First, these places are backstage areas. They were never intended to be seen by the general public. They are unsightly. There is a door on the closet for a reason.
Second, they emit a smell, and it's never a clean, bleach smell. No, it's a mildew, rotten odor, and we should do more in schools to shroud it.
Third, please notice that, above all, these places are dangerous for students. There are too many places in there to hide, but there are also too many items that can produce serious injury and death for untrained students and adults. That's really the only reason I need for advocating for the closing and locking of the utility doors. I cannot believe that principals, educators, and custodians do not make it a priority to keep those doors shut.