Coke day creates buzz in mcmahon

The large red and white prize wheel made a fast ticking sound as it was spun over and over. Students waiting their turn to spin eyed the table laden with red Coca-Cola t-shirts in plastic wrapping, stuffed polar bears and Coca-Cola straw holders that looked like they came out of a 1950s diner.

But the most lucrative prize on the wheel for many students was the money. Students flocked to McMahon 8 yesterday to take part in Coke Day, celebrating Housing and Food Services' (HFS) contract with the Coca-Cola company. At times, the line was so long it wrapped around the seating area in front of Pagliacci Pizza.

The Coke Day concept was conceived by Jim Watkins, a head chef at 8, and served the dual purpose of allowing Coca-Cola to give back to the students while promoting 8, said Jennifer Hamilton, the youth market manager for Coca-Cola who manages the contract between the soda conglomerate and HFS.

"It's mutually beneficial," Hamilton said of the contract, which runs until December 2012, "but it's really HFS that wants to promote their business and thank their students."

The dining hall's restaurants also got into the act, promoting specialties of the day made with Coca-Cola. Broiler Zone advertised Coca-Cola meatloaf. Jangar promoted its coca-Cola chili, and Abundo concocted a Coca-Cola cake.

Dressed casually in jeans and a red Coca-Cola t-shirt, Hamilton served as master of Coca-Cola's ceremonies at 8, supervising students as they spun the wheel and distributing prizes from keychains to slips of paper good for up to $1,000. The company gave away $6,000 in cash prizes to UW students, to be deposited into the winners' Husky Card accounts. The money is redeemable at the University Bookstore and other locations where the card is accepted.

"I won a hundred bucks cash [on the] first spin," said sophomore Jada Isherwood, as he watched the action while lounging in a chair near the wheel in 8's TV viewing area. Isherwood and friends Nacirfa Rose, Jake Simons and Phill Yun each won one of the 10 $100 prizes given away.

The four, who live in the same corridor in Haggett Hall, dubbed themselves the "100 club" and spent their evening cheering students on and teasing Hamilton by calling her "Coke lady" as dozens lined up to spin the prize wheel.

Isherwood said that for $100, he figured Coca-Cola had earned his support.

"Coke is $100 better than Pepsi," agreed Simons. "The day Pepsi gives me $100, I'll like them better."

The banter generated by the "100 club added a playful air to the evening's Coke-saturated festivities."

"I won a hundred bucks," Yun crowed to a friend.

"You owe me five," the friend responded.

"Oh crap," said Yun.

Even those who didn't hit the Coca-Cola jackpot didn't left with a reusable plastic Coca-Cola glass.

"Each of us wants to give back to the students," said Hamilton.