Article

Cellphone users have ears ringing

“I know of professors that take the phone and start talking to the person on the other end.” Amy Bippus, associate professor for communication studies, California State U.-Long Beach
Kimberly Pasquis - Dialy Forty-Niner (California State U.-Long Beach)

(U-WIRE) LONG BEACH, Calif. – 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?

California State University-Long Beach 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.