The Grad-U-Date Lowdown

Valentine’s Day comes 2 days early this year with the Journal of Integrated Marketing Communications (JIMC) date auction, Grad-U-Date. With Chicago’s worst winter in 25 years, step out of the cold and into the warm company of one of these sizzling hot graduate students when you win the bid! Up for grabs are IMC, Kellogg, The Graduate School, and joint masters students, gay and straight, so what are you waiting for? Inside IMC brings you the latest scoop – the dates. *drumroll*

Oyako-don “Cooking” Class with Noah
Don’t miss this once in a lifetime offer of a personal oyako-don lesson with sushi-licious Noah. 23-year-old Noah is an IMC student at Medill who enjoys surfing and drinking sake with strangers. He is originally from Taiwan and wants to start his own business in China after his time at NU. The date also includes miso soup personally prepared by Noah for the two of you, and sake to start off the night. Bid victoriously!

Starting Bid: $20
Date Includes: Sake, miso and oyako-don with Noah at his place

Fabulous Seafood Dinner with Carly
You’ve heard the saying “Don’t Mess with Texas”? Well here’s your chance. Carly, a Texas native is giving the highest bidder a shot. While traveling through Europe, she ran out of money in Paris and was forced to spend one night with the homeless. Money won’t be a problem on your date as JIMC has secured you a fabulous dinner at the Davis Street Fishmarket. In her free time she enjoys painting (Titanic anyone?) and going on dates with complete strangers in support of good causes. Bid victoriously!

Starting Bid: $20
Date Includes: Gift certificate to Davis Street Fishmarket

Ice Skating with Audra
The athletic and attractive Audra is ready for a good time! She’s currently a 24-year-old IMC student who plans on working on the corporate side doing brand communications, independent consulting or investor relations after her time at NU. Enjoy ice skating at Millennium Park and a cup of hot chocolate with this Kansas native. Work on your triple axel or see how long you can skate while holding hands… Bid victoriously!

Starting Bid: $20
Includes: Starbucks gift certificate ($10) and ice skate rental ($20)

Work Up a Sweat with John
Now it’s time to bid on your very own Kellogg MBA. John is a 28-year-old England native that plans on stealing from the poor and giving to the rich, in true Kellogg fashion, after graduation. He may be English but does own a toothbrush and had braces as a kid. In his free time he likes running triathlons. You can train with John everyday with your free two-week Evanston Athletic Club membership. Work up a sweat, work on your flexibility or work out any frustrations you may have. Bid victoriously!

Starting Bid: $20
Includes: 2 week membership to EAC

she’s cute and sassy | he drives the ladies wild

he has x-ray vision | she knows something you don’t

Pizza with Pete
Enjoy a date at delicious Giordano’s with Pete! This 32-year-old overachiever is getting an MBA & Masters in Engineering Management from Kellogg & McCormick. He was born and raised in Chicago and proved his stamina by riding a bike 500 miles from Minneapolis to Chicago in just a six-day-period. He likes to travel and plans on working in investment banking in New York after he graduates. Although Pete prefers the gentlemen in the audience, let’s see if one of you beautiful ladies can show him a good time. Bid victoriously!

Starting Bid: $20
Includes: Gift certificate to Giordano’s

Go Italian with Avi
Kellogg student Avi , from Tel Aviv and London, is ready to be auctioned to the highest bidder. This 29-year-old has backpacked in Southeast Asia and enjoys playing pool in Evanston. When he graduates next year, he wants to work in investment banking. The highest bidder tonight will enjoy a meal with Avi at Dave’s Italian Kitchen. Bid victoriously!

Starting bid: $20
Includes: Gift certificate to Dave’s Italian Kitchen

A Night at the Movies with Linda
Before 27-year-old Linda graduates from Kellogg with a degree in Marketing and International Business, you have a chance to take her to a movie! Originally from L.A., she loves traveling and has been to 31 countries. She is generally up for any adventure. Bid victoriously!

Starting Bid: $20
Includes: Two movie tickets to Evanston Century Theaters (popcorn not included)

—– —– —– —– —–

Also up for bid are some amazing be-there-or-be-square parties!

