No longer can some students decide to be ‘cell phone independent’ and stay with just a landline. A cell phone is an absolute necessity. For example, at New York University, you must have a cell phone and give the school that cell phone number:

“…It is for these reasons that NYU is now REQUIRING that all students provide both a cell phone number AND an emergency contact number (including an option for an international emergency phone number) BEFORE Fall registration begins on April 14th, 2008! During Fall registration on Albert, we will be checking to see if you have provided both numbers. If either is missing, you will not be allowed to register for the Fall term.”

link: Registration Requirements

At New York University, cell phones are part of the security protocol. The argument about your cell phone number being private is not a consideration if one wishes to be a student. At New York University, security trumps privacy.

Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster: http://flyinghamster.com/

Tags: cell phones, university, privacy, security, new york university