This Friday, Tufts students can show their support for presidential hopeful Barack Obama and his running mate, Joe Biden, by participating in a phone bank on campus.

For the uninitiated, phone banking is a process where volunteers – in this case, College Democrats – call registered members of their party to solicit donations and remind them to do their part in the upcoming November election.

In other words, it’s glorified telemarketing.

For those wishing to participate, here’s the bulletin from Obama’s homepage:

Are you fired up? Ready to go? We have less than 7 weeks until the most important election of our lives. Come become a part of history by joining the movement for change NOW. Tufts Students for Barack Obama will be phone banking out of Mayer Campus Center, room 208, on Friday, September 19th, from 3 PM to 9 PM. Bring your LAPTOP, CELL PHONE, and CHARGERS to Mayer Campus Center, room 208. No experience necessary. Training (and snacks/fun) will be provided. Join fellow Obama supporters in your community, meet new people, and become a part of the campaign that that has always been about you!

Where: Tufts Mayer Campus Center, room 208

When: Friday, September 19th, 2008, from 3 PM to 9 PM What to bring: laptop, cell phone, chargers

Wait – cell phones?! Does that mean volunteers are expected to donate their precious monthly minutes for the good of the Democratic Party? Sounds like it…

In any case, registered Democrats in the Massachusetts’ area can expect plenty of calls from “private” numbers on Friday, courtesy of the College Democrats of Tufts.