Most students have probably had moments of extended boredom at College Library. Very few have likely ever translated that boredom into an idea quite like the one seniors Laurel Berkowitz, Alexa Bernstein, and Ariel Cohen had Monday evening.
Bernstein already successfully purchased two tickets—one for herself and the other in case another friend could not get one—when Cohen had an idea. She tossed around the thought of giving away the extra ticket that Bernstein now had to someone who could show the three of them the best display of Badger fandom.
The three students, all loyal Badger football fans themselves, had been viewing the exorbitant prices students were already selling their tickets for on Facebook marketplace and other sites. Bernstein realized she easily could make a profit by selling the ticket. Spurred on by the suggestion of Cohen, however, they instead listed the ticket online under the description of a giveaway challenge.
""I put it on Facebook initially as a joke, just to see what kind of responses there would be,"" Cohen said. ""So we felt that rather than stealing from other students by raising the prices… we could put a positive spin on the quest for tickets by making it a fun challenge.""
Within the first hour of the posting on Facebook marketplace, the listing had already received over 600 hits. And while Bernstein couldn't afford to give away the ticket for free, the three decided to offer the student who demonstrated the best show of loyalty and spirit the opportunity purchase it at face value.
And the best idea thus far?
""I personally really like the guy who is going to wear the mini red micro shorts and grow out a mustache and paint it red,"" Cohen said.
All ideas must be demonstrated to the three students before the announcement of the winner on Dec. 15. The challenge can be found on Facebook Marketplace under ""2010 Rose Bowl Extreme Fandom Challenge""
The three are looking forward to discovering how creative students can get, but they haven't seen it yet.
""I have yet to be blown away,"" Berkowitz said.
