An auditorium in Woodburn Hall was filled with attendees shouting numbers and cheers Wednesday night as brothers of Pi Kappa Alpha were auctioned off.
Rent a Pike is an annual event for the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter at IU to raise money for the chapter’s bicycle team in Little 500.
The money will also go to help pay expenses for the chapter, said Andrew Lau, the fundraising chair of Pi Kappa Alpha and co-host of Rent a Pike.
Participants in the event had to fill out a short bio about themselves, which the hosts read out loud while the participant stood in front of the audience. Afterward, the hosts started the bid, which was an average of five dollars per brother.
About 40 Pikes participated in the event this year, co-host and fellow Pike Ben Ojserkis said.
An event like Rent a Pike is easier and more fun than having to plan out an entire philanthropy event, Lau said.
“It’s a fun way to bring in money,” Lau said. “We get to read our silly little bios and bring in money for a good cause.”
Once a Pike is “rented,” his buyer has the Pike brother for an hour to do any chores or favors the buyer chooses, short of sexual favors, which are not allowed.
Typical requests for Pikes who are rented include washing cars, doing laundry and going on dates, Lau said.
“Sometimes it’s crazy and sometimes it’s casual,” Lau said.
The hour a winning bidder can use with the Pike does not have to be used immediately after the event. Ojserkis said it can be negotiated among the bidder and participant.
Ojserkis said he previously participated in the event and had to do laundry for his bidder.
Using the chosen Pike is neither mandatory nor enforced by the fraternity, Ojserkis said.
“Most of the time, people don’t even use their hour because it’s just kind of awkward,” Ojserkis said. “It’s just fun to participate in the event.”
Some of the bids were less than $10 and as large as $45.
The fundraising goal for the event was $700. Last year, the event collected $600.
However, not all of the participants were brothers or even human. Half an hour into the event, senior and fellow Pike A.D. McCormick brought his dog Cheese to auction. Cheese was sold for $25.
Also, not all of the attendees of the event were greek members. Freshman Morgan McKown, who attended the event, said she is friends with members of Pi Kappa Alpha and planned on bidding on one of the Pikes in order to wash her car.
An event like this can bring out the best in its chapter and can help it be more successful at its university, said Thomas Bechtel, a Pike who was auctioned at the event.
“The more participation guys can give to a fraternity, the more successful it will be,” Bechtel said. “It’s just that extra effort you put out that really helps it in the long run.”
