Masala Auctions Dates for Charity

Masala, an umbrella group for cultural organizations on campus, oversees the operations of groups such as Sangam, the Black Student Movement and Carolina Hispanic Association.

All the money raised will be donated to Kiran, a local nonprofit organization that provides counseling for battered women, organizers said.

Local restaurants and movie theaters donated gift certificates to Masala for all the people auctioned off and their dates.

In front of a group of about 70 people, Sangam President Sachin Patel billed himself as "a taste of some sweet brown sugar" and said he would be "your Prince Ali."

He then sold for $40.

Student Body President-elect Jen Daum also participated in the event. Daum bid $65 on a two-for-one date with Ferzaan Ali and Alkesh Sura from the dance group Bhangra Elite, a member organization of Masala.

When it came Daum's turn to go on the auction block, co-host Juan Antonio Webster announced that Daum said the song that best describes her is Britney Spears' "I'm a Slave 4 U."

As she stood on stage, Daum urged Ali and Sura to match the amount she paid for a date with the two of them.

"I paid $65 for y'all!" Daum said after the two paused at $60. Ali and Sura then upped the bid to $65 to win another date with Daum.

Besides campus leaders, other students also participated in the event.

Freshman Rebecca Alban sold for the most money -- $75. She said she was flattered that someone would pay that much for a date with her.

Neera Makwana, one of Masala's co-presidents, co-hosted the event with Webster. She said she thought the event was a success.

"It's a good way to raise money and bring together a group for the same cause," she said.

The date auction kicked off Masala Week, a series of events over the next few days to celebrate cultural diversity.

Events planned for the week include a showing of "Remember the Titans" at 5:30 p.m. today in the Student Union, a multicultural dinner Wednesday and a reggae band performance Thursday.

Friday's Sangam celebration, Rang-e-mela, and the Carolina Indian Circle's powwow at noon Saturday in Polk Place are also scheduled for the week.

Wednesday's multicultural dinner will be at 6 p.m. in the underground lobby of the Union.

For $2, attendees can sample food from about six or seven different restaurants, including 35 Chinese Restaurant, Mama Dip's Kitchen and Mediterranean Deli.

Masala will also host reggae band Krucial Movement at 5:30 p.m. Thursday on the first floor of the Union.

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.