Changing Cell Phone Policies

So I would think this could go without saying, but it's worth bringing up. Actually, it's essential that college and university administrators and faculty consider this: If you're going to broadcast emergency text messages to students, you have to allow students to check their text messages during class.

I mention this because I recently read an article by the Daily Eastern News, the newspaper of Eastern Illinois University (my alma mater). According to the paper, the university's Vice President for Academic Affairs said a new statement of principle would be initiated this semester to ensure that an emergency text message could get into classrooms in a timely way.

"'This principle', he said, 'would recognize the faculty's responsibility for setting the classroom protocols and ground rules for decorum. The statement would also make sure faculty could not be in a position of making it impossible for a text message to get through to the class.'"

We certainly understand how disruptive cell phone use can be, especially in a classroom setting. On the other hand, if there is a campus emergency that endangers the lives of students and faculty, the message needs to get through, whether class is in session or not. That's the intent behind emergency text messages and a campus safety policy. Students in classrooms aren't able to easily find out about threats to safety because, in the classroom, they typically don't have access to television, radio, or telephones. That's why sending messages to cell phones is so important.

Students and faculty have the capability to put cell phones on vibrate mode. If it becomes apparent that several phones are vibrating at the same time, then it's worth allowing the students to check.

What do you think? Do emergency text messages require a nullification of a "no cellphone policy" in college classrooms? What's you suggestion to allow emergency messages through while still preserving an undisturbed learning environment?