Humerous ringtone loved by all
By Tom Olson

In a recent afternoon class here at UNH, Professor John Dunbar monotonously lectured at the front of a worn-out lecture hall. Students struggled to stay awake, their half-digested lunches making them drowsy. A few idly took notes, knowing that their efforts were wasted thanks to Dunbar's habit of posting his Powerpoint slides on Blackboard.

Suddenly, a thin but curious tune began to permeate the air. The note-takers noticed it first and began to grin. One or two began to giggle as the professor noticed the music. Turning, he too began to laugh. Soon the entire class was laughing hysterically, looking around to see where the strange song had come from.

This is how Rhonda Presley, a student in Professor Dunbar's introductory mathematics class, describes the event. "It was amazing, we just couldn't get over how funny it was," she said. Other students agreed, such as senior Jason Mccutchen. "I couldn't contain myself, it was just such a funny song."

"Everyone was surprised that it came from a cell phone," said Presley. "Those ring tones are getting better and better every year." The tone, a pithy rendition of "In the Hall of the Mountain King," was selected by Lilia Hillenbrand for her new Ericsson mobile phone just over two weeks ago. Hillenbrand said she selected the tone, because she suspected the contrast between the song's powerful, serious tones and her tiny, glittery-pink cell phone would make people laugh. She's been pleased with its effects so far.

After Dunbar's lecture concluded, and she was walking to her next class, Hillenbrand said several classmates she had not yet met came up to her and introduced themselves. "Before I knew it, I had gotten an invitation to sit with them at dinner over in Holloway. That night they asked me if I wanted to come to a party they were having that weekend," Hillenbrand said. She later reported that several party-goers befriended her, and one "smart-looking" boy offered to help her with her homework.

Apparently her newfound popularity isn't limited to classmates and dinner at the dining hall. "The other day I was walking from my dorm to my 9 a.m., and Tiff called me," Hillenbrand said. "This really cute guy heard my ringtone, and he laughed. After I hung up, we started talking, and he asked me out!" Rhonda Presley, now her close friend, reported that Hillenbrand and Adam Keane have had two dates so far, and communications between them are frequent and enthusiastic.

"It is amazing what a difference Grieg's visceral description of the scene from the 1867 play by Henrik Ibsen is making in my social life," Hillenbrand said. "It was either this, 'Flight of the Valkyries,' the 'War of 1812 Overture' or possibly 'Genie in a Bottle.' I think I made the right choice."