Dear Editor:

I would like to address some of the issues that have arisen as a result of my original letter regarding the use of cell phones on campus:

1) I would like to thank my fellow foreigners for their input. However, it is my belief that these people do not constitute the majority of cell phone users on campus. Will the remainder of cell phone users remain silent?

2) What is the administration's view on all this? It seems rather obvious that this problem is not being regarded with the importance that it should by the university. Nothing has been done to curb cell phone use in the library or the computer labs. I challenge any administration member to spend a half hour in any computer lab and not go crazy from the incessant din of cell phone rings.

3) Mr. Nash has misrepresented my position by stating that I advocate "smashing cell phones into tiny pieces". While I often feel like this is an adequate solution, I merely advocate leaving them at home. He also suggests that people should use cell phones responsibly. My point is that if people were using them responsibly, then my original letter (and indeed this one as well) would not have been written.

4) Mr. Ahmed seems to miss the main issue when he debates the luxury/necessity of cell phones. The issue is not whether they are necessary, but whether they are annoying. He also suggests that I do the unthinkable and purchase a cell phone. In fact, I have. I have purchased a toy cell phone, so now I can yell in the ears of people on the service bus, serenade the people in the computer lab with annoying jingles, and disturb people reading in the library just like everyone else.

5) Many have stated that a complete ban on cell phones would be "unworkable", and that the culture of cell phone use is impossible to change. I would like to point out that Bilkent has done an admirable job of controlling the culture of traffic on campus-why not do the same for cell phones?

In conclusion, I would like to restate my firm position: cell phones are nothing but toys, and their irresponsible use has detracted from the educational atmosphere at Bilkent. They should be banned.

Ben Ball
(Doctoral Student, Politics)