A quick glance of the senior lounge, library, or benches reveals phones in hands and on chairs, their dark or lighted up screens out in the open. Students may now use their phones during free periods as long as it does not disturb others, according to the new cell phone policy. The Upper School Council also introduced new consequences for breaking the rules.

The full policy, shared with students in their advisories on Feb. 19, can be found here.

After a day or two with the policy in place, sophomore Discipline Committee member Riley Wheaton did not notice a significant increase in cell phone use. “People used them contrary to the rules to a sufficient extent before the new cell phone policy so I haven’t noticed too much change yet,” he said. “It’s still sinking in.”

“I had a minor role in helping to brainstorm for it when it came in front of DC,” Wheaton said.

The reaction from students has been mostly positive.

“I think [the policy]’s fair,” senior Aria Bryan said. “What I really like about the cell phone policy is that we’re allowed to make phone calls now because sometimes I need to make phone calls during the day.”

Many other students also enjoy having the access to quickly communicate with those far away. “I like that it gives us access to communication with other people, especially if we need to contact our parents for some reason or to arrange after school plans,” senior Helen Derechin said.

“Sometimes you need to connect with other people in the school to find a place to meet up,” senior Alev Baysoy said. “If you can’t find someone you can text them to find them right away.”

Baysoy also found academic benefits to the new policy. “You can also transfer information via social media websites [on your phone] for projects and it just makes it easier because now it’s allowed,” she said.

Still, phone use is not allowed absolutely everywhere outside of class. “I don’t like that you can’t use it in the lunchroom,” junior Andy Gleeman said. “I don’t get why that’s such a big deal.”

Overall, Gleeman appreciates the changes. “It’s just better,” he said.

Wheaton does have a lingering question, though. “You have these different punishments for first and second and third offenses for passive and active use. I wonder when your count resets.” For example, if one had two offenses in semester one and one in semester two, would that count as three offenses?