by Miranda Dabney
Thursday night and Friday morning, March 31 and April 1, The House and Senate Sunshine Committees of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature (OIL) put on a Date Auction for the delegates. The Sunshine Committees of both chambers work to provide the delegates with snacks for the long days of legislative sessions and a meal on the final day of session.
The Date Auction is just one of many fundraising methods the Sunshine Committees use to raise money for their committees. The Senate Sunshine Committee also sold candy grams for senators to give anonymously to each other as encouragement in the midst of long days of legislative sessions.
The Date Auction took place in the chamber of the House of Representatives. Over 20 people were auctioned off, and if every bidder pays what they bid, the Sunshine Committee will have raised near $1500. The dates being auctioned went for prices varying from $20 to $150, some dates being auctioned in pairs while most were auctioned by themselves.
These dates were auctioned for the Governor’s Gala that took place later that night for the whole of OIL.
The men and women being auctioned chose many different methods to entice the crowd to bid. Some dates offered to serenade the bidder; some chose to dance or strut down the aisle to the front of the chamber. Some used their academic skills, such as a major in English, to offer academic assistance to the bidder; some showcased their talents in telling bad jokes or came up with creative names to attract bidders, such as the Buxom Bearded Beauties, who sold for $65.
The dates purchased in the auction were by no means tied or bound to a date with the winning bidder, but the auction did create a fun atmosphere for the delegates to relax in the midst of all their hard work.
Senator Gavin Burl, a first-year senator from East Central University, was auctioned off as a pair with fellow senator Kornelius Morgan. Burl said, “Being a part of the auction was really cool. I got to provide entertainment for everyone, be a part of such a fun tradition and raise money for our snacks all at the same time.”
All in all, the date auction successfully sold more dates than ever before, facing a first-time issue of having to turn away volunteers to be sold. The money raised during the auction was put to use in providing the delegates of both houses with snacks on the long days and a meal on the last day of session.