2008 Woodie Awards
Cell phone use in Bailey Library out of control
By Christopher Schilling
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 9/21/07 Section: Opinion
It would be interesting to know what went through the mind of Alexander Graham Bell after he invented the telephone more than 130 years ago.
My guess is that after he realized that he had found a way to transmit his voice over a wire, he probably rejoiced at the thought that people could talk to long-lost relatives, philosophers could debate theories and world leaders could bridge peace between rival nations just by speaking into a device without leaving their homes.
Now let's flash to today, where Bell's invention has even helped the minds of tomorrow at Slippery Rock University discuss intellectual thoughts and ideas with their fellow students while sitting at a computer in Bailey Library on a typical Friday morning.
"Hello?" a woman asks into her cell phone, while sitting at a computer station on the first floor of the library, after she interrupted the concentration of her fellow students with a muffled ring tone of a bad Justin Timberlake song.
"Oh my God, You're not going to believe what happened last night," this woman yells out loud.
"Of course we made out," she shouts even louder.
Ah yes, if only Alexander Graham Bell could see how his invention advanced the young minds of the 21st century at SRU.
It seems to me that every time I visit Bailey Library, I am not able to concentrate when I study because I always get distracted by someone talking on their cell phone.
No matter what floor I am on, it always happens.
Even though I understand the importance of having a cell phone, I think it is disrespectful to others when you have full-length conversations without going into the lobby.
What makes matters worse is that people are talking about the most useless things, most of which aren't even of an urgent purpose.
Since school began this semester, I have overheard a woman talk about her intimate secrets in great description, a man using baby talk with his girlfriend and another man arguing with someone whether or not Paul Reubens, the man who played Pee-wee Herman, was dead or not.
And these bizarre conversations I overhear just don't take place around the computers or study tables.
Once, I entered the bathroom and heard a man talking to his girlfriend while he was is in the bathroom stall. I mean, what do you have to say to your girlfriend while you are in the bathroom?
But the thing that really puzzles me is why the library staff doesn't enforce its policy by only permitting people to use their cell phone in the lobby. It seems every door has a sign saying "No cell phone use in the library," but you don't see anyone cracking down on the rule.
Some of you may say that I have the option of walking away when I hear someone talking on a cell phone in the library, and while that may be true if I was in the lobby, a bus station or a store, I am in the library to study, not to be distracted with someone saying "Who is my little baby angel," or "Dude, Pee-wee Herman is not dead!"
I think if SRU really wants to improve the effectiveness of its library, it needs to enforce the rule that cell phones can only be used in the lobby.
Chris Schilling is a senior journalism major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.
My guess is that after he realized that he had found a way to transmit his voice over a wire, he probably rejoiced at the thought that people could talk to long-lost relatives, philosophers could debate theories and world leaders could bridge peace between rival nations just by speaking into a device without leaving their homes.
Now let's flash to today, where Bell's invention has even helped the minds of tomorrow at Slippery Rock University discuss intellectual thoughts and ideas with their fellow students while sitting at a computer in Bailey Library on a typical Friday morning.
"Hello?" a woman asks into her cell phone, while sitting at a computer station on the first floor of the library, after she interrupted the concentration of her fellow students with a muffled ring tone of a bad Justin Timberlake song.
"Oh my God, You're not going to believe what happened last night," this woman yells out loud.
"Of course we made out," she shouts even louder.
Ah yes, if only Alexander Graham Bell could see how his invention advanced the young minds of the 21st century at SRU.
It seems to me that every time I visit Bailey Library, I am not able to concentrate when I study because I always get distracted by someone talking on their cell phone.
No matter what floor I am on, it always happens.
Even though I understand the importance of having a cell phone, I think it is disrespectful to others when you have full-length conversations without going into the lobby.
What makes matters worse is that people are talking about the most useless things, most of which aren't even of an urgent purpose.
Since school began this semester, I have overheard a woman talk about her intimate secrets in great description, a man using baby talk with his girlfriend and another man arguing with someone whether or not Paul Reubens, the man who played Pee-wee Herman, was dead or not.
And these bizarre conversations I overhear just don't take place around the computers or study tables.
Once, I entered the bathroom and heard a man talking to his girlfriend while he was is in the bathroom stall. I mean, what do you have to say to your girlfriend while you are in the bathroom?
But the thing that really puzzles me is why the library staff doesn't enforce its policy by only permitting people to use their cell phone in the lobby. It seems every door has a sign saying "No cell phone use in the library," but you don't see anyone cracking down on the rule.
Some of you may say that I have the option of walking away when I hear someone talking on a cell phone in the library, and while that may be true if I was in the lobby, a bus station or a store, I am in the library to study, not to be distracted with someone saying "Who is my little baby angel," or "Dude, Pee-wee Herman is not dead!"
I think if SRU really wants to improve the effectiveness of its library, it needs to enforce the rule that cell phones can only be used in the lobby.
Chris Schilling is a senior journalism major and a regular contributor to The Rocket.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Heather
posted 10/03/07 @ 11:26 AM EST
The cell phone use in the Library is getting out of hand. I understand that it is important to be able to answer your phone at any time for reason of work, family, or children, but the library is not the place to talk to these people. (Continued…)
Philip J Tramdack
posted 10/05/07 @ 4:34 AM EST
Look at the library web site for the results of the blog poll concerning cell use. The library staff is concerned about the noise in the building and welcomes suggestions from everybody on how to deal with it. (Continued…)
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