Neonerds

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Story Published: Sep 30, 2007 at 11:23 AM PST

Story Updated: Sep 30, 2007 at 11:23 AM PST

By Molly Blancett

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PULLMAN - Enrollment in electrical engineering and computer science programs is down across the country. Women are especially hard to come by in those fields. One Washington State University club is trying to make over the industry's image by taking their members from geek to chic.

When you think of the word “Nerd,” you probably see an awkward looking, super-smart, glasses-wearing kid with his head knee deep in a book, or nowadays a computer. The key word here is computer. Computer and electrical engineering programs are notorious for high male enrollment, and little or none of the female kind.

But don't worry, the WSU Linux Users Group has come to the rescue.

"Nerdy and the Greek is an event we're putting on where we get together with a sorority and we have the sorority girls take us out and kind of dress us up and make us look nice,” said WSU Linux Users Group Officer Benjamin Waldher. “In the evening, what we'll do is we'll have the women bid on the nerds and for that evening the women can have the nerds fix their computer, do their homework."

Or, the women can opt to take the eligible bachelors out for a night on the town. Waldher said nerdiness is more than skin deep.

"We consider ourselves nerds because we spend a good portion of our day working with computers,” he said. “We also consider ourselves nerds just because it's what goes with the major of being a computer scientist or an electrical engineer."

Besides trying to battle stereotypes, "We're normal people,” said Waldher. “We're not afraid of women or anything like that."

The aim of their game is also to raise awareness.

"It'll increase exposure, I think, for computer science, and for the average person in computer science,” said Scott Robinson, member of the WSU Linux Users Group.

After a weeklong makeover, the bachelors will be auctioned off. If they raise enough money, the proceeds appear targeted for a scholarship for women in science.

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