Crimes against classroom civility: Students say they text, talk, sleep in class

Junior Erin Hill, a music major, was watching students perform Mozart's opera "The Marriage of Figaro" when the unthinkable happened: In between sets, someone's cell phone went off, as everyone turned and glared at the perpetrator. "If there's one thing that you don't do, it's leave your cell phone on something audible in the recital hall," Hill said.

Though some may share Hill's opinion, rules governing classroom etiquette at are not set in stone anywhere, at least figuratively speaking. In The Jambar's non-scientific survey, however, 150 students at Youngstown State University weighed in on their opinions regarding student activity during class such as text messaging, talking on cell phones, sleeping, or whispering or talking to others.

While text messaging proved to be the most rampant action in classrooms, students deemed it acceptable. On the other hand (with cell phone attached), the most disturbing action in a classroom setting is talking on cell phones, according to 65 out of 130 surveyed students.

Hill agreed, labeling phone chatter as the rudest action in class.

"That makes me glad I never see it," she said.

Hill said she understands if students have to ask questions about things during class via text messaging, and said she doesn't find classroom text messaging as bothersome as talking on the phone. Most people have the touchtone turned off on cell phones, she said, which is fine.

Dan O'Neill, professor of communication at YSU, said text messaging is popular because it can be done without being easily detected. If he were to see a student text messaging, he wouldn't permit it, and would ask the student to please put it away.

O'Neill said that text messaging, however, is better than cell phone use. Many professors he knows will ask students to turn their cell phones off. One professor will confiscate ringing cell phones and make their owners pick them up at the dean's office.

"He just really flips out about that," O'Neill said.

Since some technology is so new, society hasn't established standards for it yet, O'Neill said.

"We should be able to use those tools without it affecting our face-to-face communication," he said.

Some students find text messaging rude.

Senior Kaveri Sharma, a tutor at the Center for Student Progress who caught a student text messaging during a session, said that the action makes her feel neglected or useless.

Senior Brandon Sinn, botany lab assistant, said he often sees students text messaging when he assists botany classes.

"You feel like just ripping the cell phone out of their hands sometimes," Sinn said.

As a member of a class, when he's not teaching, Sinn said that talking is the most distracting action. Like Hill, he said that text messaging is largely silent.

Junior Bruce Ciccone agreed with Sinn, saying that the volume involved with talking draws his attention during class.

Ciccone said he also finds some naturally-generated sounds distracting.

Repeated sniffling and coughing are bothersome, Ciccone said.

"I can hear them decaying, so it's really distracting," Ciccone said of snuffling students.

Sharma agreed, saying that coughing during class is a pet peeve for her.

In addition to being annoyed by some sounds or actions during class, students are annoyed with actions during the end of class. Out of 147 students, 65 percent of students said they think putting books and supplies away before the instructor is done teaching is rude, while 81 percent of 150 students said they think standing up before the instructor is finished teaching is rude.

For his part, O'Neill said he doesn't take offense to students getting their stuff together near the end of class. Instead, he points out to his class that their actions are a non-verbal cue to him to rap things up.

Additionally, O'Neill said he understand if students stand up during class if he is running overtime, since he knows they need to leave.

While Sharma said she waits until her instructor is done talking before gathering up her things, she said others should keep any gathering discreet.

"People do need to get to places," she said.

However, Sharma draws the line when it comes to standing up before an instructor ends class.

"Standing up is a little inappropriate," she said.

The action depends on the class size, Ciccone said. With eight or nine students in a class, for example, "It's very distracting when someone picks up and walks away," he said.