Dear Student,

As highlighted in President Alan Shepard’s message to the University community on September 17, Western is needing to take swift and necessary action to deal with two recent COVID outbreaks amongst the student body.

These outbreaks are linked to off-campus behaviour where students have attended house parties and frequented downtown bars/establishments. As the President has indicated, Western is reverting back to a modified Phase 3 of our reopening plan, which includes pausing all non-academic in-person gatherings, and restricting access to some buildings and common areas on campus. Here’s what this means for students in residence:

Building Access

Non-necessary access to other residences is suspended immediately.

While we understand that London Hall students will need to access Essex Hall’s dining room, and Alumni House students will need to access Elgin Hall’s dining room, all other inter-residence access is paused. If your front desk is closed, you are permitted to attend the front desk of the adjacent residence for assistance.

Dining Halls

Booths in dining halls are temporarily closed.

While the majority of students have been respecting the capacity limits in our dining halls, overcrowded booths while unmasked (because you’re eating) does increase the risk to yourself and others. Please ensure you are only sitting in designated spots indicated by the green circles.

Common Areas & Lounges

Some larger common and shared spaces in residence are temporarily closed. These include but are not limited to:

Alumni House: main lounge
Delaware Hall: formal lounge
Elgin Hall: Room 100
London Hall: Room 100
Medway-Sydenham Hall: formal lounge and library
Ontario Hall: main lounge
Perth Hall: second floor main lounge
Saugeen-Maitland Hall: main lounge

Outdoor tents and recreation areas (i.e. volleyball courts) will also be closed.

Capacity in Residence Rooms / Suites

To support physical distancing and ensure the health & safety of our residence community, residents are only allowed one person from their own building in their bedroom/suite at one time.

Social Circles

Your social circles should be small; stick to your floormates and significant others. Large gatherings and parties will be followed up through the Residence Contract, and also referred to the Code of Student Conduct, with sanctions that range from educational interventions to expulsion.

These measures are necessary and to ensure the health & safety of the residence community. This is a shared responsibility, and we appreciate your support and efforts to uphold all health and safety protocols.

Regards,

Melissa White

Director of Housing