Starting at 6:15 last night, students could buy one night with Bobbie Jo Solomon, Robbie Gould, Zack Mills and other big men on campus.

"I've got butterflies in my stomach," said Ian Rosenberger, Undergraduate Student Government president.

Rosenberger was sold for $45 early in the auction.

South Halls Residence Association (SHRA) held their second annual date auction, which attracted 64 prospective dates and a crowd of about 450 students in 100 Thomas Building last night. All the proceeds go to the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

The auction opened with a performance by the Pennharmonics. Announcers for the night were Jennifer Curry (sophomore-math education) and Sandip Trivedi (junior-chemical engineering).

Christian Squillante, SHRA president, said he had high hopes for this year's date auction. Last year's auction raised a little more than $1,000, so this year, he said he was shooting for at least $2,000. The total amount of money raised exceeded Squillante's expectation, reaching $3,005.

Robbie Gould, place kicker for the Nittany Lions, said he participated because it was for a great cause.

"I can raise a couple of bucks, and it goes toward something great," Gould (junior-business management) said.

Another standout in the crowd was Solomon, famed baton twirler for the Penn State Blue Band, who was both nervous and excited.

"I'm excited, but I'm only nervous that I'll only go for a quarter or something," said Solomon (senior-recreation and park management).

Squillante (junior-biology and psychology) said it wasn't that hard to get well-known students to participate.

"Basically, they wanted to support Thon and do this for the kids," he said.

Jennifer Curry, an SHRA Thon co-chair, said they doubled the amount of candidates from last year.

"We used contacts and even e-mailed them directly," Curry said about how they got in touch with well-known students.

Squillante even sold himself in the date auction and ended up going for $30.

"If I sell for 1 percent of what Zack Mills goes for, I'll be thrilled," he said.

Mills, auctioned-off in absentia, was sold to Danielle Copelin (sophomore-elementary education) for $75.

"I think it'd be really cool and fun to talk to a Penn State quarterback. I figured I'd give it a shot this year. He went for a lot last year," said Copelin.

Tony Johnson, wide receiver for the Lions, was also not physically present for the auction last night.

He was sold for $40 to Justin Eleazer (junior-management information science).

"I bought him because it'd be hilarious," he said, laughing and raising his arms in victory.

Gould went for a whopping $150 to an unknown person in a silent bid, placed through an e-mail earlier that day.

"It happens," he said, in response to not meeting his date face-to-face last night.

Solomon, met with cheers from the dwindling crowd at the end of the night, sold for $120 to Jason Volpe (junior-mechanical engineering).

"Oh man! It'll be really cool to just sit down and talk to her," said Volpe.

The most expensive date of the night was Sita Palomar (junior-advertising and theater), who sold for $160.

"I'm not worth it!" said Palomar.

A close second went to Kristin Rink (junior-psychology) who went for $150.

"I decided to put my pride to the side and auction myself off," Rink said.

Dave Henderson (freshman-finance and economics) decided to be in the auction because he saw the flyer lying around his hall, and because it's a really good cause.

"Besides, I look a little like Tobey McGuire," said Henderson.

There was one candidate who felt the need to remove his shirt while standing before a meager crowd of approximately 100 students.

"I had to work for my money," said Justin Pane (sophomore-engineering).