Dial-A-Carol, University Housing’s longest-running tradition, is a 24/7 hotline where volunteers will sing holiday jingles to callers during winter finals week. This year, Dial-A-Carol is being held from Dec. 12-18 in Snyder Hall, where it’s been for the last 64 years.
Anyone interested in being sung to can call 217-332-1882 and ask for a carol of their choosing.
In the Snyder Hall lobby, volunteers can be found across its long tables, singing away into physical phones and headsets, laughing with other students or feasting on the never-ending supply of snacks, cookies and other refreshments nearby.
Snyder Residence Hall Director Sarah McElwee said some students are studying between songs as they carol.
“The overwhelming majority (of students) seem to think that this is a nice finals week tradition in between breaks of studying,” McElwee said. “We’ve even had carolers here who have been studying their notes while they’re in between singing songs … It helps take your mind off stuff, and it feels good to do something nice for people.”
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Matthew Felbein, senior in FAA, began caroling his freshman year when he saw a sign in the dining hall and decided it looked like fun. He estimates he spends roughly 80 hours each year caroling and plans the end of his winter semester around Dial-A-Carol.
Although there is a free T-shirt for any volunteer who reaches five hours of caroling, Felbein believes he would volunteer without any external incentives.
“Even if there were no incentives … just the joy of being able to sing Christmas carols for people and hearing either classfulls (sic) of people on the other line or old folks who don’t often get to hear live music … that joy is enough to be rewarding,” Felbein said.
Felbein also credits Dial-A-Carol with taking his mind off his upcoming final.
“If anything, it’s helping to relieve the stress,” Felbein said. “Being able to take my mind off that, not being constantly like, ‘Oh my gosh, I have nothing to do until my final tomorrow’ … I’ve got this, and I’m here all the time, and that helps make it easier.”
Chase Cope, freshman in Engineering, said she has felt uplifted from her time at Dial-A-Carol.
“It’s making everything seem a little less doom and gloom … Going into the Grainger Library, everybody looks like they’re ready to tap out, but coming (to Dial-A-Carol), everybody’s wearing Christmas stuff and Santa hats, and it’s definitely bringing up the mood,” Cope said.
Baylie Farmer, freshman in Education, shared a similar sentiment.
“This is enhancing my study time, and it definitely livens up finals week and makes it all the more cheerful, especially being in this Santa’s workshop,” Farmer said, referring to the lobby’s colorful decorations.
Lilly Carroll, freshman in FAA, said that Dial-A-Carol has motivated her to finish studying sooner.
“I’d so much rather be here doing caroling than studying,” Carroll said. “It also makes studying a lot easier to do because I have this to look forward to after.”
The UIPD also wanted in on the fun. Community outreach team members Dementro “Debo” Powell, Pete Milinkovic and Nick Perrine were spotted caroling in Snyder Hall on Thursday. When asked for their “official legal caroler names,” they responded: “Debo And The Blue Crooners.” The group also commented on finals week stress.
“There’s a lot of students who know about us doing this, so it’s definitely putting smiles on their faces and relieving the tension that they’re having about studying and preparing for finals,” Powell said. “This is a good way to relieve some stress, feel connected to the community and feel welcomed.”
Arthur Hall, graduate student studying library and information science, has been singing since his first year as a University undergrad. He said that he carols between eight and 16 hours each day and will volunteer this week for a minimum of eight each day. He also mentioned how everyone should come to carol, regardless of whether they believe they can sing well or not.
“If you’re scared of coming and singing, it’s not scary,” Hall said. “I recommend people to give it a go … Lots of the time, people say to me, ‘Oh, I would do it, but I don’t know how to sing’ or ‘I would do it, but I’m scared that people won’t like my voice.’ The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear … Come and give it a go.”
Community members interested in volunteering can walk into Snyder Hall and ask for help or sign up here.
