Phonathon earns $274,996
Although student volunteer participation in this year's 24th annual Dartmouth Alumni Fund Student Phonation has been lower than in previous years, donations do not seem to have been affected. After five days, the Phonation has raised $274,996 from 1,233 donors with four days left to call, Assistant Director of the Alumni Fund Christopher Buffoli said. One of the principle reasons for the lack of volunteers is that the Office of Residential Life has forbidden the event's organizers to send direct BlitzMail messages to Undergraduate Advisors and Area Coordinators to request help as a group, Buffoli said. Direct contact with the UGAs has proven to be successful in the past, with UGAs and ACs holding competitions among their groups on who can make the most phone calls. Buffoli said that due to the complaints of some UGAs regarding the direct blitzes urging them to volunteer, ORL made a ruling two years ago to ban this mode of publicizing. The success of the volunteer turnout can be drastically different every year, with timing being a key factor. In some years a lot of active, enthusiastic people on campus come out and participate in the event, Buffoli said.