UA students selected to attend Playboy pre-Super Bowl party

UA students Laurie Laird and Michael Knudten, who belong to the social networking site Playboy U, have been selected by Playboy magazine to gather 52 of their classmates and attend a pre-Super Bowl party.

The “”Playboy’s Desert Oasis and Resort”” Saturday night at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa in Chandler will give students the opportunity to walk a red carpet, network with potential employers and enjoy what should be a celebrity-charged environment.

“”Someone asked me if I was nervous, and I said, ‘No, I am in business, this is what I want,'”” said Laird, a business management senior. “”The reason I got into it was because of the networking opportunity.””

Playboy U is open to individuals 18 and older with .edu e-mail addresses. As members, Laird and Knudten applied online to become representatives for the UA.

Since being accepted – Knudten in April and Laird in August – they were charged with promoting Playboy on and around campus by handing out shirts and cards, said Knudten, a marketing senior.

The party is a great springboard for students who may want to explore career opportunities within the corporation, said Chris Duncan, a Playboy marketing coordinator.

All of the 52 students are women 21 and over and majoring in business or marketing, Laird said.

“”If you are a good representative, then we will vouch for you,”” said Duncan, a Playboy U representative for NYU in 2005.

Knudten said that being a representative has already allowed him to make connections in Los Angeles and New York, and that he’s been inspired to work for the company when he leaves the UA.

“”Honestly, it’s been an awesome experience,”” he said.

About 1,800 people will attend, among them only 20 members of the public who were allowed to purchase tickets, said Tina Manzo, a Playboy spokeswoman.

Expected guests include actors Alyssa Milano, Michael Clarke Duncan and Maria Menounos, as well as Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.

This will be the third year Playboy U representatives will be in attendance at the party, and the first time the UA has been invited.

Past institutions invited include the University of Michigan and the University of Florida.

ASUA fundraiser allows clubs to work Super Bowl for money

Thanks to an Associated Students of the University at Arizona fundraiser, 220 UA students will be watching the Super Bowl live in Glendale on Sunday.

ASUA heard about the opportunity through a flier distributed by Security, Athletic Facilities and Events Management, S.A.F.E., which is the company representing the National Football League at the University of Phoenix Stadium this year.

S.A.F.E. will pay students for working in customer service positions as “”Team Members,”” to enhance the experience of attendees, said Jessica Anderson, executive vice president of ASUA.

“”We are thrilled as a student government to provide fundraising opportunities outside of our traditional club funding program,”” she said.

ASUA sent out a message on the student club listserv and selected 16 clubs, a number set by S.A.F.E. on a first come, first serve basis, Anderson said.

“”The $100,000 fundraising budget doesn’t cover as many students as we like, so we absolutely jumped on the chance to benefit that,”” she said. “”It’s an amazing opportunity for these groups on campus.””

ASUA President Tommy Bruce added that the response from clubs encouraged ASUA in their decision to proceed with the offer as a fundraiser for student organizations.

“”We had an overwhelming response from students; it only took a few days for all the spots to fill up,”” he said.

Each club member working the event will donate his or her paycheck to their affiliated club and all the clubs will pull-in a combined total of $30,000 before taxes, Bruce said.

Among the participating clubs is Camp Wildcat, a camping club that benefits children from the Tucson area.

Camp Wildcat President Garret Hoxie, a senior majoring in computer science and Spanish, said the money raised will help the organization fund a kid’s camp in April.

“”We’re getting about $2,500, which is roughly how much it costs to put on a camp activity, so it’s a huge aid in that respect,”” he said.

The ASUA Senate subsidized three-quarters of the cost to provide for clubs to get to and from the Phoenix stadium, Anderson said, adding that the clubs will leave at 5 a.m.

The UA Advertising Federation, the American Society for Engineering Management, the Association of Chinese Students and Scholars, Camp Wildcat, Chain Gang Junior Honorary, Delta Sigma Pi, Engineering Student Council, Filipino American Student Association, Phi Eta Sigma, Priority College Ministry, the Student Alumni Association, Tricats Triathlon Club, UA Women’s Lacrosse, Women’s Water Polo, Young Life and Women’s Ultimate Frisbee were selected in early November last semester.

“”I’m excited, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we can make money for our team at the same time,”” said Ali Murphy, an international studies sophomore and fundraising chair for the women’s lacrosse team.

Thirteen members from the women’s lacrosse team will be attending, and the club will earn a little over $1,000, Murphy said.

The club will use the money for traveling and toward tournament entry fees.

Murphy said she expects to work hard while reaping the benefits of being at a world-famous event.

“”I expect it to be a long day, but a very memorable day,”” Murphy said. “”We’re gonna be a part of the Super Bowl team so it’s gonna be fun.””

ASUA will be looking for more fundraising opportunities to help other clubs on campus, since not everyone could participate, Anderson said.

In the meantime, participating clubs are gearing up to watch the New York Giants take on the undefeated New England Patriots.

Hoxie said he will be rooting for the Patriots, while Murphy was unsure.

“”I don’t really follow professional football, but I’m rooting for a good game, an exciting game,”” she said.