The Pentagon, a shortcut for some and a place to relax and hang out for others, will soon require card access which will only be given to residents.This two-year project is nearing completion and is expected to be put into effect this summer.The new gates are a result of concerns about the traffic going through the Pentagon from previous residents. Students’ safety is the primary priority, according to Residential Life officials.During football season there is a lot of traffic in the Pentagon with numerous tailgaters camping in the area. The gates are designed to give students a third level of security, according to Associate Director of Residential Life Karen Rockett.”There are three lines of security — the room door, the front door and now the gate,” Rockett said.Angela Compton, kinesiology freshman, along with other current residents views the new gates as a problem.”I feel like we’re in prison,” Compton said. “It’s not like dorm life anymore.”Scott Scriber, kinesiology freshman, said the gates won’t keep people out of the Pentagon.”If people really want to get in, they’ll find a way in,” Scriber said.Many Pentagon residents also see the gates as a problem when students need to do laundry.”It’s really a hassle and is inconvenient when I’m trying to do my laundry,” said Courtney Fabiano, undeclared freshman. “The gate by the Mini Mart is really heavy.”In addition to security, the gates are intended to help build a sense of community, according to ResLife communications manager Jay High.”Some students see it as an inconvenience, but the whole idea is to make the students feel like they have their own space,” High said. “This was all done with the students in mind, and we hope it is received in the way it was intended.”When the project was first conceptualized two years ago, student perspectives as well as other perspectives were taken into consideration, Rockett said.The project, which physically began during the Christmas break, cost around $90,000, Rockett said. The money came out of ResLife’s budget, and there were no additional student fees.Because access to the Pentagon will be given to residents, the Pentagon can no longer be used as a shortcut. West Campus Apartments resident Danny Walley said he’s incredibly disappointed with the prospects of taking a longer way to class.”I walk through [the Pentagon] every day, more than once a day,” Walley said. “The other route will make a 10-minute walk a 15-minute walk.”The gates were designed to match the architecture of the Pentagon and of the surrounding buildings. Chase Bouchie, theatre freshman, said he cuts through to the Pentagon to go to Broussard hall but doesn’t think it will be a big deal.”I won’t like it when they put the card access in, but it’s not a big deal,” Bouchie said. “The gates look nice.”Despite some negative student reactions to the gates, the gates are a balance between convenience and security, High said.Contact Alice Womble [email protected]