You’re probably doing it right now.

Unfortunately, not too many professors tolerate multitasking in class, and at least one finally had enough. Laurence Thomas, a philosophy professor at Syracuse University, walked out midlecture a few weeks ago after seeing a student texting in the front row. Thomas, who had previously asked students not to do such things during class, later explained to his students in an e-mail, “Everyone has to understand that respect is a two-way street. I respect you, as I endeavor to do and you respect me.”

He’s got a point.

These people deserve our respect — especially those who’ve worked hard to obtain their status and expertise. Without professors, our world would be a much scarier and severely ignorant place. Yet despite how powerful these individuals actually are, their authority is undermined with every high-volume ringtone blaring in the middle of class.

Students often make the mistake of thinking because they — or their parents — pay for these classes, professors should simply accept whatever happens. Consumers are conditioned to get what they want in exactly the way they want it with little regard for the inconvenience it causes others. College, however, doesn’t work that way. We pay to join and participate in a pre-existing education process. There’s little to no way for students to influence the direction or operations of these courses in a way that makes it easier for them to do anything other than learn.

Thomas’ actions might not have been the best approach, however. Students who have some sense of classroom etiquette shouldn’t be punished for the actions committed by a few shameless offenders. As long as students are a little more covert with their texting, newspaper reading and sudoku playing, there shouldn’t be a problem.

If it’s distracting for those wanting to learn and pay attention, then professors shouldn’t tolerate it.

They should stop class and ask those offending people to leave. In front of everyone.

Although many students and their parents might be outraged by any sort of public embarrassment, it seems like the most effective solution to a constantly recurring problem. Another would be for courses to eliminate mandatory attendance, which would help weed out the worst offenders who clearly don’t want to be in class in the first place.

We’re all adults here — it’s time to act like it. Students who choose to go to class should know better than to make a noisy, distracting spectacle of themselves.