It sounds like the name of a futuristic sci-fi thriller, but "robocall" is no gun-toting cyborg. It's an automatic, computer-driven telemarketing device that received criticism during this year's presidential race.

Now, BYU Athletic Marketing has put into place its own automatic telemarketing technique, calling all-sport pass holders to inform them of upcoming special events. Students received a phone call Wednesday with a pre-recorded message from Jonathan Tavernari, a guard on the BYU basketball team, inviting them to the basketball season opener Friday night, and a second call from members of the women's soccer team inviting students to the NCAA tournament Thursday night.

Student reaction was mixed.

Alex Harris, a freshman from Lindon, said he enjoyed receiving a phone call from one of his favorite players and hopes to receive more.

Others, such as Katie Speight, a freshman communications major from Corpus Christi, Texas, said they simply didn't react to the phone calls.

"I just hung up, and now when I get an unidentified call I ignore it," Speight said. "But it doesn't necessarily bother me."

Most students expressed confusion over why they were receiving the calls.

"I think at first you get it and you're like 'what the heck?'" said Shawnelle Mair, a sophomore studying elementary education. "I don't think it's going to change whether or not I go to the game."

Bill Hoops, assistant athletic marketing coordinator, said the calls were simply to inform students about events that few were aware of.

"The assumption was made that if a student purchases an all-sport pass then a phone call from an athlete would be a fun thing to receive," Hoops said.

Hoops added that despite the impression that the two consecutive phone calls created, BYU Athletic Marketing does not plan on making phone calls to students on a regular basis, but will probably use the system for special events, such as when BYU teams play the University of Utah.

"We probably shouldn't have sent out two messages in a row," Hoops said.

Hoops said many students would not have known about the soccer tournament without the phone call.

"It was a last minute thing, we wanted to let the students know. We had to have a way to let students know about it," he said.

Students can take their name off the list either by sending an e-mail to byuathleticadvertising@gmail, stating the student does not want to receive phone calls and including the student's phone number or calling BYU Athletic Marketing.



Copyright Brigham Young University 14 Nov 2008