Camino’s creepy crawlies

How USD has dealt with the classroom termite infestation

LILI KIM / CONTRIBUTOR / THE USD VISTA

After a week of relaxation and fun, USD students and faculty often find it hard to return from Spring Break. Yet on the first day back, students and faculty came back to an unexpected surprise: a colony of termites moved into Camino Hall. 

On Monday, March 13, students and professors noticed a group of small, winged bugs congregating on one side of Camino 110, a classroom used for various Communication classes. With no prior warning about the possible infestation, professors had no choice but to carry out their lectures in the room that day. One such professor is Dr. Diane Keeling, who teaches her Podcast Storytelling Lecture course in Camino 110 on Monday nights. 

“As students started arriving, the ones sitting by the window said there were a bunch of bugs on the floor,” Keeling recounted. “There were a lot of them wandering around together on the floor and some of them flying about. We continued on with class, but every once in a while, a student would swat away a flying termite.” 

Dr. Aziz Muqaddam, a fellow Camino 110 professor, had a similar experience upon his return to campus. He recalls seeing the termites firsthand and telling students to move to the front of the class to avoid them. 

“The students were anxious about it to say the least…Thank God I had a small class.” 

Professors weren’t the only ones bothered by the unwelcome pests. Gaby Sanchez, a student in Dr. Keeling’s Podcast class and member of USDTV, shared her discomfort with finding termites near her desk. 

“I’m scratching myself just thinking about it!” Sanchez exclaimed. “You never know where they could be, and they said that it was confined in that room, but that’s not really how termites work… they move.” 

Both Dr. Keeling and Dr. Muqaddam immediately reported their findings to alert Matt Springer, the executive assistant of the Communication department. By Wednesday March 15, Camino 110 was shut down, and professors were relocated to various classrooms across campus, including in the Learning Commons and Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice. 

While USD immediately found new spaces to hold classes temporarily, there was a mixed response among professors and students. The majority opinion was positive, and all the professors were grateful for USD’s swift response. Dr. Keeling, as well as Communication professor Tom Herman expressed their appreciation for the beautiful classrooms. Professor Herman used words like “splendid” and “superb” to describe his new classroom in the Learning Commons. 

Dr. Keeling also shared her positive experience with the classroom move. 

“The change in scenery has actually sparked new energy into the class. It’s nice to have a change of pace mid-semester,” Keeling said. “I would stay in the new classroom for the rest of the semester if needed.” 

The one drawback brought up by professors was the shift between different types of classrooms. For example, Dr. Muqaddam’s class, a Digital Analytics lecture, requires a lab for students to use desktop computers. 

“It’s a completely different room. That one is a computer lab, while the other room is a seminar room.” Dr. Muqaddam said. “It just so happened that every student had a laptop, but I would’ve preferred to stay in a lab where students could use computers.”

On Wednesday, March 22, professors received the green light from Matt Springer that fumigation of Camino 110 had been completed. According to an email forwarded by Springer, the exterminators reported to USD facilities that they utilized a termiticide/insecticide called “Termidor SC,” which is in the phenyl pyrazole chemical family and may cause acute toxicity if inhaled or ingested. Professors could finally relocate to Camino 110 on March 27, and put the infestation issue behind them…or so they thought. 

As soon as the classes returned, more sightings of termites emerged in Camino 110. This brought up frustration for both professors and students, as the classroom had to be evacuated for a second time. 

“I feel like the school should be trying to fix this more efficiently so that we wouldn’t have to worry about moving back and forth,” Gaby Sanchez described. “It’s more so annoying to have to move from classroom to classroom.” 

According to Springer, the exterminator was contacted again and explained that it can take up to a week for the fumigation chemicals to work. Thus, classes will return to Camino 110 for a second time following Easter break, while several professors have decided to remain in the Learning Commons for the remainder of the semester.  “I suggested proceeding with caution when deciding between staying out of the room and returning, as we can’t be 100% sure the termites won’t come back…what if they’re living in the walls?” Springer said. 

While the door to the termite infestation is technically closed, it opens other doors to questions about maintenance and care of College of Arts and Sciences buildings in general. Sanchez believes there could be more work to be done. 

“I wish that the school would put in more effort to buildings like Camino. I think because there are so many people in the College of Arts and Sciences, they should put more attention into that space.” she said. “If [the termites] are an issue, what other issues could there be?” 

With the new construction of the Knauss Center of Business Education and the upcoming building of the USD Wellness Center, it is evident USD is dedicated to upscaling the campus for an improved student experience. The Camino termites serve as a reminder of  the need for continuous care and maintenance for the oldest buildings on campus as well.