Conversation buzzes throughout the homey room, mixing with the sounds of clicking computer keys. Once in a while an excited cheer ruptures the drone, then it's back to the steady hum.

For Clare Ems, these sounds have been part of her life for five months. Ems (junior-English) enters her assigned cubicle, puts on her headset and, with a smile, prepares to call. She's not just any caller, she's one of the many workers at Lion Line, the University's academic telemarketing association.

Lion Line, part of the Office of Annual Giving, calls parents, friends and alumni to get contributions for University academic programs. Callers update alumni records, tell them where previous gifts have gone and inform them of upcoming University and college events. Donors pledge a certain amount of money and can designate where the contribution goes, said Nicholas Ferrara, assistant director at annual giving/telefund.

The program began 10 years ago when the University realized it couldn't rely solely on state money, said Sue Powell, assistant director of annual giving.

To bring the University to a higher academic level, the telefund was started to reach alumni nationwide, Powell said, adding that last year student callers secured $2.1 million for University academics.

Receiving as many donations as the group did last year is not easy -- callers must work hard to secure funds. They establish a bond between themselves and alumni by talking about the University and making "nice" conversation, Ferrara said.

"It's definitely not a job for everybody," he said. "But if you like it, it can be rewarding financially." Workers start at $4.60 per hour, but they have a chance to receive bonuses every night and get a raise each month, Ferrara said.

That night, workers were calling recently graduated alumni. Frustration was felt throughout the room as callers ran into difficulties. After many tries with no one answering or an answering machines picking up, Ems finally secured a pledge.

"Have you been keeping up with the football games?" she asks a graduate while trying to secure a pledge. "Did you get a chance to watch the Citrus Bowl?"

After chatting more about sports, the weather and telling the graduate about upcoming events in the College of Engineering, she tried to get him to pledge.

"A lot of alumni are able to get involved at different levels," she said with a smile. "Do you think you might be able to get involved with a more moderate gift?"

After hearing how donations work, the graduate finally committed to a $20 pledge, with a promise to think about pledging more.

When alumni are asked to give money to the University, the amount depends on how much was previously given and the alumni's graduation year. Older alumni are asked to give starting at $1,000. For recently graduated alumni, callers ask for $100. After setting the starting points, callers work their way down a "ladder of giving" until both the caller and the alumni come to an agreement, Ferrara said.

In the past, donors have helped fund scholarships, equipment purchases, new computers, computer software and designated majors, he said.

Eric Kemper has worked at Lion Line for 1 years. Kemper, a senior supervisor, runs the weekend calling session and any session when Ferrara is not there.

While working at Lion Line, Kemper (senior-finance) has heard many strange responses. Once he called a graduate who was in the middle of a party. The graduate pledged Kemper $50. He also called an older alumna who didn't have her teeth in and asked him to call her back once she found them.

Ems also gets some strange answers. For example, one man said his laxative just kicked in and he couldn't talk, another explained that he had to buy a cow and couldn't pledge any money and one said he was having sex at the moment and couldn't talk.

To help deal with the rigor of the job, Ems encourages callers to "be persistent, have a lot of patience and a good sense of humor."