Justin Derry doesn’t consider
himself as much of a text
fiend. The 19-year-old
Langhorne native said, “A lot
of my friends don’t have text
messaging. Plus, my fingers
are big, so it takes me forever
to send one. I’d say I only
send about 50 a day.”
Derry’s daily output may
still seem high to some, especially
to the parents paying
cellular bills. But the truth is
that to avid texters, 50 a day
is at the low end of the spectrum.
For better or worse,
text messaging has become an
integral part of many lives.
According to Acision, the
messaging and charging company
of choice for over 300
network operators and service
providers worldwide, the
number of text messages sent
during New Year’s 2008
increased 30 percent from the
previous year. People sent a
staggering 43 billion texts to
wish their loved ones a happy
New Year. It appears that
college-aged students are
among the most fervent texters.
By simply performing a
Google search for “college
text messaging,” it becomes
apparent that this is a means
of communications that is
ubiquitous on college campuses.
Articles pop up
regarding the numerous
ways institutions are using
texting. Colleges are using
SMS for emergency alerts,
athletic recruitment-albeit
illegally so-and in a multitude
of other ways.
However, while this means of
communication can be a great
tool, many college students
do not recognize it as such.
Journalism major Jay Jones
provides an excellent example
of how young people
often use text messaging.
Jones, who bought a
Blackberry specifically for its
text messaging capabilities,
says he and his 16-year-old
brother often exchange texts
during the course of the day.
Jones said, “At the beginning
of [my class today] he sent me
a text that just said ‘Yo.'”
Jones’ interaction with his
younger brother provides a
window into the text habits of
most college students. A
majority of the texts that students
exchange seem to be
l a r g e l y
s u p e r f l u –
ous. It really
just
seems to be
a way for
students to
have constant
interaction
with
one another,
no matter how unnecessary
this interaction may be.
Essentially, it seems that SMS
has become a modern way for
students to pass notes. Often,
it takes place during class,
which has created a major
conflict between teachers and
students.
Caitlin Cummiskey, an 18-
year-old journalism major,
knows this firsthand. “One
time I was texting my friend
in the back of the class while I
was sitting in the front. The
teacher noticed me and proceeded
to stop the class and
just stare at me for a couple
minutes. It was really embarrassing.
Now I’m more careful
if I text in class.”
Cummiskey’s teacher isn’t
the only one who has been
bothered by in-class text messaging.
Jennifer Erb
Caramenico, a professor of
psychology at both Bucks and
Temple, has noticed countless
students texting during her
classes. This is not something
that Caramenico particularly
enjoys.
“When you’ve got your
phone out while someone is
talking, it’s a blatant disregard
for what that person is
saying,” she fumed. “At least
if you’re daydreaming you
can at least pretend like
you’re paying attention. But
when you’re visibly playing
with your phone, it’s insulting.
I really can’t stand it.”
Some professors have been
so bothered by it that they
have decided to take a stand.
Syracuse University
Philosophy Professor
Laurence Thomas has begun
leaving class if he notices a
student texting while he is
speaking. It doesn’t matter if
it’s only one student in a lecture
hall of hundreds. He has
stated that he will no longer
stand for “such brazen disrespect.”
He has even gone as
far as threatening to resign
from Syracuse altogether if
things do not improve.
Thomas might just have to
grin and bear it. It seems that
texting is a trend that is here
to stay. It’s just another way
to pass the time for most students,
including psychology
major Maureen Quinlan.
The 19-year-old Levittown
resident said she sends a few
hundred texts a day, mostly
“out of boredom.” However,
she insists she never sends
them during class. This
might be a compromise all
students will have to make if
they want their professors to
keep their sanity.