Taking the stage at the Latino Caucus Date Auction last night, Justin Marshall elicited cheers from the crowd as he stripped down to his undershirt, only to be sold for the minimum bid of $5 a few seconds later.

"The girls were a tough crowd," Marshall (sophomore-mechanical engineering) said. "It's cool though; it's for a good cause."

The normally innocuous 102 Chambers became a market for love yesterday as male and female "hotties" were auctioned off to raise money for the United Way's "Jeans For Teens" program.

"It's definitely a cause that we feel is important to us," said Glenelys Jimenez, vice president of the Latino Caucus.

Jimenez, who was also up for auction that night, said the "dating" aspect of the auction isn't a requirement.

"It's usually friends who buy other friends," she said.

For a $1 entry fee, auction-goers received a heart-shaped bidding paddle and a raffle ticket for the chance to win prizes such as a plastic pumpkin full of candy and $10 gift cards to Target.

As Jimenez took the stage, host Ivan Bueno (senior-hotel, restaurant and institutional management) read her vitals to the crowd.

"She is afraid of roller coasters, so do not take her to Six Flags on your date, or she will throw up on you," he said.

Jimenez was then sold for a whole $7.

She said she would be open-minded should her gentleman buyer have romantic intentions.

"I didn't even really see who bought me," she said. "If we make a connection, that's great."

Bueno, who said he has hosted several date auctions, said it took the auction-goers a while to open their wallets.

"In the beginning, it was a little slow," he said.

Throughout the evening, Bueno talked up the women being sold.

When one of the women who was auctioned off revealed that she works for the United States Department of Agriculture, Bueno said, "She's going to inspect your meat, if you know what I'm talking about."

Near the end of the program, Mark Bunbury, Class of 2006, bought Liza Vega (senior-sports journalism) for $52, the highest bid of the night, earning himself a free football ticket as a prize.

"She's worth more than $52. She's the best," Bunbury said.

Host Shaira Morales (senior-health policy and administration) said, in the end, she was pleased with the crowd's generosity.

"This was great," she said. "It's all a success."

Melissa Lumpkin (sophomore-architecture) said she had always heard of date auctions but had never been to one.

"A couple friends of mine were auctioned off, so I came to show my support," she said. "I thought it was fun."