It’s doubtful that even the most popular lecturer gathers a crowd the size of which spilled out of their seats at the Mount Holyoke Democrats’ Date Auction on Saturday, April 17 in Hooker Auditorium. Beginning at 9:30 p.m., the Dems auctioned off twelve “items” for charity to a packed lecture hall, with bidders overflowing into the aisles.
The Dems had hoped to have thirteen auction sets with college men and Mount Holyoke students, but unfortunately the two gentlemen that the club intended to put up for bidding never showed for their auctioning. The “auctionees” dressed to catch the bidder’s eye, some in outfits that amped up sex appeal, others in full-out costumes. They then put on a display of their best dance moves to a song of their choosing while auctioneer Nikki Chambers ’10 took bids usually starting around ten dollars.
Danielle Wayda | The Mount Holyoke NewsSoccer team members Ingibjorg Magnusdottir ’13, Tiffany Phaneuf ’11 and Kiana Lussier ’13 strut their stuff while the bidding goes on.
An auction set of three ladies from the Mandelles dorm dressed up as a police officer, a cowboy, and a construction worker —a la the Village People—and danced to “YMCA.” All winning bidders and their “prizes” were given free admission to the Five College Model UN Masquerade Blacklight party in Chapin following the auction.
The South Rocky Apartment package went for the highest price this year—a grand total of $95. The package included Laura Appel ’10, Kati Stadum ’10, and Katie Dahill ’10, and was the last item of the night. The trio also went for the highest price last semester.
“The theme was ‘Goin’ Rogue’ after the nail-biter written by our hero Sarah Palin,” sarcastically explained club president Brigid Hurn Maloney ’11. The theme was first presented with the club’s t-shirts featuring a beefed-up Democratic donkey with the phrase “Goin’ Rogue” emblazoned beneath it. Most auctionees took plenty of liberty with that theme in their performances, and the event lived up to the raucous expectations of past auctions.
A group of first-year Mount Holyoke students attended, and sat front and center for the bidding. Impressions of their first Dems auction ranged from “overwhelmed” to “expected nothing less from our school!” Rachel Northup, first-year from University of Massachusetts was also part of the crowd, and said it was a bit too much for her sensibilities—“I’ve been to MoHo parties before, but this… I was not expecting to walk into this!” Genevieve Oliver ’13 was one of the last items of the night, going for an impressive sum of $40, collectively paid for by her friends. “It was totally worth the $40, even though I get to hang out with her for free most of the time anyway,” said partial-winner Caitlin Kidder ’13. Oliver describes the experience as “exhilarating and very awkward.”
This year, the Dems have yet to decide exactly how all of the funds raised will be allocated, but Maloney says the majority will likely be helping the group organize care packages for troops stationed over seas. They hope to have a table at Blanchard soon to have students write thank you notes and letters to be included in the packages. Maloney admitted, “The Date Auctions tend to get a little rowdy, but it’s a fun way to raise money for charity.” If you missed the saucy Dems this past Saturday, keep an eye out for the next auction, to be held in the fall.
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