Resources

No. Only building monitors or their alternates can submit work requests in academic buildings. In residential areas, residence life support staff and students living on campus can submit work requests. See our Maintenance Request page for more information.

These are box elder bugs. They're a nuisance, but they are not dangerous; your best bet is to ignore them. If you vacuum them, empty the vacuum bag immediately afterwards in a container outside, as they emit an odor. Visit the Oregon Extension Service’s fact sheet for more information.

Plant services is not licensed to spray the interiors of buildings. Outside perimeters are sprayed on a rotating schedule for other pests, but outside spray is not likely to keep spiders from entering.

The most effective method for removing spiders is the use of sticky traps. Sticky traps are available at plant services on request, and must be picked up in person. If you do set up a sticky trap, they must be set on level surfaces and away from fabric. Recommended placement is around entries such as doors. Regularly vacuuming your area will also prevent spiders from getting comfortably settled or forming nests.

To repel spiders, a pleasant and non-toxic way of doing so is through scent. Spiders (and rodents) do not like the smell of mint. Lavender, mint, citronella, lemon and eucalyptus are all spider-repelling scents. Products using plant oils (labeled "natural" or "essential oil") will be more effective than artificial scents.

Here is the recipe for dealing with sugar ants:

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup boric acid (you can also use the laundry booster known as "20 Mule Team Borax")
• One tablespoon yeast

Make little piles of this mixture around areas of infestation. In about two weeks the nest should be gone.

Fruit flies can be annoying and can suddenly take over an area unexpectedly, any time of year. To get rid of them, make sure that your food trash has been taken out and that surfaces are clean of any food or sticky residue. (Fruit flies can be attracted to glue!) Create a simple trap for fruit flies by doing the following:

• Find a bowl or waterproof container that has straight sides (like a coffee cup). Do not use a container with sloping sides.
• Fill the container halfway with fruit juice or sugar water.
• Add a few drops of vinegar. If you are using sugar water, apple cider vinegar works well to give it a “fruit” smell.
• Add a drop of dish soap.

The mixture should smell like vinegar and not like dish soap. If your mixture smells like soap, add more vinegar. Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of overripe fruit, so that is the scent you are trying to replicate.

The fruit flies will want to land on the water to drink the mixture, but the soap will cause them to drown. (The straight sides prevent the flies from drinking the mixture from the side of the container.) The mixture does not have to be refreshed for several days. If a greasy film starts to coat the top of the liquid, dump it out and start a fresh batch.

Send an email to your building monitor or alternate, with the following information:

• Your name (as you want it displayed)
• Your title (optional)
• Nameplate style (see list below)
• Office number (location)

The styles of nameplates are:

• Desktop (if you want a desktop nameplate, please specify if you need a desk plate holder)
• Cubicle wall
• Paper insert for wall and door holders

You will need to fill out a Key Authorization Form. Indicate the building or room where you need access, and get a signature from your department head and building monitor. Sign the form and return it to plant services. It generally takes two to three days to cut a new key; we will notify you via email when it is ready. Be sure to bring a photo ID with you to pick up your key from plant services.

Twelve passenger vans are available by reservation, only to George Fox employees and students who plan to use them for a school function. Drivers must be members of George Fox, have at least five years of driving experience with a valid driver's license, and be on the University-Approved Drivers List.

To get onto the university-approved drivers list, please take the online certification available on the Driver Certification page. For more information, please see our Vehicle Reservation page.

Power tools are not available for personal use. Basic hand tools and ladders are sometimes available; call the plant services office to check availability. If available, tools would then be checked out from the plant services office.

Chemical information is found on Safety Data Sheets, referred to as an SDS. Any chemical in use on the George Fox campus should have a Safety Data Sheet on file.

To locate a specific chemical used by plant services, use the search bar in the SDS Folder. (If you have not logged into Google Docs, it will prompt you for your username and password. Use the search bar at the top of the window to search for the desired product name or chemical.)

For a more detailed explanation of the SDS, as well as a list of common office and cleaning supplies, visit the Safety page.