|
news
Cell phone users
have ears ringing
By Kimberly
Pasquis
On-line Forty-Niner
Cellular phone
use is an issue based on courtesy as well as annoyance. So
what is the general reaction from students and professors
when the high pitched tones from a cell phone disrupt the
instruction of a class?
Senior pre-graphic design major Jerome Boroff experienced
the annoyance from classmates when his cell phone unexpectedly
went off in class.
"I was thinking, I hope my girlfriend isn't calling me,"
Boroff said. "Then when I realized it was me, I just
looked around pretending that it wasn't."
In the last five years, cell phone use has increased on the
whole. According to the Cingular Wireless store in Belmont
Shores, sales have steadily increased in the last few months.
The average sale of cell phones has reached 200 and above
each month. With this increase has come the frequent incidence
of them ringing during classes.
"I just give students a firm look and make fun of them,"
said Amy Bippus, associate professor for communication studies.
"I know of professors that take the phone and start talking
to the person on the other end."
Many students on campus believe that cell phones are overused
but they have now become a part of society and a necessity
for communication.
Walking from lower campus to upper campus it is not a difficult
to locate dozens of students walking and talking on their
cell phones.
"My cell phone use depends on the day of the week,"
said Jaime Bennett, senior liberal studies major. "During
the week I will use it for emergencies for contacting people.
But on the weekends, I use up my free minutes."
The university has no stance on the matter and no specific
incidents have been reported as a serious issue that needs
to be addressed.
"Individual instructors as a matter of practicality may
instruct students to not use their cell phones but I haven't
heard of it being an issue," said Keith Polakoff, associate
vice president for Academic Affairs.
Sharon Vatter, professor of history, said she believes that
students are more controlled about cell phones than they were
when the trend was brand new.
"The student usually looks embarrassed and apologizes,"
Vatter said. "It is not a major problem."
Vatter believes that it is easier for a lecturer to return
to speaking because they become accustomed to ignoring outside
noises, however for the listener, it is more of a distraction.
|
|
Cara
Garcia/On-line Forty-Niner
Here is yet another cellular phone armed and
waiting to disrupt a class near you.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Search our site
DEPARTMENT
OF
JOURNALISM
ONLINE 49ER
DEPARTMENTS
ADVERTISING
ADMINISTRATION
DAILY
49ER ALUMNI
SUBSCRIPTION
SERVICE
GIVE
FEEDBACK
|
