'U' keeps tradition of 'real' operators

Campus operators answer a variety of questions from the useful to the unthinkable

They've probably helped you dozens of times. But if you passed them on the street, you wouldn't recognize them.

They are the University's telephone operators.

With the push of only a "0," any student on campus can be connected to a live person who can provide them with everything from campus numbers to pork chop recipes.

"We are one of only two schools left in the Big Ten who still have real people" working as telephone operators, said University operator Beth Roth.

Located across from Crisler Arena, University operators take calls from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day, answering phones with the familiar, "Good afternoon. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor."

NATHAN RUFFER/Daily University operator Felica Smith takes a call yesterday during her shift. The University is one of the only remaining Big Ten conference schools to still have 'live' operators.

On weekdays during the school year, the University's 17 operators - 14 female and 3 male - receive on average 4,700 calls per day, said Tim Donnelly, supervisor of operator services. This number drops to around 1,500 calls on the weekend and reached 7,331 calls on Sept. 8, the first day of classes.

Unfortunately, the operators can't answer everyone's questions.

"A lot of them ask for Ann Arbor restaurants and places because they think we are the Ameritech operator," University operator Alice Morrill said.

Operators say the majority of students are friendly and willing to work with the operator to find the information they need.

"Some of them need guidance, but most of them are really patient," Roth said. "If we're courteous to them, they are courteous in return."

Students have differing opinions about the demeanour of the operators.

"They've been friendly and helpful every time," said LSA senior Daina Stein. "I used them a lot when I lived in the dorms. They never weren't able to help me."

But other students did not receive the same friendly service.

"Thet were curt and nasty," LSA senior Erin Kaminitz said. "They were able to help me, but it seemed like I was putting them out."

Although the operators have a busy job answering a continuous stream of calls, they are still able to joke and not take themselves too seriously.

"It's sad when you make somebody's day by giving them a phone number. Get a life." Roth said.

Information courtesy of campus operators VICKY LASKY/Daily

09-25-98