Students: Put your electronics away
Zach Groves, Columnist
Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: Editorial
Just when I cry for cell phone courtesy, somebody answers. Life can't be better right now.
The Morris University Center's Starbucks answered that call by banning cell phone or MP3 player usage while ordering coffee and other goods. Basically, somebody can't stand there with a phone glued to his or her ear engaging in a conversation while ordering a double latte.
That has to be one of the better ideas out there when dealing with obsessed cell phone users who, according to a Virginia Tech University study, take part in an average of 11 calls a day. Eleven calls a day?
Recently, the city of New York considered making iPod use in crosswalks illegal. Apparently pedestrians are making traffic more dangerous for themselves and other drivers since they are not paying attention. Really, is that new Fergie song that important that you think you have to make everybody else stop so you can listen to it?
SIUE should make students pay a fine to cross the crosswalks to their parking lots while talking on their cell phones or listening to their MP3 players. I don't know how many times I rode the Cougar Shuttle and watched drivers completely hit the brakes so a bunch of kids who care more about their conversation or finding the next song than about their own safety.
Starbucks should not be the only place on campus that disallows cell phone usage while taking part in its business. Students should be banned from using their cell phones in class, period, unless they are aware of an emergency and have to leave class to take the call.
Students also should not be allowed to use their iPods in class and might actually have to listen to what the professor is saying.
If university, state and national administration create tighter laws for cell phone and MP3 player usage, then expect to see me dancing like those silhouettes in the iPod commercials.
The Morris University Center's Starbucks answered that call by banning cell phone or MP3 player usage while ordering coffee and other goods. Basically, somebody can't stand there with a phone glued to his or her ear engaging in a conversation while ordering a double latte.
That has to be one of the better ideas out there when dealing with obsessed cell phone users who, according to a Virginia Tech University study, take part in an average of 11 calls a day. Eleven calls a day?
Recently, the city of New York considered making iPod use in crosswalks illegal. Apparently pedestrians are making traffic more dangerous for themselves and other drivers since they are not paying attention. Really, is that new Fergie song that important that you think you have to make everybody else stop so you can listen to it?
SIUE should make students pay a fine to cross the crosswalks to their parking lots while talking on their cell phones or listening to their MP3 players. I don't know how many times I rode the Cougar Shuttle and watched drivers completely hit the brakes so a bunch of kids who care more about their conversation or finding the next song than about their own safety.
Starbucks should not be the only place on campus that disallows cell phone usage while taking part in its business. Students should be banned from using their cell phones in class, period, unless they are aware of an emergency and have to leave class to take the call.
Students also should not be allowed to use their iPods in class and might actually have to listen to what the professor is saying.
If university, state and national administration create tighter laws for cell phone and MP3 player usage, then expect to see me dancing like those silhouettes in the iPod commercials.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Kevin Wells
posted 3/22/07 @ 5:47 PM CST
While I agree that cell phone courtesy needs to be more widespread, I think it is ridiculous to mandate what multi-tasking an individual can participate in and when. (Continued…)
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