REBECCA HALE
Assistant Reverb Editor
Last Wednesday afternoon, members of Art Forum could be seen in various places around campus — doing what? — that’s right: texting. The group traveled all around campus with their eyes glued to their phones, verbally talking to no one — not even each other — freezing in random places to create a statement on the college student’s relationship to technology.
This project was dreamed up by Dylan Scacchetti, a junior animation illustration major who is the president of Art Forum.
“This idea came about from observing people around campus and noticing how they text and seem to be in their own world,” Scacchetti said. “I wanted to isolate that, and replicate it.”
The group started out at Centre Pointe, and traveled to the Tim Hortons patio, University Commons, the Fredonia Science Complex, Reed Library, the clock tower and even inside Mason Hall.
“[It’s to] show how involved we are with technology,” said Jennifer Klineck, a junior sociology and biology double major, who participated in the display. “We’re more concerned with technology than being with friends.”
The statement attracted a lot of confused looks and spectators. Students watched and commented, saying things like “That’s a mirror image of what I see every day,” “That’s exactly what I do when I walk to class,” and even, “It looks like cell phones are going to take over the Earth!”
Scacchetti said he wants students to be more aware of their relationships with technology and with people.
“I want them to observe and reflect upon their actions, and their interactions with their cell phone,” he said. “How does it affect those around them? How does it affect their interactions with people around the world? That’s essentially it — how do they interpret their cell phone [usage]?”