College Students Required to Buy GPS Phones

One college has come up with a way to improve the safety of its students by requiring them to purchase and carry a Global Positioning System enabled cell phone to track their whereabouts. Students at Montclair State University are now required to purchase the Sprint-operated units they call "school phones."

The Sprint-operated phones cost the students $420 a year for a base plan that includes 50 peak voice minutes a month, but the special plan also includes unlimited text messaging to any carrier, unlimited campus-based data usage, and student activated emergency GPS tracking.

"What it does is allow students to have an extra pair or group of people watching over them when they're going from one location to another," Montclair Police Department Chief Paul Cell told reporters.

The only criticism of the plan has been about the additional costs to students, especially those who already have their own cell phone plans and monthly bills.

"If you're mobile accessing the campus from anywhere with some device that's attached to your hip, the truth of the matter is, you're also avoiding a lot of costs," said Ed Chapel, Montclair State vice president of information technology.

See Also:
Montclair State Unveils Mandatory 'School Phone'

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