Andrew Laudicina
It’s the fall semester once again. For all the new freshmen, welcome to SCSU: the third ugliest college campus in the country, according to the website Campus Squeeze. Farnham Hall is under construction and will probably take three to five years to be completed. Schwartz Hall and North Campus are the only wet dorm buildings now. And freshmen with fake ID’s are being turned away from the bars and clubs downtown
New Haven, which I witnessed first hand last Thursday night and was hilarious.
For those who might remember me, I had hit opinion articles in last year’s Southern News dealing with legalizing marijuana, being addicted to Facebook, and believing SCSU needs a slushie machine in the student center–and it does. For those of you who are new, or don’t know me, I welcome you to read my articles throughout the semester.
Before I begin getting into this cell phone issue I have, I’d like to thank last semester’s opinions editor Vanessa Inzitari. She asked me to help her with her section for the semester. She allowed me the time and space to write what I wanted to express, and never censored my work as far as I can recall. I just want to say thank you and best of luck in your future.
And now on with the article. I have been informed by both of my journalism professors this past week that my journalism classes are cell phone-free classrooms. In the past, cell phone usage has been banned in class, which I may not agree with 100 percent, but I do understand the reasoning. However, “the use of cell phones and other electronic devices for voice and texting” are now completely banned before, during, and after class.
I’m not even sure if there are words to describe how I feel about this. Usage during class may be one thing, but before and after? What the heck? This is shenanigans.
What I would like to know is, why devices for voice and texting are banned before and after class? What is so wrong about texting before class begins? Talking on the phone with everyone around could be considered rude or disruptive in some people’s opinions, but texting? Texting involves sending a quick typed message in a quiet manner. What is so bad about that?
I consider listening to loud music to be rude to everyone around. How come this isn’t included in the policy? Maybe it is? If this policy is going to target voice and texting, then it shouldn’t discriminate and it should target all electronic devices in general.
How long before and after class am I not supposed to use my phone? Is it five minutes? Is it half an hour? Is the professor really going to follow me back to my car to see if I am going to use my phone? (Okay, probably not on that last part.)
Anyone who knows me knows I’m constantly on my phone. I listen to music, I use it for the internet, I text with my coworkers and my store manager is constantly in communications with me regarding work. There have been times where I’ve been in class and gotten a call or text from work asking if I can come in ASAP because an emergency has happened or someone called in sick.
And the part that has me laughing is repeated offenses can result in being dismissed from the classroom or even disciplined by the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, or even worse and scarier, receive an F in the class.
I would love to see the look on the face of a student’s parent. “Hey Billy, why did you fail journalism?” “The teacher failed me for texting you before class started.”
I just want to know what is going to be next, maybe school uniforms? Oh crap, I’ve given them an idea.
