mr aul March 30, 2004 The Lion’s Eye Dye on Campus Page 3 RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRINGG... B Are our lives today so important ... that we feel the need to be connected to those we know every minute of the day? Have we become a body of students that is dependent to our trusty phones? Yes, yes we have! By CHRISSY GREENAN Lion’s Eye staff writer CMG196@psu.edu Ever wonder what you would have done if you had lived years ago, before the television, radio or even the computer was invented? How could you possibly survive without "Friends," Y100, or e-mail? Well, even though those electronic devices are a necessity for our daily survival, the main question these days is: "How could we endure life today with- out cell phones?" The cell-phone craze is a sweeping epidemic that has taken over the entire country. The greatest aspect of the cell-phone fad is that it does not dis- criminate against anybody. People of all races, reli- gions and ages have jumped on the cell- phone express, and if you need proof just take a look around the campus. All around campus you can find at least a hand- ful of students talking on their cell phones. Whether it is outside of class, walking to class or ~ checking it during class, students are constantly on the phone. It is difficult to pinpoint an exact loca- tion as to where most students are found on their phones, they are everywhere! Cell-phone users have been spotted in the hallways, outside, the parking lot and even the bathroom. The only place they have not been spotted is the gazebo. "I've found students polite about turning off phones," said professor of English Dr. Adam Sorkin, "Although the temptation to check calls and respond sometimes overtakes them before they are out the door." "It is perhaps unavoidable that these new modes of interaction will tend to leak into class time," said professor of Integrated Arts Dr. Paul Greene, "But as faculty we should not be surprised by this." Are our lives today so important, or are we just so insecure, that we feel the need to be connected to those we know every minute of the day? Is our obsessive use of cell phones becoming so out of hand that professors need to include proper cell- phone etiquette on their syllabi? Have we become a body of students that is dependent to our trusty phones? By the looks of students with their phones glued to their heads... yes, yes we have! "l often wonder what an anthropologist from Mars might say..." said Sorkin, who then guessed Photo by Anteia Consorto it matters not where you walk on campus ... you're sure to be surrounded by students talking not among themselves, but to the person connected to the cell phone in their ears. €€ I often wonder what an anthropolo- gist from Mars might say .... ‘Most Delco earthlings ... hold an object to their ear and vocalize into it as they walk the paths from pod to pod on campus.’ 2” — DR. ADAM SORKIN the Martian may say something like this: "Most Delco earthlings...hold an object to their ear and vocalize into it as they walk the paths from pod to pod on campus." By the looks of things, he is cor- rect. The cellular industries have taken the world by storm, and everyone seems to have accepted them with open hands. Manufacturers have included cell- phone cases, car adapters, and purses / schoolbags with cell- phone compartments just to make our lives, with cell phones, a tad easier. Between Sprint, Cingular, Nextel, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile we have plenty of options from which to choose. Every company offers different plans, and with such a competitive market, con- sumers may wheel and deal as they see fit. So if you happen to be the only person in your county without a phone, there are plenty of places to go to find the right one that suits you. ° Cell phones appear to have put an end to those who hate to be, or appear to be, alone; whether you are stopping to grab a bite to eat, or standing in line, companionship is just a quick phone call away "Can you hear me now? Good!"
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers