Wednesday’s date auction for the Institute of Industrial Engineers proved to be a bigger success than expected.

In traditional auction style, complete with an auctioneer and ringmen taking bids, five female and five male students offered themselves for the cause.

The big dates take place Friday evening; the group will meet at Pizza Pit and then go to the movies.

Tiffany Raisch, president of the Institute of Industrial Engineers, said the money raised at the auction will go toward various club expenses, including a trip to a regional conference.

This year’s Regional Conference for Institute of Industrial Engineers takes place at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Thirty people from Iowa State are expected to attend the conference, so this will be the group’s biggest expense, said Raisch, senior in industrial engineering.

“It’s great to see everyone who came out for it,” said Raisch, who also participated in the auction.

Justin Woods, event planner for the Institute of Industrial Engineers, said everything turned out “excellent.”

Woods, junior in industrial engineering, said because this was the first date auction the Institute of Industrial Engineers has sponsored, the group wasn’t sure how many students to expect.

“I didn’t know that many [people] would show up,” he said.

Approximately 35 people attended the auction.

Most of the bidders were friends of those being auctioned or other members of the Institute of Industrial Engineers.

However, Woods said there were a few that are not involved with Institute of Industrial Engineers or with the industrial engineering department at all.

Woods said the bidding was mainly controlled by men fighting for their Friday night dates.

“I really expected that because being on the engineering side of campus we’re short on women,” he said.

The highest bid of the day was brought in by a young lady who raised $120 to spend Friday night with her date.

Unfortunately for the men, the women on the bidding floor were a little hesitant to return the favor. Most of the men in the auction went for less than $15.

Donald Snyder, senior in industrial engineering, was up for sale and followed the highest bid.

“After following a person making $120, I was grateful to get one bid,” Snyder said.

Raisch said the club made more money than it had anticipated – $385.

“It seems to be a good idea [and] they’re making money,” said Ian Stockberger, senior in industrial engineering.

Raisch said that with an impressive turnout and larger profits than hoped for, the Institute of Industrial Engineers hopes to make the date auction an annual event.