Professors ban cell phones from classes

Monday, March 6th 2006, 12:04 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Some Oklahoma college professors say they're banning cell phones and laptops from their classes because the gadgets make too much noise, disrupt class and can be used for cheating.

University of Oklahoma letters professor Melanie Rich says students caught text-messaging on their cell phones in her class are counted absent.

She says if students are caught messaging during a test, they fail the course and are reported to an academic misconduct committee.

Rich says many professors are allowing cell phones in their classes only for military personnel on call, students with small children and students who have ill family members.