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Professor finds high risk of spreading disease in rooming house bathrooms

In a case that has been pending for two years, the city of Mount Clemens has come up with evidence they think will help in their effort to prohibit rooming houses. However, this evidence, if proved valid, could affect University facilities -- especially residence halls.

The evidence came in the form of an affidavit signed by Dr. David Markovitz, associate professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University.

In his affidavit, Markovitz said, "toilet facilities shared by unrelated tenants of a multiple unit dwelling pose a potential health risk to the occupants." Markovitz continued to explain that should these tenants be ill and not exercise proper hygiene practices, the risk of contracting diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV increases.

Hal Carroll, attorney and University alum representing the rooming houses, saw problem with the wording of the affidavit. He said Markovitz's affidavit, if proved true, could not only apply to rooming houses, but to any building with public bathrooms.

Carroll then sent a copy of Markovitz's affidavit to both University Housing and University Hospitals.

"If there is such a risk, then what are the implications concerning dormitories or football locker rooms, where people share toilet facilities and showers," Carroll said. "If what Dr. Markovitz says is true, then I think the University should know. I thought it was fair to ask the dormitories and hospitals what they think of this."

Although Markovitz was hesitant to speak about his affidavit, expressing concern over the legal consequences of making a statement, he did say that Carroll's interpretations are exaggerated.

"One can take anything to an irrational extreme. Nothing is 100-percent true, and nothing is 100-percent false," Markovitz said. "One can always take everything and exaggerate it."

After receiving the affidavit, William Zeller, director of Housing, referred it to the University's legal council office.

"We meet all country and state codes as far as cleanliness is concerned," Zeller said.

Dave Foulke, associate director of Housing, said the difference between rooming houses and residence halls lies in the cleaning procedures.

"The bathrooms are cleaned every day, and there is appropriate emergency cleaning on the weekend," Foulke said. "In rooming houses it may be different, it may be more of a self-cleaning process there."

Kristiana Harkna, an LSA first-year student and Bursley resident, said the only time she may fear the bathrooms' uncleanliness is on the weekends.

"I think compared to most schools, our bathrooms are the cleanest. I really don't fear catching anything. However, sometimes on the weekends the bathrooms get a little dirty," Harkna said.

Foulke added that he does not recall any case of HIV or any other disease that has been contracted by the shared bathroom facilities of the dormitories.

Markovitz said there is a difference between rooming houses and residence halls that makes the health risks at a residence hall significantly less.

"There is a different population of people who live in residence halls than who live in rooming houses," Markovitz said.

Markovitz said that his affidavit does not imply that all public toilet facilities are a threat.