Perhaps another statistic that WPI should add to their literature right near our nifty 4:1 ratio, is that this year we seem to have more "ugly" people than in the past. Traditionally, the UMOC contest has around six candidates, nominated from all types of groups around campus, however this year the number of candidates is up to nine, a considerable increase. APO's Service Vice President, David Smiley, says he felt this increase was really due to the hard work of the Service Committee who went out and combed the campus for likely UMOC candidates. This year's UMOC candidates range from three freshmen all the way up to a second year graduate student. A popular nomination was one particularly ugly lamp, but unfortunately only people can enter the contest. Every class except the Sophomores are represented, the candidates coming from four fraternities, both sororites, Daniels Residence Hall, Glee Club, and the Graduate Student Organization. This year also marks two entries not usually seen in this contest, as women representing Alpha Gamma Delta and Phi Sigma Sigma are participating. There is even a returning entrant from last year's contest, Theta Chi's own Jason Bowie, class of '96.
Of course the really important question is, where does the money go? Well that is possibly the best feature of the UMOC contest. The person voted the Ugliest Man on Campus gets to choose which charity all of the voting money goes to and the money is donated on their group's name along with APO. So not only does a deserving charity benefit from thie fun-spirited contest, but the philanthropy program of the winning organization does, too. Of course, there is also a prize for the winner, which is determined by how successful the voting is. So, if you want your Brother, Sister, friend, or lover to win the 1996 Ugly Man on Campus contest, come to the mailroom and vote from February 12 to February 17.
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