bat traps will be placed on the roof of the building.
*Bats will be relocated to the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge or another off-campus location.
*Metal hardware covers and room window screens will be installed to close vulnerable cracks and seals.
*Housing facilities staff will check daily for additional sanitation needs.
The memo also told residents that the Department of Housing and Resident Life had contacted the MSU Health Center and the State Department of Health to discuss sanitation guidelines and associated health risks and had been “assured that the current management efforts were consistent with standard practice.”
Residents can contact Hamlin Hall and housing staff for any questions, concerns or other needs. In the memo, Bailey apologized for any inconveniences residents have encountered and said “we (the housing department and the university) are doing everything we can to handle this issue in an expedient manner.”
For more information contact Bailey at 325-3557. For information about reassignment, contact Vokenant-Meurer at 325-1553. For information regarding moving assistance, contact Keith Yeatman at 325-8461.
Ann Bailey, director of MSU housing sent to Hamlin Hall residents and university officials.
Dear Hamlin Hall Residents:
On Thursday, September 26, 2002, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Conservation staff facilitated with Housing and Residence Life staff a Hamlin Hall-wide meeting regarding the discovery of a concentration of bats between the exterior and interior back walls of the 6th and 7th floors of Hamlin Hall. This concentration is primarily around the suite bathrooms’ heating units. During this meeting, wildlife conservation staff indicated the steps to be taken over the next 6-7 weeks to relocate this concentration of bats from Hamlin Hall. These steps include placement of one-way ‘bat doors’ in order to give the bats an exit from the building and block re-entry. This process will require members of the USDA staff to rappel from the roof of Hamlin Hall onto the back exterior walls of the building to accomplish these plans. This effort has been contractually finalized and the USDA staff will mobilize as soon as possible. Bat traps will be placed on the roof of the building to aid in the relocation of the bats to the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge or another off-campus location. In addition, housing facilities staff are installing metal hardware covers and room window screens, sealing up vulnerable cracks and seals, and checking daily for additional sanitation needs. The Department of Housing and Residence Life has also been in contact with the MSU Health Center and the State Department of Health to discuss sanitation guidelines and associated health risks and we have been assured that these current management efforts are consistent with standard practice.
Since our hall-wide meeting last week, the odor has intensified and spread beyond the suite bathrooms to resident rooms and hallways. As a result, additional time and work will be required to control the odor and complete repair and sanitation needs after the bat relocation. Due to this discovery and as a precautionary measure, residents of 6th and 7th floors will be relocated during the next few days to minimize resident disruption while the university responds to the issue. Residents of 1st through 5th floors will not be required to relocate, but may request reassignment if they choose. Residents of the 6th and 7th floors are requested to contact housing assignments staff members Marnie Volkenant-Meurer at 325-1553 or Joie Brown at 325-1556 as soon as possible to request and receive new housing room assignments in Hamlin Hall or another women’s residence hall. During the weekend, residents may contact Hamlin Hall staff and they will contact assignments staff at home to facilitate a move on Saturday or Sunday. Our goal is to complete all moves by Wednesday, October 9, 2002. Individual issues related to this goal of Wednesday, October 9, will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Housing Facilities staff will be available to help with moving needs. Boxes are available in the lounges and/or kitchen areas of 6th floor and the lobby. Staff will assist with moving packed boxes as requested by contacting Keith Yeatman at 418-1963 or 325-8461. The staff will be available from 1 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 5, and Sunday, October 6, and between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. Residents who have private rooms will be reassigned to another private room and any increase in housing fees that would ordinarily result from a move to a more expensive location (i.e., to a renovated building or single student apartment space) will be waived for the Fall 2002 semester. Contract appeals may be submitted to Marnie Volkenant-Meurer by completing the contract appeals application available in the Housing Office in Herbert Hall. Residents of 6th and 7th floors will receive priority in relocation assignments. Requests for relocation from residents residing on 1st-5th floors will be accepted and accommodated accordingly.
As we work together to solve this issue, we appreciate your patience and cooperation. Housing and Residence Life staff members are available to assist with any questions, concerns or other needs you may have to make your move successful. Additional needs can be directed to the staff of Hamlin Hall and the housing office at 325-3555. We apologize for any inconvenience or discomfort that this issue may have caused. Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to handle this issue in an expedient manner.
Sincerely,
Dr. E. Ann Bailey
Director of Housing and Residence Life