Student phones will be the last consideration. Phones, if installed, would be primarily for personal communication and would benefit these particular aspects rather than academics. Phones in dorms could cause some students to procrastinate, and isolate themselves. If necessary, a computer could be purchased which would turn dorm room phones on and off at predetermined times during the day and night, while public hallway phones would remain connected 24 hours a day. The network, Internet, and telephone, or the lack thereof, do not only affect current students.
Technology is a major factor in the decision process of many prospective students.
Availability of technology has become similar to the athletic facilities or the library, in that it has the potential to sell a school. Exeter, Andover, Choate, and Deerfield are among those schools which have recently hooked up student rooms to provide phone service, computer services, or both. Hotchkiss is currently in the process of making decisions about the matter. The recent, frequent changes in the School's administration have slowed the decision-making process on technology projects. Even if decisions are to be made in the near future, connections should not be expected in student rooms prior to the Fall of 1998.