Rather, the subject matter is more serious, as current students talk to alumni and parents about the value of an Emory education. The total raised represents nearly a 6 percent increase from the previous year. Timothy Minor, Telefund director since 1994, is pleased. Being pleased, however, should not imply complacence. A phone in its cradle is almost an affront to Minor and his staff, who convey an air of hustle and commitment during calling periods.
Trainees undergo orientation and then are paired with a more experienced caller.
According to Minor, the training calls are deliberately more challenging than most actual calls. Noah Simon, a senior from Orlando, is one of the mainstays of the student staff. Simon has been on the Telefund's Best of the Best chart, which honors those students who lead in cumulative dollars raised, pledge rate, and number of contacts. A political science major, Simon sometimes capitalizes on his academic background when calling. During the Republican primary debates, Simon phoned an alumnus who was tuned in to the discussions on television.