Forty UB students packed their bags and kissed their loved ones goodbye before heading off to an all-expenses paid trip to the Lee Loop, just outside of the Commons on UB's North Campus, last week.
The students were participating in UB's third annual Survivor contest, which was held as part of Spirit Week. The contest culminated Saturday in front of the crowd watching the UB Bulls take on the Miami (Ohio) University RedHawks, when Lisa Kaplan, a senior medical technology major, was declared winner.
The contest, which is a spin off of the popular CBS show of the same name, began Wednesday and consisted of four teams of 10 students who contended for the $1,000 grand prize.
Participants had to live on the Lee Loop Island until either they were voted off by their teammates, or when the winner was announced at the end of the third quarter of the homecoming football game Saturday.
According to Kaplan, the whole experience was better than the money she won. She said she didn't sign up because of the prize, but because she wanted to meet as many people as she could before graduating in May.
"It was like the best time," Kaplan said. "I got to meet a lot of great people. I did things I never thought I'd be doing in a million years, like running around in the mud and trying to hold an egg in my mouth."
With the prize money, Kaplan plans to take her tribe, the orange team, out to dinner because they all did a great job in the contest, she said.
According to Student Relations Coordinator Rob Suglia, the contest was created to increase school spirit and help students get involved in the UB community.
More than 100 students applied for the program during the four-day period before the contest.
Andrew Michaeloff, a junior media studies major and former Survivor contestant, helped to organize this year's competition. According to Michaeloff, applicants had to fill out a form about why they were interested in participating in the program and then were asked to do something in the Student Union to demonstrate their school spirit.
This could involve activities such as yelling a UB-related cheer or starting a chant with the passer-bys in the union, said Michaeloff.
According to Matt Pelkey, a freshman political science and philosophy major and member of the purple team, being involved in another school program helped him be a part of Survivor, because five seats were reserved for the Student Association, the University Union Activity Board and the Residence Hall Association.
"I'm a senator on the RHA, and we had five seats available," Pelkey said. "I'll give up some free time to have some fun."
Other organizations on campus that were represented in Survivor included Greek Affairs, the UB Marching Band, New Student Programs, the Programming Board, the UB Dazzlers, Student Unions and Activities, the University Alumni Board, Orientation Aides and the UB volleyball team.
Each day, survivors engaged in various challenges with rewards such as immunity from that night's tribal council - the forum in which participants were voted off each night - or access to a shower.
According to Molly Campbell, a junior dance major and member of the Dazzlers, one of the challenges incorporated members of the group. On Wednesday, each tribe was assigned a dazzler, whose mission it was to teach tribe members a choreographed dance to a popular "boy band" song.
Each tribe then had to perform its dance Friday at noon in the Student Union. The green team won the challenge and was given the coveted prize of taking a shower.
In addition to time spent performing challenges and missions, the participants also devoted three hours each day to studying.
"It's mandatory that we go to class, and we are given at least three hours a day to study," said Angie Szafranski, a freshman biology major and member of the red team.
The one aspect that many of the participants had trouble with was the nightly tribal council.
"It's really hard to vote off people that have become your friends," said Szafranski.
According to Jesse Fosmire, a senior theater major and a member of the green team, strong bonds were formed quickly.
"It's a community building experience," said Fosmire. "We have only been together a day, and these guys are already my good friends."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
