Dial-a-Carol

Dial-a-Carol, a service that students in Snyder Hall have been running for over 47 years, is now open. The song playing is now high-tech, with the student operators playing requests from a computer. This begs the question: Why don't we just cut out the middle man, get some Christmas music on our own computers, and play it? Well from 7:00 pm to midnight there will be live performances from the students, which are decidedly much better than pre-recorded professionals.

As in the past, some callers will be able to hear a live version of their requested song. Carrera said last year about one caller in 100 was treated to a live performance.

“We just can’t sing all the tunes,” he said. “Last year, people were losing their voices.”

Still, this year’s ratio of live to recorded songs will be much higher than in 2007. Volunteers will sing to every caller from 7 p.m. to midnight and every fifth caller the rest of the time.

Carols and carolers just a phone call away at the University of Illinois