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I believe it’s time for Faculty to set a uniform policy for student cell phones. I proscribe their use in class in every syllabus, and I often remind students to turn cell phones off at the beginning of the class session. Of course exceptions can be made if someone’s parent is in the hospital, or if someone’s sister, wife or companion is about to go into labor, but it’s the student’s responsibility to tell faculty that, before class begins.

I don’t tolerate students gabbing while I’m talking to the class, as my own train of thought is easily broken in a lecture. At first, when phones would ring I would just make fun of the student (“Tell him you’re naked!”) for a cheap laugh, but now I’m more likely to bark “You should be ashamed of yourself!” The degree of distraction has been made greater with the fad of funny or funky ring tones, musical passages that achieve the desired effect of calling even more attention to the phone and its owner in a crowded room.

So what shall we do?

Can the Faculty confiscate their phones, as we would any other noisemaker, like a kazoo, whoopie cushion or firecracker? Should we send the phone to be picked up at the office of the Dean of Students? What would happen if an irate faculty member destroyed a student’s phone? My watercolor students fear that I’m likely to drop one in paint water if it goes off. Does our Association need to establish clear and consistent policy, and we all publish its language in the syllabus of our classes?

Your comments on this topic are welcome.