By Students’ kissing stamina was put to the test Feb. 13 when 18 Cal State Long Beach students participated in the
“Kiss a Mac, Win a Mac” competition.
Thanks to the efforts of the American Marketing Association in partnership with Apple Inc. and the 49er Shops Inc., students were able to compete against one another in order to win their choice of an iMac or a MacBook.
Each contestant was designated a specific Macintosh computer to “kiss” and the student who outlasted all the other contestants would win. Contestants had to firmly keep both upper and lower lips on their designated Mac computer at all times without touching one another or the table on which the computer was placed upon or they would be disqualified.
After nearly an hour of awkwardly leaning over while “kissing” her computer, contestant Becca Kostorko was the first to be eliminated.
“It’s really hard to keep both lips on at the same time and figure out where to keep your hands,” Kostorko said. “It’s a disadvantage for the taller people since the computer sits so low on the table.”
In compliance with CSULB safety regulations, contestants were given 15-minute breaks every two hours. To ensure that the competition was not too easy, elimination challenges was enacted.
While kissing their Mac, students were given tasks such as putting up their arms at a 90-degree angle. The first contestant to drop his or her arms or fail to abide by the rules while performing the task was disqualified.
“My legs were shaking,” said Anthony Garcia, a music performance major, who was disqualified during the second elimination round approximately 3 hours and 25 minutes into the competition. “I was already uncomfortable standing and then trying to lift my arms at the same time was too hard.”
As the hours passed and contestants struggled to maintain their kissing positions, student spectators participated in numerous games surrounding the main event.
Students were given the chance to win a new iPod Shuffle, CSULB gear, candy or key chains in a bean-bag throwing game. Spectators were also able to bet on which contestant they thought would win the competition.
The student who guessed the correct contestant and how long it would take for him or her to win received a $25 iTunes gift card.
Seven hours into the competition, contestants were given a series of more difficult elimination challenges.
A game of “Mac Says,” similar to the children’s game Simon says, had contestants perform awkward and physically straining tasks. For instance, students were told to clap their hands behind their back, take off their shoes and do all the motions to the song “YMCA” with their hands, while always keeping their lips firmly planted on their Mac.
During a Mac Says round, contestant Howard Ying struggled to keep his arms in the air while balancing a Hershey’s Kiss on top of his hand. With Ying’s outstretched arms trembling, students cheered him on. Shortly after and almost eight hours into the competition, Ying was disqualified.
“I was trying to find the energy and to hold my arms up, but I couldn’t,” said Ying. “If I could do this again, I would. And I would win it next time.”
With all other 16 contestants disqualified, Alma Canera and Caroline Jansen remained. While the women pantomimed swimming motions and balanced themselves on one foot in the final Mac Says round, a physically exhausted Canera feel to the ground.
Consequently, at approximately 5:25 p.m., eight hours and 30 mintues after the start of the event, Jansen, tired but excited, won the Kiss a Mac, Win a Mac competition.
At the University Bookstore Jansen selected a 13.3 screen inch white MacBook, priced at $949.
“I feel wonderful,” Jansen said. “My laptop was stolen earlier this year, so I was in it to win it.”
