Hot Bods

Male auction raises funds for start up of Safe Rides

Kathryn Gariano / staff photographer Sophomore Keith Mann struts the runway at the Hot Rod Date Auction to raise money for Safe Rides, a student service that provides rides hoping to curve students driving under the influence of alcohol.

Ladies in search of hot dates filled PC Ballroom as they raised bids into the triple digits Monday night for the Hot Rod Date Auction organized by Safe Rides, a service provided to students as an alternative to driving under the influence of alcohol.

Over $1,600 was raised auctioning off the 24 sharply dressed studs, according to junior Katie Freind, one of the emcees of the event. Bids were received for 16 single males, two sets of pairs, and — the finale — one foursome. The sets of multiples were auctioned off together to give bidders more for their money, according to Freind.

Junior Wes Hedgepeth, a founding member of Safe Rides, said, "We are putting on the date auction to raise money for our organization because we can't start driving until we raise enough money for insurance, a headquarters and supplies."

Safe Rides currently has 60 members who serve on its board and as volunteers and drivers. Safe Rides began last semester — originally orchestrated by the Student Government Association — and is now a university organization with a mission to curb drunk driving by students.

Members of Safe Rides hope to have enough money by September of this year to start the designated-driving service, she said. Junior Krissy Schnebel, educational director of Safe Rides, said that approximately $100,000 is needed in order to get Safe Rides up and running. "The money will go toward rental cars, insurance and making sure the Safe Ride crew and passengers are safe," Schnebel said.

Admission to the event was $2, and all bids started at $10, even though some bids eventually rose to $115 for two separate males. The auction also featured a performance by the JMU Break Dance Club.

Freind and senior James Chumley emceed the event. They revealed some background information about each person up for bid, which ranged from the general — such as his major, height and eye color. To help bidders get to know the guys, the emcees asked more personal or quirky information — such as hobbies, personal description of himself if he were a car, the craziest thing he ever has done or his ideal date. Freind and Chumley managed to taunt almost all of the date-worthy contestants to charm the bidders with to dancing or singing. Loud, catchy music accompanied the talent portion of each male's stage appearance.

Junior Lindy Brown attended the auction to support her friend, senior Bill Williams, who was up for sale. "I hope he will go for a lot of money because he is the greatest guy ever," she said. Sophomores Paul Puckett and Matt Skirven were auctioned off as a double date for $85. They impressed the ladies by singing an a capella version of Edwin McCain's "I'll Be."

"We wanted to do something different," Skirven said. "Plus, we both sing in The Madison Project, and we heard that we had to have a talent."

Puckett said, "We are so excited about going for that much [money]; we were nervous that we would only make the minimum bid." The Madison Project pair plans to go snowboarding at Massanutten, followed by cooking for and watching a movie with their bidder.

After showing off his British/ Louisiana accent, junior Andrew Kneale also was auctioned off. "I love the organization Safe Rides," he said. "It's such a great cause, and they want to bring something [to campus] that benefits the students, and the least I could do is participate [in the auction]." He said that he hopes to take his date out somewhere special.

The two highest bids were a tie at $115 for sophomore Casey Templeton and senior Tim Howley. They each got a gift certificate to the Joshua Wilton House for receiving the highest bid and to take the winner to dinner with.

"I'm embarrassed because I never would have thought that I would have gone for that much [money]," Howley said. A group of Howley's fellow female classmates purchased him and told him that they have some ideas for the date.

For more information on Safe Rides, check out
orgs.jmu.edu/saferides.