2008 Woodie Awards
Hold on, let me take this call
Molly Balkenbush
Issue date: 10/18/07 Section: Opinion
At one time, I believed libraries were an environment that promised students a quiet atmosphere and plenty of resources to utilize, until the day I stepped into Lovejoy Library.
With more than 13,000 students enrolled at SIUE and only a few dozen computers available on the main floor of the library, a student is lucky if he or she walks in and is granted instant access to a computer.
Maybe this would not be so irritating if all the students using computers were actually using them for their intended purpose ...school. When patiently waiting for a computer so that I can type my English 102 paper, I am entertained by students sitting around checking their Facebook and Myspace pages, looking up sports scores and even playing solitaire. While seeing if the Cubs won or lost the night before, or viewing new pictures tagged of yourself on Facebook may seem important, what has happened to common courtesy?
As if not being able to access computers you have paid to use in your tuition is not frustrating enough, just wait until you finally get to sit down at one. By the time most have logged on they have already heard one student chatting on the phone in a loud whisper and most likely heard the fast clicking of somebody around them text messaging. How any student can focus with the beeps, clicks and constant loud-whispered phone conversations escapes me.
Starbucks, one of the louder and busier parts of campus, has banned cell phone use while in line. However, the campus library allows cell phone use? The Lovejoy Library cell-phone use policy states the following: "Electronic communications devices, such as cell phones and pagers, are permitted in Lovejoy Library. However, they must be used in a way that avoids disturbing other library users."
You may be wondering how students can use cell phones in a way that avoids disturbing others? Well, the policy also states that when students use electronic devices such as cell phones "conversations should be held in an area where conversation will not disturb or distract others." It is clearly obvious this does not, or in most cases, ever happen.
So next time you are sitting at a computer surrounded by dozens of other students checking their Myspace pages, or trying to do schoolwork, consider stepping out to take that call.
With more than 13,000 students enrolled at SIUE and only a few dozen computers available on the main floor of the library, a student is lucky if he or she walks in and is granted instant access to a computer.
Maybe this would not be so irritating if all the students using computers were actually using them for their intended purpose ...school. When patiently waiting for a computer so that I can type my English 102 paper, I am entertained by students sitting around checking their Facebook and Myspace pages, looking up sports scores and even playing solitaire. While seeing if the Cubs won or lost the night before, or viewing new pictures tagged of yourself on Facebook may seem important, what has happened to common courtesy?
As if not being able to access computers you have paid to use in your tuition is not frustrating enough, just wait until you finally get to sit down at one. By the time most have logged on they have already heard one student chatting on the phone in a loud whisper and most likely heard the fast clicking of somebody around them text messaging. How any student can focus with the beeps, clicks and constant loud-whispered phone conversations escapes me.
Starbucks, one of the louder and busier parts of campus, has banned cell phone use while in line. However, the campus library allows cell phone use? The Lovejoy Library cell-phone use policy states the following: "Electronic communications devices, such as cell phones and pagers, are permitted in Lovejoy Library. However, they must be used in a way that avoids disturbing other library users."
You may be wondering how students can use cell phones in a way that avoids disturbing others? Well, the policy also states that when students use electronic devices such as cell phones "conversations should be held in an area where conversation will not disturb or distract others." It is clearly obvious this does not, or in most cases, ever happen.
So next time you are sitting at a computer surrounded by dozens of other students checking their Myspace pages, or trying to do schoolwork, consider stepping out to take that call.
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