The decision by Tufts Computing and Communications Services (TCCS) to provide free local and campus phone service is a smart one. Few students seem to have been pleased with the PaeTec service, thereby necessitating a major change in the business of campus communications. TCCS should be commended for looking to student opinion and making a thoughtful, wise decision.
With the popularity of cell phones on campus, some may question the decision of TCCS not to switch over to a cell-phone-only system, thereby eliminating dorm landlines. Though TCCS was of course limited by the price of a cell phone plan, it made the right decision in maintaining the use of room phones. Though no one would question the convenience of a cell phone, eliminating landlines would create new complications. Students who lost or broke their phones would have to deal with the hassle of not having phone service, not to mention that some dorms might not receive consistent signals for cell phones. And hardly a class goes by that is not interrupted by the electronic melody of a cell phone ring. One can only imagine the chaos if literally everyone on campus carried a cell at all times.
The new plan does not call for free television services, which is understandable and hardly an issue. After all, not all students bring televisions to school, and even those who do, don't seem to have a problem with splitting the cost of service with their roommates. It would be nice, however, if TCCS and ResLife could provide the dorms with new televisions so that students could watch TV for free with their hall mates.
Providing students with free local and campus service will reduce stress by making it easy for students to contact with each other, as well as with people and places in Boston. The new plan will certainly open the lines of communication.
The only hassle that remains is the ability to call home. Since Tufts draws students from all over the world and from all 50 states, it seems that TCCS should look into making sure that calling cards are sold in campus venues or vending machines. Now that would be a good call...
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