 "Photo: Neka Jones/Echo staff photographer")
Technology has provided some wonderful enhancements to the academic environment, there are computers in place of typewriters, e-readers in place of books and cell phones in place of notepads.
It is commonplace to see students at N.C. Central University in class peeking at their phones at various points during lectures.
Whether they are taking notes, texting, or tweeting it has become a problem on campus.
There is no university policy on cell phone use in class which means it is subject to every professor's discretion.
"I don't allow cell phone use in my class; I put in my syllabus for the first time this year that if I see you on your cell phone in class I consider it an absence," said political science professor Bruce Lapenson.
The NCCU administration understands the struggles that professors go through dealing with cell phone usage.
"While there is no university policy on cell phone use in class; my expectation is that each faculty member will spell out what is allowed in their classroom on the syllabus," said Provost Kwesi Aggrey.
The provost also added that it is his opinion that "All cell phones must be put on vibrate or silence during class; and if it is on vibrate do not place it on the desk."
Some students feel like professors overreact and blow the cell phone issue out of proportion and do not utilize cell phones as a learning tool.
"I know professors want all of our attention but sending a text here and there doesn't mean we're not paying attention. Plus their phones go off all the time too," said criminal justice senior Briana Yarber.
However, not all students feel this way:
"I feel that using your cell phone during class is a distraction it takes your attention away from the professor's task at hand in class," said hospitality and tourism senior Morgan Stone.
Many times students are not the only ones guilty of checking their phones. Professors will peek at their phones a couple times in class as well.
"I feel as though if our phones have to be on silent and away theirs should be as well," said Yarber.
Cell phones have not only become an issue in class but in conversation as well, often time's people will look at their phones while they converse with peers.
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