Engineering students pay cash for dates

‘ ‘ ‘ Love might not have a price, but that doesn’t mean you can’t buy yourself a date. ‘ ‘ ‘ … ‘ ‘ ‘ Love might not have a price, but that doesn’t mean you can’t buy yourself a date. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Engineering students showed off their assets to an eager crowd of more than 75 people in the Graduate School of Public Health building’s auditorium Wednesday night for its annual charity date auction. Each time a person bought a date, he also received a gift card. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Megan O’Brien, a senior majoring in chemical engineering, stood nervously in the hallway in front of the auditorium before the event. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘My friend signed me up for this without me knowing,’ she said. ‘My boyfriend brought $50, but I’m thinking I’m going for a dollar. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I think he overestimated,’ she added, laughing. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ But when O’Brien and her friend, fellow chemical engineering major Danielle Baughman, stepped foot onstage, their struts attracted more than O’Brien’s boyfriend. Three groups of engineering boys competed with paddles, raising them and shouting out numbers to outbid the others. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ When the bidding got up to $40, Stephen King, O’Brien’s boyfriend, called out, ‘Can I get two gift cards?’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘No!’ others responded. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ King put his head down and then raised the paddle once more. ’42.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Sold. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Narissa Handler, president of the Engineering Student Council, said the event raises funds for E-week, the annual interdepartmental competition for Pitt’s engineering students. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ People participating in E-week events compete on behalf of their departments within the School of Engineering to earn points toward their team’s total. This year’s E-week is March 21-28. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ According to Handler, students who volunteered for the dating auction also earned points for their department. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Every department has a representative in the auction,’ she said. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The highest bidder received the first choice of gift cards donated from local businesses such as Panera Bread, Starbucks and Fuddruckers. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Some participants cracked shy grins at the crowd as the hosts touted their hobbies, likes and dislikes from a questionnaire that the participants filled out ahead of time. Others received heavy applause as they danced onstage. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Freshman Ross Brodsky even grabbed the mic from the hosts and gave a speech on the type of girl he looks for: luscious lips, smarts and humor were a must for him. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘You girls gotta have your flaws,’ he added. ‘I think they’re f***ing sexy as hell!’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ A lucky lady bought Brodsky for $8.