Campus culture has and will continue to change with every generation. Most of us don’t remember a time where students went from class to class without their smartphone obstructing their view. The digital age has certainly revolutionized how we communicate with one another, but it goes without saying that the advancements in our technology can be a double edge sword by isolating individuals to a world within their phone.

We’re so caught up with social media and our personal lives, we forget there’s a world around us and sometimes that world is a very dangerous place. Its obvious people keep their phones nearby in case of emergencies, but what good is it if they don’t see or recognize an imminent threat?

Our personal smart devices have nurtured the philosophy of people thinking inward through selfies and tweets. And with this cultural epidemic, we went from a village to a self-promoting and self-indulgent people. Our technology is sabotaging the human experience to a point where the person sitting next to us matters less with every upgrade.

People become props instead of individuals once they’re captured on other people’s devices. And violating a person’s privacy to serve your interest or personal fetish is wrong on so many levels.

Recently students and faculty received an alert through their school emails advising them to be vigilant while on campus due to an incident that occurred in the Music Building on Sept. 16.

A female student reported that while using the restroom a male suspect walked in with a camera and allegedly took a picture from underneath the stall door. As the male suspect was leaving the restroom, he ran into another female student who reported the incident 10 minutes after the encounter.

The ECPD has yet to apprehend the individual involved, but asked students to report any suspicious activity to campus police.

The idea that a person would take such action to fulfill their personal fantasies is extremely disturbing, and our hearts goes out to the victim and others who were affected by this incident.

As responsible journalists, the Union staff often grapples with issues of personal privacy, which is why we find such flagrant disregard for others particularly unsettling. The intent of any electronic device is to serve in the advancement of our species, not to harm or exploit any individual. Those who violate these social standards harm not only their victims, but society at large.

It’s important to come together as a community to identify threats, even if they are not directed towards us. When something is out of place, call it for what it is and take every measure to document the incident.

Most of our phones have picture and video recording capabilities, so use it to your full advantage. While on campus, save the ECPD phone number to your contacts in case of emergency. If you have an evening class, once you’re out put away any distracting items such as your iPod or smartphone. ECPD encourages student to walk with friends or use their campus shuttle.

We have to take ownership with what we do with our electronic devices. We forget it’s a privilege just to have one. And respecting the privacy of any individual is the responsibility of every electronic device owner.

Violating that is a clear misuse of the product and there are laws designed for those who’s goal is to harm people by using thus product.

However, our personal safety as well as others depends upon how responsible we are when using our devices. There’s a time and place for everything, so use your time and devices wisely.