CSUN Site Closes for Termite Cleanup

It wasn’t exactly the greatest show on Earth, but on Friday the big top came to Cal State Northridge.

No sideshow or circus, it was actually a series of fumigation tents erected around the 19-year-old University Student Union in preparation for a chemical warfare assault on termites that have been nibbling on the roof.

“It’s a massive job,” said student union Executive Director Debra Hammond, who along with the rest of the student union’s staff received an unexpected day off on Friday because of the extermination work.

Opened in 1977, the student union contains the headquarters of CSUN’s student government, the university’s new performing arts center and the career center, as well as several restaurants and recreation centers.

The complex will reopen on Monday.

According to Hammond, since the site also contains the center of CSUN’s computer and communications systems, the campus computer network will also be shut down for several days.

“We didn’t want to take the chance that something would happen and we couldn’t get in,” she said. Hammond noted that the work will not disrupt campus telephones, however.

The infestation was discovered during a recent roof inspection in older portions of the complex.

“Termites are everywhere,” Hammond said. “There’s a lot of wood in the old facility.”

Once the $50,000 fumigation is complete, the student union will begin a 60-day project to repair the damaged portions of the roof, she said.