Who called Anchorage???

Pre-1986: The phone bill was more than a bill — it was a monthly project. Roommates had to claim their own calls and pay their share of the bill. For students in long-distance relationships, the phone bill could be a source of dread.

10 cents

1960s/70s: Cost to place a local call from a pay phone. And, if your party didn’t answer, you got your dime back.

One-to-one

Pre-1970s: Often, the ratio of phones per dorm floor, sorority, or frat house.

Timing was everything

1970s/80s: Sunday evenings were prime time for phoning home. It was cheaper than other nights — unless you waited until 11:00 on a weeknight, or 11:01 just to be safe.

Talk was not cheap

1960s/70s/80s: Calling long distance was always expensive, especially during the day. A 15-minute conversation could easily cost $6. That’s why crafty students and their families devised signals. Using the operator to call “collect” or “person-to-person” and not accepting the charges was one ploy. Letting the phone ring twice was another signal.

Our own phone!

1972: Phones (rotary dial) are installed in every BU dorm room.

How classy!

1986: Students use their new touch-tone room phones to register for classes, but are frustrated by busy signals. Bradley was one of the first three schools in the nation to try the concept. (along with Brigham Young and Georgia State)

“Can you hear me now?”

2004: Verizon commercials signal that soon people everywhere, including most Bradley students, will be on their cellular phones — a lot.

No more dorm room phones

2009: They are obsolete. Students have their own!

Sending a message

2010: 8 out of 10 accidents are caused by distracted driving. The #1 culprit is cell phones. RAY LaHOOD ’71, U.S. secretary of transportation, began the FocusDriven campaign against deadly distracted driving in January. Distraction.gov is the Department of Transportation’s new Web site.

Visit CarInsurance.org and click on the "Safe Driving" tab to learn more about distracted driving.