By Savannah Torebka
Staff Writer
With the end of the semester fast approaching, stress over final exams and projects overwhelm most students’ minds. This means that any location on campus is now fair game for study sessions and homework. However, with all of this additional work and studying going on, there also has been an increasingly frustrating number of students that disrupt the work process due to a lack of basic consideration for their peers.
I’m talking about the students that will be in communal spaces such as the EAC lounge, the lobbies in the academic halls, and even in the library, that insist on talking very loudly on their phones while those around them are trying to work. It’s time to call these people out, address the situation, and remind everyone to be respectful of their fellow students when they are trying to finish the semester on a high note.
I myself am of the opinion that someone talking on their phone in common study spaces is about the equivalent of someone using their phones in the movie theater–it’s just plain rude. Of course, being in a shared space with other students creates a risk of being distracted from your work. People are naturally loud and often annoying, and it is part of the college experience to learn how to adapt to environments where you need to deal with those individuals. However, phone usage in quiet spaces where everyone is clearly trying to finish their work is a bit much. It’s always just that one person that decides their phone call is more important than whatever anyone else may be doing, and now everyone in the room is subject to listening to their mindless rambling.
It really is not that difficult to step outside, go into another room, or even just text someone instead. Some people, myself included, need these studying locations because their houses are full of other people and distractions that make focusing difficult. The last thing I want when I’m cozying up in the library or the lounge with my laptop and textbooks is for someone to prance in and inflict their presence on everyone there. No, Karen, I do not care about what you had for lunch earlier or the new gossip you want to share with your best friend over FaceTime. I care about passing my classes and getting my assignments done.
I am not alone in this frustration. In fact, what prompted me to write this piece was actually an anonymous tip to The Chronicle complaining about this exact issue, requesting that we bring attention to it. After speaking to students on campus to get their perspectives on this problem, I’ve come to find that this needs to be addressed so that a solution can be reached. “It’s disrespectful considering how easy it is to find a private space to call. These spaces are not just for socializing, they’re intended for working,” freshman Logan Pollak shared.
Freshman Thomas Edsall sees the situation differently, sharing “Communal areas on campus are for everyone and you go there based on your own discretion. If you are going there to work you’re probably expecting to fight noise, it’s the same in your own dorm. You will always have to deal with noise and other people.” While I understand that these areas are intended for everyone, I still feel compelled to argue that a simple act of common courtesy by taking your phone calls elsewhere is the best way to keep the peace.
Perhaps a proper solution to this issue could be implementing “quiet hours” as is done in the dorms and residence halls. This course of action does not necessarily have to be a year-round endeavor. However, during exam time this could be very beneficial. While this suggestion may make me sound like a bitter old lady who is a stickler for rules and order, I am prepared to take on that title if it means contributing to the greater good of the student body.
Is taking a phone call in a quiet study area the worst possible offense that warrants a trial by jury and a subsequent criminal conviction? No. However, it is ultimately very impolite. With the end of the academic year being so close I feel we would all benefit from a little more compassion for our fellow students, and exercising more mindfulness in these scenarios. Hang up the phone, do some studying, and most importantly- respect the quiet space that you are choosing to share with your peers. There simply are not enough noise-canceling headphones in the world to equip everyone that is trying to focus on their studies.
