Students ready to ‘pucker up’ for greek philanthropy event

If there’s one thing senior Chris Medlyn wants to do before he graduates, it’s to win a free car.\nAgain.\nMedlyn outlasted 24 other people last year to win a 1998 Ford Mustang. All he had to do was kiss the car – for 15 hours.\nSponsored by Delta Upsilon fraternity and Alpha Chi Omega sorority, the philanthropy event raises money annually at the Kiss-Off event for the Boys and Girls Club and Middle Way House. \nOn Saturday, Medlyn said he hopes to make a repeat to hold his title from last year.\n“Pretty much the second I started kissing the car, I pretty much was going to win it and nothing was going to stop it,” Medlyn said. “When you sit there for 15 hours, you think about what you are going to do when you win it, and all I wanted to do was get my lips off the car and go to sleep.”\nMedlyn also wished luck for the “most determined person” to win while also reminding hopeful contestants to charge their iPods.\nSophomore Jeremy Devine of Delta Upsilon, who is the co-philanthropy chair of this event along with junior Brad Newell, said he’s aware of Medlyn’s plan and ambition and said he finds it “kind of funny.”\nTo make the event, Devine said throughout the year before the big day, a variety of fundraisers, such as selling pizza outside Kilroy’s and canning, take place to raise the money to buy the car.\nThis year the car is a “fairly new” silver 2002 Pontiac Grand GT, Devine said.\nWith his Mustang from last year, Medlyn said he absolutely loves his car and has made a ton of modifications to it. He is waiting to save up funds for a bigger engine that he can use in drag racing.\nMedlyn plans to move to Indianapolis after graduation and start his own business. His intent if he wins the Pontiac is to sell it and use it for money to start living on. \nTickets are $5 and are available until the day of the event. The drawing for the 19 contestants will be at 1 p.m. Saturday. A 20th spot will be auctioned off. The event will take place at the Delta Upsilon house, 1200 E. Third Street.\nTo ensure he had a spot last year, Medlyn said he used simple math to buy as many tickets to allow him a 50 percent chance to be picked.\n“In the beginning it’s about the luck of the draw, and it’s a real good because the money is being raised for, and you’re not throwing away cash,” Medlyn said. “I can either do this on a Saturday night or go to the bars and drop $100, but now you can drop $100 and help people out.” \nLips will be puckered and ready as hopeful winners will kiss for six hours straight before a 15-minute break, then again for four hours. Following another break, they will kiss for four hours again until the last lips are left.\nFor those who are not selected to pucker up, chances to win prizes are still available, Devine said, as tickets will be drawn throughout the event for prizes like a dinner for two and other gift certificates, along with concert tickets to see the performer Jibbs.\nDevine remembers one year when 26 hours passed until the car was won. He expects this year to be just as competitive.\nMedlyn’s ambition to win again just raises the stakes even more.\n“I will be willing to challenge anyone.”