City Health Department inspectors today shut down the main dining room at St. Xavier University, 3700 W. 103rd Street, for failure to comply with previous orders to eliminate a rodent infestation.

Today’s inspection found numerous mouse feces in multiple areas, including the food preparation area and food storage area.

The dining facility, located in the university’s Warde Academic Center, will remain closed until the infestation has been eliminated and the facility passes re-inspection by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH).

CDPH initially inspected the dining facility on March 24, in response to a person who called 311 to complain of becoming ill after eating at St. Xavier. CDPH inspectors found mouse feces, as well as gaps in exit doors---gaps wide enough to allow access to rodents and insects. Dining facility management was ordered to eliminate the infestation and seal the doors. Today’s re-inspection showed that the infestation was not eliminated.

Representatives of the dining facility will have to explain their failure at a City of Chicago administrative hearing set for April 24.

Chicagoans who believe that a school’s dining facility or any other licensed food establishment is operating in an unsafe manner are encouraged to call 311 and report it.