Luke Rinderknecht

September arrived and I found myself sitting in class again after a long (yet, upon reflection, altogether too short) summer vacation. My classmates arrived and took their seats, happy to see one another even if it did mean having to work again. Binders and ears were opened, pens uncapped, our teacher began to speak—and the inevitable happened. A cell phone rang, playing its annoyingly electronic version of William Tell. We all smiled slightly and listened as our teacher, thrown off his track, patiently explained that seemingly obvious item of protocol once again: phones off when you come into class.

That phrase haunts us at every turn. In theaters, concert halls, and classrooms, cell phones have become Frankenstein's monster, a good idea spinning out of control that would serve us well if only we used them sensibly. Since we all must live and work together, let's establish a few ground rules governing the use of cell phones in order to promote respect and courtesy for our colleagues, teachers, students, and fellow citizens of this fine community.

Turn off your phone in any focused setting.

Remember that concerts are for listening, movies are for watching, classes are for learning, libraries are for studying, performances involve every member of the audience, and lessons are to make us feel bad about ourselves (not for chatting with mom). Turn off your phone before these activities. This is what voice mail is for. You can return any missed calls later, when the time and place are appropriate.

Don't interrupt your current conversation to answer your phone.

Let's say you're in a conversation with your teacher and Big Mike shows up to chat about the party the other night. If Big Mike has any manners, he'll wait until you've finished your conversation, or he'll find you later. So if Big Mike calls during your conversation, is it any different? Certainly not. Even if Robin Williams is calling you, the same rules apply. Besides, if Robin Williams is actually calling you, he'll leave a message. You can call him back.

Be aware of your surroundings while talking on the phone.

The woman to your left in the subway doesn't want to hear about your awful lesson or how cute the underwear you just bought at Victoria's Secret is (though the old man to your right might). Always remember, these little cell phones have very sensitive microphones. Keep your voice down and spare those around you the details. Also, don't get fooled into thinking raising your voice will fix a bad connection. If the signal is breaking up, you can't do anything about it until you find someplace with better service.

Find some personal space to make a call.

If you're about to make a call or have just received one, distance yourself a few yards from those around you so you can talk in private, devote your attention to the call, and respect the personal space of people around you.

Don't take your phone to a dinner, or on a date.

In any situation where you want to devote your full attention to someone or something, you should leave your phone at home. It can easily become the third wheel, derailing conversation and destroying the mood.

Remember, your phone is your tool; don't let it use you. For many of us, staying in contact is vital for our business and our social lives, but don't let cell phones detract from the business (or the pleasures) at hand, even from that one little bonding moment with the girl down the hall that could make a difference for the entire... um, excuse me, my phone is ringing.

Voice Box is a student opinion column appearing regularly in The Juilliard Journal. To submit a column for consideration, please e-mail it to journal@juilliard.edu with “Voice Box” in the subject heading, and include a phone number where you can be reached. Columns should cover topics of interest to the Juilliard community, and be about 500 words.