Behavior in class: Different perspectives on what is acceptable
Will Newlin
Issue date: 4/19/07 Section: News
Imagine you are sitting in class. You're trying to take notes on a lecture, but the sweet and salty smell of fast food breaks your concentration.
The person to your right just pulled out a big bag of McDonald's. A full meal: French fries, a double cheeseburger, and a super-sized Coke. Wait no more Coke. You can tell they already finished it because the ice is now being crunched loudly between the teeth of your well-fed neighbor.
Mouth now watering, you look up, only to be drawn further away from the professor's words when you notice the other distractions going on around you: a student walking in 15 minutes late, "silenced" cell phones vibrating against the desks, and the squeaky sound of Styrofoam coming from your lab partner's 20 oz Speedway coffee.
A scene like this is not too far fetched. Wittenberg students seem to do all kinds of things in class, but is there a limit on what is suitable behavior? Some Witt students find it hard to focus because of the many distractions coming from their peers
According to the 2006-2007 Student Handbook and Student Development, it is clear that the University has no formal policy on what kind of behavior is or isn't allowed in class. The University simply leaves it up to the discretion of the professors.
And what do professors say? That varies. From anything goes to some pretty extreme rules, students are getting mixed messages on what is appropriate in-class etiquette.
Professor Stephen Smith in the sociology department thinks students getting up during class can be one of the biggest distractions. In his course syllabus he says, "Except in unusual circumstances, if you leave the room during class, you are not to return during the same period as this further disrupts the class."
James Humphries, a theater professor, had a serious cell phone policy.
"He has some outrageous theory that cell phones make people even more disconnected," said senior Kathryn Jablonowski. "If yours goes off during class he takes it and donates it to Project Woman. I saw it happen once, and as far as I know the student really didn't get his phone back."
The person to your right just pulled out a big bag of McDonald's. A full meal: French fries, a double cheeseburger, and a super-sized Coke. Wait no more Coke. You can tell they already finished it because the ice is now being crunched loudly between the teeth of your well-fed neighbor.
Mouth now watering, you look up, only to be drawn further away from the professor's words when you notice the other distractions going on around you: a student walking in 15 minutes late, "silenced" cell phones vibrating against the desks, and the squeaky sound of Styrofoam coming from your lab partner's 20 oz Speedway coffee.
A scene like this is not too far fetched. Wittenberg students seem to do all kinds of things in class, but is there a limit on what is suitable behavior? Some Witt students find it hard to focus because of the many distractions coming from their peers
According to the 2006-2007 Student Handbook and Student Development, it is clear that the University has no formal policy on what kind of behavior is or isn't allowed in class. The University simply leaves it up to the discretion of the professors.
And what do professors say? That varies. From anything goes to some pretty extreme rules, students are getting mixed messages on what is appropriate in-class etiquette.
Professor Stephen Smith in the sociology department thinks students getting up during class can be one of the biggest distractions. In his course syllabus he says, "Except in unusual circumstances, if you leave the room during class, you are not to return during the same period as this further disrupts the class."
James Humphries, a theater professor, had a serious cell phone policy.
"He has some outrageous theory that cell phones make people even more disconnected," said senior Kathryn Jablonowski. "If yours goes off during class he takes it and donates it to Project Woman. I saw it happen once, and as far as I know the student really didn't get his phone back."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Anna Gissendanner
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