The gym’s equipment room simultaneously symbolizes a space of refuge and secrets. One of the main settings of the novel, the equipment room is where the friends often meet to workout, finalize plans, and it’s also where Simon ends up being murdered. Important to note is that Rob considers the equipment room his “office” because he’s the one who somehow got a key. In this way, the equipment room is also symbolic of Rob’s character: the equipment room is where the friends consistently meet to workout, share secrets, and fortify plans, and Rob is the person who holds the friends together. Just as the friends meet in secret in the equipment room, Rob is secretive about his past. Finally, when Simon is murdered, the equipment room is dark. This allows the characters to commit the violent acts against Simon without seeing the immediate damage. Similarly, Rob’s secrets remain hidden for most of the novel, but it’s only when they come to light that everyone realizes the damage that has been done.

In the Chapter 12 opening quote, Simon’s dad essentially blames the school district’s lack of a security system as the reason things got so out of hand. The emphasis that’s placed on technology is a theme through the novel, and in general the far-reaching abilities of technology are viewed negatively.