Technological breakthroughs have brought convenience and comfort into students' lives, yet students are often barred from using laptops to take notes in classes, and the only mention of computers in Rights and Responsibilities protects from privacy infringements due to technology-completely irrelevant in this regard. While some professors allow laptops into the classroom, others do not. This inconsistant standard denies students of an essential right.Students with documented disabilities receive permission to use laptops without question; it is unfair, however, that laptop privileges for other students should be revoked at the professor's discretion.

There must be a positive affirmation of a student's right to take notes in whatever fashion he or she please.

It is clear that the current policy is based on mistrust of students. This seems to be a fundamentally poor position for a relationship between professors and their students. While students are expected to diligently copy down the professor's words, and often learn them verbatim, they are denied their most efficient way of doing this.

Admittedly, fears of students using laptops for purposes other then taking notes are well-founded. I admit that I have used my laptop to surf the web, check my e-mail and even chat with friends during class; however, even with a pen and paper students can doodle, write poems or short stories and pass notes. Students may also just block out the lecture completely and daze off; students will always find a way to escape a particularly boring lecture. Draconian preventive measures cannot stop them from doing this.

Several other points of criticism came up when I spoke to Junior and Senior Class Advisor Wendy Russman-Halperin. One reason she mentioned that no policy exists is that there are classes where note-taking is an anathema: P.E. courses or some acting courses, for instance. It is quite obvious, however, that students will not be bringing laptops into the weight room and this is a rather poor excuse.

Furthermore, there are positive benefits to having laptops in class. As WebCT has become such a useful medium for professors, being able to access to this site while in class has become beneficial for students. I have often read along while a professor explains an assignment, or checked links that a professor spoke of. Also, using computers can prevent students from perpetual ignorance about a lecture. Students are able to look up information that complements an obscure point or unclear lecture. Additionally, laptop use can save students money, as it allows them to bring lengthy articles to class without paying to print them out.

Many students type much faster on laptops, allowing them to keep up with the pace of even the most blistering lectures. Additionally, word-processing programs allow instant color coding and organization, which can often be difficult while taking notes on paper. Many students who have to take notes on paper will then have to retype them on their computer for later use

Miscellaneous benefits of having a laptop in class abound. Often even the professor will forget a particular name or date; a person with a laptop can look this information up and report it to the class. E-mail addresses or phone numbers given for group projects can instantly be entered into address books and e-mail logs for secure storage.

It is important that the school's laptop policy be uniform. Firstly, students actually have to carry these laptops from class to class; yet, often classes that do not allow laptops will immediately follow those that do. Students have to lug around their heavy laptops to classes in which they are explicitly denied the ability to use them. This injustice is worth remedying.

Secondly, a policy permitting laptops ultimately signals that the University trusts its students; it is unfortunate to see only negative statements about potential dangers of technology enshrined. Having this trust given or rescinded on a case by case basis sends a muddled signal.

We would not deny students the right to use whatever color pen they wish when taking notes, or to use whatever kind of paper or notebook they wish. Unless Brandeis' policy is to be rooted in paranoia, it is clear that laptops certainly should be allowed.

Students should be given the optimal chance of succeeding in class and maintaining the information they learn. We should not deny them by handicapping one of the best tools for facilitating the acquisition of knowledge.