Heidi Prater lay in her room, sick and helpless. She picked up her cell phone and tried to call someone to help her, but it didn't have a signal.
She reached for the landline, dialed the number and a friend quickly arrived to help.
Many universities throughout the country are deactivating landlines in student housing because of the unnecessary cost and so many students using cell phones, according to an Associated Press article.
Mark Watters, director of telephone and postal services at Ball State University, said the university pays AT&T Corporation for maintenance and repair service, but did not know how much. He said cell phones have affected student use of landlines, but staying with the landline system makes sense because "it's always there, it always works and it's free."
Prater, a freshman nursing major, said when she was in her room and her cell phone didn't work, her landline was a reliable alternative.
Some students do not have landlines, however, and rely on cell phones.
Andrew Slack, a sophomore secondary education major, said he lived in the residence halls last year and only one student used the landline rather than relying on a cell phone.
Freshman elementary education major Megan Vian said she knew students who owned landline phones, but did not plug them in because they did not need them.
"You can take [cell phones] anywhere," Vian said. "I always call friends in between classes. It's good to have it with you in your car in case something would happen and it gives me a sense of security at night."
Watters said Ball State has about 9,000 landlines on campus, but did not know how many students use them. Watters said every room in North Residence Hall and remodeled DeHority Complex will be equipped with a landline.
Watters said the landline service provides more than a reliable, free network.
"Whenever you call 911 from one of the campus phones, it tells the operator what building, floor and room it is in," Watters said.
Watters said he didn't know what would become of landlines on campus, but the university is content with the current procedure.
"Obviously the immigration is becoming more and more towards cell phones," Watters said. "But the reality is we don't want to have to increase fees or any other additional costs to students, faculty and staff. We're being conservative in moving away from it because what we have right now works very well."
Cutting linesThese schools have either already done away with or are moving toward eliminating phone lines in their residence halls:
- University of Missouri Kansas City
- University of Missouri Columbia
- Truman State University
- Avila University
- University of Florida
- Florida Atlantic University
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
