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Company removes pay phones due to student cell phone use
Kellie Geist
Issue date: 2/7/07 Section: News
They could be found in restroom foyers, outside restaurants and even in dedicated booths on the street, but in the wake of the cell phone era, pay phones are disappearing like boats in the Bermuda Triangle - and Northern Kentucky University's phones are no exception.
Students who need to use a pay phone will notice that the familiar phones throughout campus are no longer there. "The company we had the phones through just came and took them out," said Sandy Fromeyer, telecommunications coordinator. "They didn't notify us or anything."
Pinnacle Products, formerly Gregg Hart Communications, is the company NKU had the pay phone contract with. Lucas Todd, phone sales manager for Pinnacle Products, said, "Our contract doesn't state that we have to notify anyone if we remove the phones. Most kids in college have cell phones and the pay phones just weren't profitable."
Most college students might think everyone has a cell phone, but Amirah Davis, a junior nursing major, isn't like most. She said, "They need to have phones available around campus."
Pay phones were once located outside of the Office of First Year Programs in Founder's Hall. Susan Chenot, academic support for First Year Programs, said that not having the pay phones has been a real inconvenience. "We have students, faculty and staff in here all day long asking if they can use our phone." She said that the office isn't allowed to let people use their phone, but in some emergency cases she'll dial the number and let them make the call.
"I think we really need to have the pay phones put back in," Chenot said. "There's been a huge request for them in here from people who don't have cell phones or can't use theirs for whatever reason."
Shelby Shafer, freshman chemistry and pre-veterinary major, works at the Information Desk in the University Center. Shafer said people don't usually ask to use its phone but she does have people ask where they can find phones.
"I usually send them downstairs and we've never really had anyone come back and complain about not being able to call out," Shafer said. "However, I still think we need pay phones."
Students who need to use a pay phone will notice that the familiar phones throughout campus are no longer there. "The company we had the phones through just came and took them out," said Sandy Fromeyer, telecommunications coordinator. "They didn't notify us or anything."
Pinnacle Products, formerly Gregg Hart Communications, is the company NKU had the pay phone contract with. Lucas Todd, phone sales manager for Pinnacle Products, said, "Our contract doesn't state that we have to notify anyone if we remove the phones. Most kids in college have cell phones and the pay phones just weren't profitable."
Most college students might think everyone has a cell phone, but Amirah Davis, a junior nursing major, isn't like most. She said, "They need to have phones available around campus."
Pay phones were once located outside of the Office of First Year Programs in Founder's Hall. Susan Chenot, academic support for First Year Programs, said that not having the pay phones has been a real inconvenience. "We have students, faculty and staff in here all day long asking if they can use our phone." She said that the office isn't allowed to let people use their phone, but in some emergency cases she'll dial the number and let them make the call.
"I think we really need to have the pay phones put back in," Chenot said. "There's been a huge request for them in here from people who don't have cell phones or can't use theirs for whatever reason."
Shelby Shafer, freshman chemistry and pre-veterinary major, works at the Information Desk in the University Center. Shafer said people don't usually ask to use its phone but she does have people ask where they can find phones.
"I usually send them downstairs and we've never really had anyone come back and complain about not being able to call out," Shafer said. "However, I still think we need pay phones."
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