Students Take Notice of "No Phone Zone"

Students have taken notice—and the reaction, well, you can decide. The department issued a new decree last month banning the use of cell phones in the classrooms. “Cell Phone Free Zones” posters now remind students to shut off their phones on entering their classrooms.

“Let’s face it,” says Paul Thaler, department chair. “Cell phone addiction is rampant, and even the most serious student can find herself drawn in by her screen during class. We would much rather have them interacting with each other and their professor.”

Students polled seemed to be in general agreement that the “Cell Phone Free Zone” makes sense.

“It’s for the best,” says communications major Cathy Rudell. “At the same time, it’s hard to follow.”

Senior Raquel Prescott says that it is in fact “rude to text” during class, but concedes that she has her cell phone on silent and does glance at what messages might be coming in. “I do it as long as it’s not distracting.”

According to Andrew Viola, a freshman: “I find it refreshing. No distractions, no emails, just the class itself. . .it makes information really stick with you.”

“Like any class you get this angst when the phone goes off and it’s distracting,” says art major Alaina Hemlall.

Her friend, Timony Moore, agrees: “It takes you out of the entire feeling of the class no matter how involved. It’s just an annoyance.”

This article appeared in the Spring 2015 edition of The Front Page, the Department of Communications newsletter.