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Cellular distraction

Arizona Summer Wildcat

With the use of cell phones on the rise, many professors are

In front of the U of A Bookstore, there is a brightly colored table that serves as a display for a multitude of cellular phones.

People walk by slowly, eyeing the miniature phones that are available in a rainbow of colors and a variety of styles. Some stop to touch the shiny chrome surface of the Nokia 8860 which is designed to fit in the smallest pocket and sells for $499.99.

However, few are deterred by the price as Doug Cheney, a smiling salesman, shows them many of their less expensive models and starts handing them brochures that detail the various cellular phone plans.

One potential customer knows exactly what she's looking for.

"We live in California, and my daughter is coming here for school. I want her to have a way to contact somebody," said Suzanne Levenson. "I want to keep her safe, and I have heard about the benefits of going with a family plan."

During orientation, cellular phone sales are at their peak for the Computer and Technology Store.

"Parents are purchasing these phones about forty percent of the time," said Deborah Maytorena, the Communication And Technology Store & Mobilecomm Sales Specialist. "Parents are scared to let their kids go and want the added safety of being able to get a hold of them."

Maytorena said the number of cellular phones being purchased is on the rise as many plans are offering free long distance and the cost of having one is becoming increasingly more competitive with the cost of having a standard phone.

As cellular phones are seen in greater frequency on the University of Arizona campus, many professors are establishing policies that regulate them in the classroom. Some professors have placed signs on doors and podiums that remind students to turn off their cell phones and pagers.

Others tell students to turn them off before they begin their lectures.

"I tell them that I don't want them under any circumstance to use a cell phone in my lecture, otherwise, do not come to my lecture," said chemistry professor Leland Harris.

Political science professor Peter Goudinoff tries to deter the use of cell phones by bringing attention to the student.

"I usually turn it into a joke and say, 'Dope deal going down,'" he said.

Though professors handle the use of cell phones in their classes in different ways, many of them agree that the university should institute a policy that would ban their use in the classrooms.

"It is very annoying when a cell phone goes off during a quiz," said ASUA Sen. Daniel Roberts.

Roberts added that the use of cell phones "is becoming an issue and is something that should be discussed."

Many students who use cellular phones express that their initial reasons for purchasing them were legitimate.

"I got my cell phone to use for emergencies and to keep in touch with my parents," said Kenneth Westrum, a secondary education junior. Then, Westrum found that other purposes for the phone emerged, such as communicating with friends.

Some students admit that the constant communication that cellular phones offer is disrupting the learning process.

"When phones ring, it is distracting and shows a complete lack of respect for the instructor and fellow students," said Bridget Guenther, a speech and hearing sciences junior.

There are no university rules governing such technological distraction, but most agree that some guidelines will come soon.

"Cell phones are distracting and discourteous," said Harris. "What the university will do about them, I do not know."

Reasa Haggard can be reached at city@wildcat.arizona.edu.