Penntrex offers new call tracing service

Next time the phone rings some University students will know who is on the other end before they even say hello. Penntrex Manager Barbara McKnight said Caller Identification will now be available to Penntrex subscribers. It was recently approved for use in Pennsylvania. McKnight said one of the service's benefits will be the prevention of threatening phone calls -- like the ones made to residents of the W.E.B. Dubois College House in the past. "It will discourage people from doing harassing calls," McKnight said. "It's really great. It's a nice feature." Last March, at least three Dubois residents received racially harassing phone calls, including two death threats. And a little over a year ago, bomb threats and racially threatening phone calls were also made to Dubois residents. But, College senior and Black Student League President Robyn Kent said she does not think Caller ID will stop individuals from making harassing calls if they are so inclined. "If the person is smart enough they would call from a pay phone," Kent said. "Knowing the kind of people who make harassing calls, I don't think it will be a deterrent." She said her roommate received one of the first bomb threats. The next evening, she too received a racially threatening phone call. Despite this, Kent said she is unsure if she would order the service. "I don't know if I would personally [subscribe]," she added. "I don't know if it would help." One reason Caller ID may not prevent harassing calls is because people will be able to block their phone numbers from appearing on the display screen of the person they call, McKnight said. McKnight said she originally intended to block all the student's numbers but has since changed her mind. "I would rather bite the bullet and then have to retract my statement," she said. "I don't see a lot of students blocking their number. "It is more advantageous to the student to have their number going out," she added. Even if a student chooses not to block their number to all outgoing calls, they will be able to selectively block their number by pressing '267' before dialing. McKnight said students will be able to purchase a display unit that shows the caller's number for $35. In addition, there is a $5 monthly fee for the service and an installation charge of $5 which will be waived until Dec. 29. She said students will be getting a good deal since the display screens usually retail for between $49 to $69 and the monthly charge is normally $6.50. The units will be available to students living both on and off campus.