• Party at The Park Evanston – $15 pax
• Bollywood Bash – $10 pax
• Your Fortune Says: Eat More Chinese Food – $15 pax
• Party Like A Rock Star: Guitar Hero Tournament – $10 pax
• Penthouse Party – $10 pax

Party at The Park Evanston
Come and party at the Park Evanston with three fun females that know how to party. Start by enjoying delicious Sangria made Brazilian-style by the lovely Ana. Then, stumble your way over to the Pomegranate Martini bar where Jenny will shake or stir one up just the way you like. While sipping on all the alcohol you can suck down, munch on delicious bites made by Bronwen. Three lovely ladies, one jammin’ joint, unlimited fun.

Bollywood Bash
We’re bringing Bollywood to Evanston. Enjoy an authentic and traditionally-prepared Indian meal by the Spicy Queen of Cuisine, Srividya. While gorging on naan and curry, feast your eyes on a movie straight from Bollywood! Mingle with other guests, eat to your heart’s content and possibly pick up some hip-shaking dance moves from our very own Indian dance diva, Simran

Your Fortune Says: Eat More Chinese Food
Craving Chinese? Enjoy authentic homemade dumplings, fried rice and other delicious Chinese foods. For one night only, we are pulling out all the stops and bringing a massive Chinese buffet to Engelhart. The lovely and talented Andrea, Annabel and Annie will wow you with their culinary prowess. When’s the last time you’ve enjoyed a “sweet and spicy” night out in Evanston? You don’t need a fortune cookie to tell you this is not an event to miss.

Party Like A Rock Star: Guitar Hero Tournament
Are you an “expert” or just a rock-star wannabe?? Show off your skills at a Guitar Hero tournament hosted by the lead guitarist – Paul K. Even if you don’t have the guts to step up and strum, come and laugh as people get booed off the stage! Alcohol will be provided to loosen up your fingers as you hit those high notes and achieve star power. The winner will get bragging rights and IMC groupies.

Penthouse Party
Once the snow thaws, enjoy the first party of spring at Megan’s fabulous downtown apartment! With a patio overlooking the city and two other floors to explore, this is not a party to miss! Enjoy cocktails, appetizers and fun company in the city. This is a perfect place to start the night off or hang around and enjoy the view.

……….Rachelle Goh & Jenny Edwards

 

Calm Between The Storms

This weekend brings a welcome respite after the first really big graded test of the quarter – a Finance midterm on freaky Friday. The post-exam period presents an excellent opportunity to catch up on some of the snoozing you had to sacrifice in preparation for the exam itself, go on a skiing sojourn up north, visit the Quackenbush Art Show in downtown Evanston, update your Facebook page, read up on the latest U.S. election happenings or, among other things, blog.

Prof. Karen Brown’s crackerjack examination was one of those events around which your whole week revolved. Whether it was holding a Media Economics group meeting, scheduling your mock interview or just doing your darn laundry, it had to be done AFTER the Finance midterm. Now that it’s over though, an interesting anti-climax has taken precedence as we all take at least a well-deserved Friday evening off before pursuing other pressing concerns, academic or otherwise.

The midterm was especially queasy for those among us who have not taken any Finance courses before. In essence it involved calculating performance measures, expense ratios and return measures like TSRs (Total Shareholder Returns – don’t ask what those are), evaluating growth and returns strategies, unraveling tricky MCQs and true/false questions on best financial practices, and figuring out why accountants had nothing better to do than give three names to the word ‘profit’ (profit = earnings = income, in case you really wanted to know).

Next Thursday Prof. Jakki Thomas will allow us to showcase our nascent database marketing skills as she serves up an ‘analytical treat’ in what is essentially a 25% midterm labeled as a “quiz.” For the past five weeks, IMC ‘08 has been tangled in groups of five, looking at what techniques can be used in SPSS and Excel to derive useful information about consumer purchase behavior. Monday’s review class will be a final chance to assess whether all that analysis found a warm spot in our heads or whether another few sleepless nights await us in the hours before the big quiz itself.

For the moment though, it’s time to catch up on some shut-eye and enjoy it while we can. Zzzz!

……….Ateeq Abdul Rauf

Journal of IMC Fundraiser: Grad-U-Date!

Definition of a win-win situation: Getting yourself a hot date while helping the Journal of Integrated Marketing Communications raise funds. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to bid on some of Northwestern University’s most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes!

We’ll provide the latest updates so don’t forget to keep checking this space!

……….Rachelle Goh