Campus officials have worked diligently to rid the cafeteria of rodents over the Winter Break, according to Casey Kreger, Senior Director of Housing and Residence Life.
This comes just months after student reports of mice sightings in the dining hall during the fall semester.
Kreger assures students that reports had not gone unheard, adding that “food safety is a priority” concern for the campus.
Kreger’s role oversees campus dining services in addition to housing duties, managing contracts, and relations with Chartwells, OCU’s contracted food service provider.
Kreger says that Chartwells management acted in real time, making him aware of the issue. Dining Services then notified Facilities promptly, initiating the extermination process.
According to Kreger, Jeff Barnes, the campus’s Pest Control Technician, has led the extermination efforts.
Barnes has focused on humane removal methods, such as chemical deterrents and mice traps inside and outside the building.
Barnes has avoided using mice poison to prevent food contamination and smells of dead mice in hard-to-reach locations.
Barnes and Kreger are confident that the threat is minimal but are committed to ending the issue.
Kreger says that the department will contract a third-party extermination service if the threat grows.
Over the winter break, campus maintenance stripped and resealed floors to deep-clean while there was less foot traffic in the cafeteria.
Dining Services and Facilities agree that this should aid in covering the hard-to-reach spaces.
Strong communication with Chartwells management has played a significant role in combatting the issue.
The dining service has worked to examine storage methods and cleaning practices in food preparation areas.
Currently, there has been no sign of mice in the areas, but cleaning measures have been increased.
Kreger adds that if signs arise, they have protocols in place, allowing food to be prepared in an alternative location.
The campus community is encouraged to continue reporting rodent sightings, which will aid in the documentation and treatment processes.
If you have any questions regarding the issue, Kreger encourages you to email him at crkreger@okcu.edu.
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