“I’ve talked about cockroaches more within the past few months than I have in the 18 years prior to coming here,” Asher Tucknott said.

Tucknott, a first-year student at Oregon State University and resident on the second floor of McNary Resident Hall has encountered cockroaches four times; once in his own room and three times in the second-floor bathrooms.

McNary is a first-year dorm hall often referred to as “McNasty” by residents due to cockroach sightings.

Tucknott is not the only resident who has had these experiences. There have been multiple cockroach sightings in McNary. Many cockroach sightings have occurred on the second floor of McNary, but some cockroaches have been seen as far up as the sixth floor.

“About the second week I was here, one of my roommates and I were moving things around our room and we pulled the trash can out from a corner and (a cockroach) just started pitter pattering across the floor,” said Lauren Soulagnet, another second-floor resident. “We tried to kill it with a textbook, but that didn’t work, and then I think a friend accidentally let it out of our room.”

Residents’ accounts of cockroaches describe them as ranging from one to three inches. Multiple students have reported cockroaches in shower stalls and bathroom floor drains.

“Every time I go to the shower I’m looking in every crevice,” said Angelina Fuller, a second floor resident, who has had three cockroach encounters.

To prevent pests in OSU buildings, University Housing and Dining Services uses an environmentally sensitive industry practice called Integrated Pest Management, according to UHDS Director of Operations and Facilities Brian Stroup. They work with Sprague, a contracted pest management company.

Stroup also recommended residents keep food in air-tight containers and keep spaces clean to prevent pests.

UHDS has only had reports of cockroaches in McNary Residence Hall, according to Stroup.

“Students can report both of these concerns, as well as any other maintenance or custodial needs they have, through our maintenance request form off of the housing portal,” Stroup said. “For both of these concerns, we have a 24 to 48-hour response and if that has not happened, we want to know about it. Students can contact their Resident Director or call our Maintenance Center directly at 541-737-2032 if they are not seeing a response.”

Despite the maintenance request system, many students still express frustration and doubt about the upkeep of McNary.

“It makes McNary feel like it’s not taken care of properly for there to be cockroaches running around,” said third-floor resident Amelia Owen.

“I think it’s disgusting,” Fuller said. “I think that … for (my parents) to be paying this much, and I’m living somewhere where it’s even more disgusting and I’m living with cockroaches, is disturbing.”

According to Stroup, students should reach out for any pest, maintenance or custodial concerns.

“You would not believe how many times we never hear about an issue that needs to be addressed and it goes unaddressed due to that lack of communication,” he said.

When it comes to the “McNasty” nickname, third-floor resident Amaya Macabeo said the saying is “deserved, because low-key it is nasty in here. But only people in McNasty can call McNasty, ‘McNasty.’”

While many think the state of the dorm hall and the labeling it receives is unfortunate, some also think it is somewhat humorous.

Sixth floor resident Dylan Jones said he thinks the label associated with being a McNary Resident “is more funny than anything. I will say it’s a pin of pride, in some scenarios.”