Last Tuesday, I walked into class and took my seat waiting for the instructor to walk in.

Behind me sat two girls talking about their mundane dates on Friday.

To my right sat three guys laughing it up about the movie they had just seen and to my left was a girl, who seemed to have ripped out all the ads from the new in-style clothing ideas from magazines and threw them on, talking away on her cell phone.

The professor walked in and began to lecture, but one thing seemed to be off. Chatty girls, funny boys and Miss Vogue didn’t stop to pay attention. Appropriate etiquette was definitely out the window.

Students today have lost the respect that is needed and required towards professors and their fellow classmates.

I realize that students have to attend classes at very inconvenient hours, such as 8 a.m., but displaying atrocious behavior by texting or talking to your friends, tapping your pen against the desk or talking over your professor is unacceptable.

Sophomore accounting major John Chau says he doesn’t mind if students talk on their cell phones, just as long as they step outside and do it.

“It’s not only disrespectful to the professor or the other classmates, its disrespectful to me,” said Chau. “I’m trying to learn and interruptions like that are unnecessary.”

My parents pay a pretty penny for my tuition and people like chatty girls and Miss Vogue completely throw off my concentration when they violate the etiquette needed in the classroom.

Proper behavior isn’t that hard to follow. Are you really going to die or have an anxiety attack if you don’t talk to your boyfriend or best friend for an hour? Are they really going to miss you that much? Whether you agree or not, it gets old.

Classroom behavior was drilled into our heads since kindergarten, so why put those etiquette skills to the back of your head?

So my professor finally decides to tell the disrespectful six around me to quiet down. Relief was brought over me, until the unbelievable happened. Miss Vogue’s phone rang and for some reason, she decided to answer it.

I couldn’t help myself then. Meaning to say it to myself, I blurted out, ‘Are you kidding me?’

The best she could do was pass me a dirty look, tell whoever called her to call back and throw her phone back into her imitation Coach bag.

Students everywhere listen up! Keeping up this behavior will only put you on your professor’s bad list, for a lack of better words.

The same etiquette you use while driving, at church or meeting your significant other’s parents, should be applied at school. In case you failed to realize, this is college. You know that place you go to in order to get an education.

Respect the fact that while you on one hand would rather text your friend, the people around you are trying to learn something.

And by that I don’t mean learning that you and your boyfriend are having relationship problems. Hearing personal subjects should stay private and shouldn’t be heard by the public ear.

It’s not difficult to do. Aretha Franklin had it right; respect is all we’re asking for. Value your professors and respect others around you.

Rosa Pastran can be reached at [email protected]