In an extreme attempt to eradicate indiscipline and disturbance from the college premises, Sri Venkateswara recently installed a new rule exempting students from using mobile phones in the classrooms and corridors for any purpose. The issued regulation warns students of strict disciplinary action for not complying with the stated rules. The students are dissatisfied with its installation. Says Aditya Gupta, “It doesn’t make sense. We can’t rush to the canteen every time we have to attend an important call.” The rule is said to have been activated in response to the teachers complaining of recurrent disruption in and outside classrooms during study hours. Also, there have been reports of the office allegedly misbehaving with the students charged accountable. Shijo George, a second year student of Sri Venkateswara says, “I was listening to my music on the earphones while coming to class when an office person snapped my phone’s cord, snatched my earphones and phone, and started taking it away without any explanation. This is not the way to treat college students; the caution could have been more dignified. Besides, framing someone who’s not even causing any disturbance doesn’t really help the case.” Another student, Hina Jethwani, was snatched of her phone while talking to the teacher to decide an extra class. While most colleges in Delhi University do not have these rules, it has been formerly applied in some colleges like St. Stephens. But activities like listening to music on the earphones and messaging when not in a lecture have not been barred whatsoever. Sri Venkateswara however has banned these as well, despite failing to mention so in the circular. This flaw has also attracted grievance from the students. Mrs. Ratna Raman, Head of the English Department, justified the rule stating, “These days, children get a mobile by the ninth grade. This frame of mind of being obsessively connected round the clock since such a young age has encouraged the phone to be used for frivolous activities. Thus the rule might be harsh, but people need to understand the contrast between a privilege and the infringement of rights and act accordingly. Also if the same rules can be adhered to in the theatre, then college implementing these regulations in a college shouldn’t be a complaint.”

Talking about Facebook may seem like news of a previous era, but it is our duty to bring to you news that may be affecting your lives directly or indirectly. There have been reported few problems in our very own Facebook chat window.
A common lament faced by all students is the delay in replying to messages sent by the person with whom you’re conversing. The process gets hanged, and thus delayed, when the other person starts typing.
“It goes off randomly and at times it takes ages to send a message. After all that, a cherry on the top is when the message does not even reach. It’s painful and irritating. My message reaches the recipient late and vice versa, so it’s like we are having a conversation on different levels,” says Surabhi Tondon.

If nothing else binds us, it’s this. It is not less than a universal lament. This problem seems to be present irrespective of what browser you use and what country you live in.

Arjun, a student in Canada says “It’s so slow that I have stopped using it. I prefer to chat on MSN. At least the conversation is intact and coherent.”
Adds Surabhi,“My cousin from US faces the same problem and to correct it, she updated her internet speed.”
Looking at the facts, it seems like an internal server problem needs to be corrected soon. Already people are switching over to other methods of communication. This may cost the most popular networking site a huge loss of its customers’ loyalties.

Geetika adds. “Overall Facebook is a wonderful site. I don’t know what would I have done without it, but these problems certainly prove to be disincentives to chat online.”