The snaking line inside Kwik Shop on Lincoln Way wasn’t because of a major sale on beef jerky.

And there wasn’t a run on pork rinds. Instead, dozens of males withstood heat, hours of waiting and angered fianc‚es to get their hands on a much hotter commodity: the signature of Iowa State’s only representative in Playboy’s “Girls of the Big 12” issue.

Summer Ackerman, a junior in nursing, left her personalized mark on dozens of issues of the magazine Wednesday afternoon to the delight and excitement of the men in line.

Some of the guys saw Ackerman’s semi-nude photo as a boost for the university. “You don’t get very many opportunities in life to meet famous people, especially beautiful ones from Iowa State, and get their autographs,” said Jacob Grote, a sophomore in sociology, who waited in line for over 35 minutes to get a Jane Hancock. “I’m supportin’ my school. Go Cyclones!”

Shawn Beard, a junior in management information systems, agreed that Ackerman’s appearance in Playboy would mean greater exposure (so to speak) for ISU. “[I’m here] ’cause she’s from Iowa State,” he said. “You know, it’s kind of a neat thing for our college. Everybody considers Iowa State this midwestern, nowhere town. This puts it on the map.”

Some guys felt they just had to get a Big 12 issue, if only for the sake of posterity. Cory Schafer, a sophomore in ag studies, was at the signing in 1992, also. “We waited two hours for that,” he said.

Brian Jergens, a senior in biology, also wanted to add to his college-issue collection. “I bought the Big Eight issue four years ago, so I had to get this one to go with it.”

Jergens hadn’t planned on coming to the signing. It was more a matter of being in the right place at the right time. “I stopped by to get gas in my motorcycle, and I saw the line,” he said, “so I came over and stood.”

Several guys claimed to be buying issues for friends who couldn’t be at the signing for one reason or another. Schafer is going to send a personalized copy to his best friend, who is studying in Germany.

Grote bought three copies: one for his brother, another for a friend and (of course) one for himself. “My brother goes to Kirkwood. My friend is my roommate, and he’s at class,” Grote said. “He wanted to come really bad. He was gonna cry until I bought him the magazine.”

Dave Roets, a junior in elementary education and a very brave soul, came to the signing to snag a signed copy for a friend in Illinois. He said he wasn’t getting one for himself because, “I’m engaged, and I’d like to keep it that way.” His fianc‚e, none too pleased with Roets being at the signing in the first place, was waiting in the car. “She won’t have anything to do with it.”

Abe Schlott, a senior in mechanical engineering, thought he might’ve known Ackerman from way-back-when. “She might’ve been my old neighbor,” Schlott said. “Maybe. I’m not sure. I gotta ask.”

And Jesse Walker, a sophomore in English, had a more important proposal in mind. “I’m here to get this signed and ask her to marry me,” he said. “Something along those lines.”

And some guys were in line merely to “bask in the splendor of beautiful women,” said Dave Zeisler, a senior in management information systems. Zeisler, a “proud [Playboy] subscriber for three years,” said that seeing a real magazine model in person brought the whole concept down to earth.

“It’s one rare opportunity that you get to meet someone who posed for Playboy,” he said. “I mean, not exactly meet, but they’re usually kind of mythical, just a picture on a page, but seeing her in real life makes the whole magazine seem real. A lot of models are, like, air-brushed, but she’s a natural beauty.”

Compliments and marriage proposals aside, Ackerman has somehow managed to keep her head out of the clouds and her nose out of the air.

“I’m very pleased. I’m signing my naked body!” she laughed. “No, it’s great. It’s great. It’s more fun than anything.”

She doesn’t expect any major lifestyle changes because of the Playboy appearance, either in her social life or in her career choices. She doesn’t plan on modeling — for Playboy or any other magazine, for that matter — again.

“This was a one-time thing,” she said.

“It was great, and I had a really good time, but I’m concentrating on school now.”

What They Say

“…It’s kind of a neat thing for our college. Everybody considers Iowa State this midwestern, nowhere town. This puts it on the map.”

— Shawn Beard

“…Seeing her in real life makes the whole magazine seem real. A lot of models are, like, air-brushed, but she’s a natural beauty.”

— Dave Zeisler

“I’m here to get this signed and ask her to marry me. Something along those lines.”

— Jesse Walker

“This was a one-time thing. It was great, and I had a really great time, but I’m concentrating on school now.”

— Summer Ackerman