This article appeared in the college's On Campus newspaper. You are welcome to quote from it or to reprint it in its entirety.
Newswise — Mark Rothman, a senior English major from New York City, is a four-year staff writer for the Williams Record. Rothman says, "Someone once described me, as a tall Woody Allen who thinks he's funny and laughs at his own jokes."
In 2001, small idyllic Williams College located in the quiet Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts was forever changed. Verizon Wireless erected a cellular antenna. It should be noted that the tower was erected without the help of Cialis, but not without difficulty. The town deliberated at length before accepting the new technology.
But as soon as the tower was up and running it was: "Ring; Ring. Hello out there!" and cell phones began spreading across campus faster than mononucleosis among undergraduates. The next fall the majority of first-year students showed up with cell phones and by the fall of 2003, it seemed that everyone on campus had one.
Now cell phones are pervasive. They have grown on everyone on campus. They are kind of like a younger sister: first really annoying and bothersome, after a while developing and getting some hot friends, and finally proving to be an asset. And, unlike a younger sister, you can shut off a cell phone.
The reason the town finally agreed to allow the tower to be installed was because, "Increasing numbers of Williamstown residents want to use cell phones as a tool for family connections and business, and it's clear that wireless phones are a benefit in emergencies," said college vice president Helen Ouellette.
Today's students certainly agree, using their cell phones for such emergencies as ordering calzones from Colonial Pizza, located two miles from campus, or figuring out what party their friends are at, or finding someone to go get some Shirley Temple mix.
Students say that cell phones have completely changed the social scene at Williams. Now they can call their friends and let them know, "Yo, Perry house is kicking, there are two kegs and a live DJ." Or, in a barely audible whisper, "I am at the library." They are a great tool for finding people on campus.
"Hey, where are you?"
"I am in the stands wearing a Williams sweatshirt."
"Everyone is wearing a Williams sweatshirt!"
And, most common,
"Can you believe how cold it is outside? It's colder than an ex-girlfriend."
Cell phones make it possible to be in constant contact with the world off campus, as well. Natalie Geier '05 of Cincinnati, Ohio, uses hers to make sure her sisters stay out of trouble. "I have two younger sisters. One is at Georgetown and the other is still in high school in Cincinnati, so keeping up with them is really difficult. But with my cell phone, I am able to stay in touch all the time, to keep tabs on them. Even though they are a plane flight away, my cell phone makes them only a call away." Cell phones, as with all new technology, are a double-edged sword. They enable your parents to be in constant contact with you as well.
If I had a dime for every time I have received a call from my parents asking me some question about operating our DVD player, while I am out at a party at 9 or 10 p.m., I would not need to be looking for a job.
"Hey Mark, I can't get the DVD player to work." "Is it on, Mom?" "Yes, Mark. Do I set it to 350 degrees?"
"That's the oven, Mom."
Wondering if I was the average Joe Cell Phone user, I decided to gauge the impact of cell phones on campus. I called a number of students, via cell phone, to ask about their impact. Most of my friends didn't answer, demonstrating another great function of cell phones: call screening. The few who did agreed that cell phones are not only a necessity, but they are also very convenient. Will Cary '05, Bozeman, Mont., believes that "cell phones are invaluable on this campus because "¦ " It was at this point that I lost Will's call, but I am sure he was going to say: ""¦ because you can always be in touch with people and the reception is great."
The tower is high on the smokestack at the college heating plant. Still, reception goes in and out on campus proving that location is everything. Poker Flats dormitory has very poor cellular reception. However, even a little reception is better then none. The in and out reception on and around campus has made the most common phrase on campus, no longer "Amherst Sucks," but rather, "Can you hear me now?"
Tim Crawley '05 of Eugene, Ore., is a recent cell phone convert, having bought his in January of 2005. He described the process of getting the phone as "a personal epiphany." Tim got the phone "to be in touch with people," and believes the phone is "part of being there for your friends and family." Obviously, Tim is still jaded. But the cell phone has proven to be a powerful commodity on campus. It was no coincidence that once the tower was installed, Williams vaulted to the number 1 position in U.S. News and World Report's ranking of Liberal Arts Colleges. Perhaps, this is a stretch, but Amherst is putting up extra cellular towers on their campus. With cell phones elevating the college's rankings, is it any wonder that the phones have become more and more accepted on campus? There was a time when a student's cell phone going off in class was frowned on. Now professors are getting calls during class. Philosophy Professor Steven Gerrard was recently caught in class with his phone on. "Everyone looked around and giggled," he said. "When I finally realized it was my phone, I opened it, saw the call was from home, closed it, and said softly, 'It's my daughter.'" Despite Gerard's embarrassment, a student quickly asked him, "You hung up on your daughter?" Upon the phone ringing again, the same student said, with great insistence, "Answer it!" Finally, Gerrard admits, "I did (answer the call), told my daughter I loved her, and explained I would have to call her back in a few minutes."
Cell phones have become a necessary Williams accessory, offering all kinds of benefits for college students. Alexis Chernak '05, Palos Park, Ill., admits, "my cell phone has gotten me out of so many jams, whether it was getting a ride from the airport or being able to call my friends and figure out where they are."
They are also great for making "booty calls." A "booty call" is a late night phone call to a member of the opposite sex, in which you invite them over to watch a movie. If the person does answer your call then you can just put the phone on vibrate.
And then there is the also unadvertised "getting-girls'-numbers" (I mean "other-people's-numbers" ) benefit. There is nothing more thrilling then some girl putting her number in your phone. And there is nothing more deflating then realizing the next morning that she gave you a phony number. Still, students define themselves by how many people they have in their cell phones. The more names and numbers, the cooler you are. Tim Crawley has 62 numbers, not bad for someone who got one so recently. Will Cary boasts 100 numbers in his list and adds that 35 of them belong to girls.
It must be remembered, however, that it isn't the number of girls' numbers you have in your phone, but rather how many of those girls will actually answer your call.
Williams College is consistently ranked one of the nation's top liberal arts colleges. The college's 2,000 students are taught by a faculty noted for the quality of their undergraduate teaching. The achievement of academic goals includes active participation of students with faculty in research. Admission decisions are made regardless of a student's financial ability, and the college provides grants and other assistance to meet the demonstrated needs of all who are admitted. Founded in 1793, it is the second oldest institution of higher learning in Massachusetts. The college is located in Williamstown, Mass. To visit the college on the Internet: http://www.williams.edu
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