Dunster House Raises Money at Action Auction

How much cash do you have to pay for the privilege of having a guy dress up in a moose costume and follow your friend around for the entire day? William P. Deringer ’06 found out at the Dunster Action Auction last Friday after his bid of $70 won him a promise from Ian P. Lindblom ’07 to do just that.

Competitive spirits ran high as students bid on Red Sox tickets, newspaper ads, and the Moose Unit, among other prizes, in the Dunster Junior Common Room.

Each year, the Dunster House Committee (HoCo) hosts the Action Auction to raise money to fund House events because the House does not charge dues. This year, the auction raised $835 from bids on 21 items. Approximately 40 people attended the auction, far fewer than the 100 students who attended last year.

Former HoCo Co-Chair Mary J. Widmeyer ’05, the student-auctioneer for the event, rattled off prices to eager bidders.

“I’m not going to run the crazy cattle type of auction, but I’ll make sure we get as much money for HoCo as we can,” Widmeyer said before the auction began on Friday night.

Even Widmeyer bid on a few items, momentarily stepping out of her role as auctioneer to do so.

She won the most expensive item of the evening when she bid $150 for a dorm room in Dunster for her parents to stay in during commencement.

Andrew L. Kalloch ’06, a current HoCo co-chair, said he became involved in HoCo because he enjoys “organizing things, so people can put away their books and have a good time.”

Kalloch said the HoCo acquired auction donations by asking House residents to contribute­–everything from routine services to themselves.

“It’s always tough to get people to give stuff, but we’ve got a pretty good lineup up there,” said Kalloch, pointing to the auction board.

Among the items up for bid were dates with various members of Dunster House, tennis lessons, massages, a Passover dinner, and miscellaneous services dubbed “Saturday Morning with Marty” and the “Ultimate Final.”

Laura L. Krug ’06, who is a Crimson executive, won “Saturday Morning with Marty,” which was donated by Martin S. Bell ’03, a pre-law tutor in Dunster House, who is also a Crimson editor.

The event, which went for $31, was described as a morning in the Dunster TV room with three hours of Saturday morning programming, popcorn, and various children’s breakfast cereals, all provided by Bell.

Jonathan S. Chavez ’05 won “Ultimate Final,” another service provided by Bell. Chavez’s $38 bid won him Bell’s services preceding one of his final exams, including, but not limited to, a wake-up call, a shared meal in the dining hall, one encouraging sign made with a sharpie marker, and Bell’s promise to “half-hum, half-sing inspirational songs” preceding the exam.

Among other interesting items auctioned off was Gaydar, provided by Joseph R. Geschlecht ’06. Geschlect described the service: “Basically, I am offering my services to tell you if people are gay, straight, [or] bi.”

“Believe me, I’m good at this,” added Geschlecht.

Colin B. Jackson ’06, a current HoCo Co-Chair and a Crimson editor, won Gaydar with a $5 bid. Jackson said he bid on Gaydar because he wanted to find out about the sexual orientation of a friend.

“I have a friend who hasn’t done anything with a girl since he got to Harvard so I just wanted to know,” said Jackson.