2008 Woodie Awards
Bidding war helps Alternative Spring Break International
Bachelors sell themselves for international student group
Dylan Riley
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: News
Amidst cheers and laughter at the University of Maine Memorial Union, 10 male students were auctioned off to women-and some men-as part of an Alternative Spring Break International fundraiser on Thursday.
The date auction attracted more than 40 people. The men auctioned off for dates included the captain of the UMaine men's hockey team and the president of Student Government.
Kevin Taschereau, assistant coordinator for the Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism joked he was being auctioned because his boss had told him to go to the event. He said that ASBI is a great program, and the university should have more like it.
Joshua Moody, the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity president, who was sold to his brother, Matthew Dalton, said it was the most nerve-wracking experience in his life.
Steve Moran, president of Student Government, ended up being sold to Gimbala Sankare, president of the Black Student Union, and one of the other dates being auctioned, which elicited laughter from the crowd.
Jeff Marshall, the UMaine men's hockey team captain sold for the most - $220.
The dates will happen next Tuesday, April 29. They include a limo ride to a movie and a dinner, which were donated by several local restaurants, including Woodman's Bar and Grill and the Muddy Rudder. Each date is valued at $175.
Laura Wood announced most of the men being auctioned off, describing some of them in ways that amused the crowd, such as "there's nothing this man can't handle" for Gustavo Burkett, director of Campus Activities and Events. Dan Fournier, the second date presented, took off his shirt for the bidders, drawing screams and laughter from the audience.
"Everyone has a price, mine just happens to be really low," said Eric Martin, who was one of the dates.
The date auction had been planned for ASBI's local counterpart, Alternative Spring Break, according to Wood. ASBI needed an idea for a fundraiser, so they switched it. They hoped to make between $500 and $1,000 (the date auction raised $840).
"It was really successful," Wood said.
The other dates being auctioned included Martin, Owen McCarthy, the president of Sigma Phi Epsilon and Lee Hunter.
The 11 women of ASBI introduced the event and dates. They hope to raise $22,000 for their return trip to Nicaragua, where they plan to help with project Chacocente. It is a non-profit endeavor to move people from the city dump Managua to the rural area of Masaya, and teach them how to live independently.
The project aims to transform people, not just give them food and shelter.
While in Nicuaragua, the 11 women of ASBI plan to build a library and homes for participants of the project.
So far, ASBI has raised $12,000.
The date auction attracted more than 40 people. The men auctioned off for dates included the captain of the UMaine men's hockey team and the president of Student Government.
Kevin Taschereau, assistant coordinator for the Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism joked he was being auctioned because his boss had told him to go to the event. He said that ASBI is a great program, and the university should have more like it.
Joshua Moody, the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity president, who was sold to his brother, Matthew Dalton, said it was the most nerve-wracking experience in his life.
Steve Moran, president of Student Government, ended up being sold to Gimbala Sankare, president of the Black Student Union, and one of the other dates being auctioned, which elicited laughter from the crowd.
Jeff Marshall, the UMaine men's hockey team captain sold for the most - $220.
The dates will happen next Tuesday, April 29. They include a limo ride to a movie and a dinner, which were donated by several local restaurants, including Woodman's Bar and Grill and the Muddy Rudder. Each date is valued at $175.
Laura Wood announced most of the men being auctioned off, describing some of them in ways that amused the crowd, such as "there's nothing this man can't handle" for Gustavo Burkett, director of Campus Activities and Events. Dan Fournier, the second date presented, took off his shirt for the bidders, drawing screams and laughter from the audience.
"Everyone has a price, mine just happens to be really low," said Eric Martin, who was one of the dates.
The date auction had been planned for ASBI's local counterpart, Alternative Spring Break, according to Wood. ASBI needed an idea for a fundraiser, so they switched it. They hoped to make between $500 and $1,000 (the date auction raised $840).
"It was really successful," Wood said.
The other dates being auctioned included Martin, Owen McCarthy, the president of Sigma Phi Epsilon and Lee Hunter.
The 11 women of ASBI introduced the event and dates. They hope to raise $22,000 for their return trip to Nicaragua, where they plan to help with project Chacocente. It is a non-profit endeavor to move people from the city dump Managua to the rural area of Masaya, and teach them how to live independently.
The project aims to transform people, not just give them food and shelter.
While in Nicuaragua, the 11 women of ASBI plan to build a library and homes for participants of the project.
So far, ASBI has raised $12,000.
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