The Residence of Medway Sydenham Hall at the University of Western Ontario has closed the Gates for the entirety of the year. This is unsafe and unnecessary for many reasons. To state a few, In the event of a mass panic, students would flood to outdoor quads where they would be trapped inside like mice in a cage. The kids who avoided the quad and fled through the tunnels to the front desk would be engulfed in a sea of fleeting students and would be met with the risk of being trampled in the hallways. In the event of a real fire it would take much to long to open all the gates and kids would end up being trapped and burned because they had to be opened manually. Not even to mention the increased risk of catching covid-19 with everyone walking the same hallway and passing through the front desk. It would be safer and more efficient for there to be multiple outdoor exits. Another issue are the countless kids who feel claustrophobic and anxious everyday. These anxieties emerge from being in the busy quad’s or halls of the building, knowing that if they needed to get out quickly for a personal or general emergency/reason, they could not do so safely. To some students where we are living does not feel like a home, it feels like minimum security prison. Myself and the students that live here are very disappointed in Western, hence, our concerns and mental wellbeing are not being prioritized. We demand change for the better of students mental and physical health and safety. The Student Mental Health and Wellness Advisory Committee promised in the mental health and wellness strategic plan that the goal of assessing the campus environment would be met in order to address gaps in current physical spaces, safety plans, and infrastructure, but, this plan has clearly been neglected. This must change.