Apparently Washington State University is auctioning off members of their largest computer club, Linux Users Group, to sorority girls in what they're calling a "Nerd Auction". CBS News reports, "The idea is to trade their computer skills to sorority girls in exchange for a makeover and, possibly, a date". Wow. Like a real life Beauty and The Geek! The president of the group, Ben Ford, says that this Nerd Auction is a great idea because,
"You can buy a nerd and he'll fix your computer, help you with stats homework, or if you're really adventurous, take you to dinner! The problem is that we're all still nerds. Let's face it, guys. If anyone's going to bid on us, we'll need some spicing up. And who better to help with that than sorority girls who like nothing better than a makeover?"
Apparently this is part of the University's effort to get more women interested in computer science. Forgive me, but I don't really see how bribing sorority girls with the prospect of a giving some dweeb a makeover in exchange for his nerd knowledge is going to get women involved in computer science. It's just playing off of the same old, boring stereotypes. How is portraying people involved in computer science as "nerds" going to make women in sororities want to join? Ugh.
[via CBS News]