Room Auction Raises Thousands, but Fairness Questioned

The Residence Hall Association held its annual room auction, Martha's Marathon, on Wednesday Feb. 2. The auction gave students the opportunity to bid on rooms in Munson Hall, JBKO, Guthridge Hall, The West End, The Dakota, South Hall, Amsterdam Hall, and Ivory Tower. Students could also win choice room assignments through a raffle and through a poker and blackjack tournament that served as the theme of the night.

All proceeds of the auction and the raffle go directly to the University Scholarship Fund. This year, a total of about $26,000 was raised. The same event last year raised $23,385.

Martha’s Marathon began 44 years ago as a small auction used to boost school spirit. The original auction winners received lunch with the Speaker of the House, a curfew extension for freshmen, and a football autographed by the entire football team. $2,084 was raised to buy books for the library.

Beginning in 1967, winners began receiving “picks” for their room of choice and in 1969, it was decided that the money raised would go to housing scholarships.

There has been some controversy in past years from students complaining about the fairness of bidding on rooms. While some students can afford to pay thousands of dollars on top of the bill for housing just for the right to a room, not all students can.

"I feel that the auction process is very fair because it raises money for scholarships for the university," said Zach Sirota, who won an Ivory Tower quad in the auction. "It also gives students the benefit of choosing exactly where they want to live."

House Proctor Denise Kokinis said that fairness isn't relevant to this aspect of the housing process."It really doesn't matter if it is fair or not, the University does it, and it raises money for a charitable cause."  Kokinis added that she feels the event gives the university more spirit by bringing students together for a good cause.