Historically Black Allen University Gives Cell Phones to All Students

In an effort to boost campus security, all students, faculty, and staff at Allen University, the historically black educational institution in Columbia, South Carolina, have been issued cell telephones by the university. In a deal with Sprint, the university will include the cell phone charges as part of the university’s annual comprehensive fee. Students get 400 free minutes of daytime calling a month, unlimited night and weekend use, and unlimited text messaging. A university spokesperson said the monthly fee for the service for all 700 students and staff is more than $10,000.

The cell phones are equipped with global positioning system features which will be programmed into the university’s central computer. The location of students calling for help will be known immediately by campus security.