A new meaning to student body

At midnight a hush fell over the dance floor at V2O nightclub in Long Beach. Sweat-laced revelers pushed up against the stage clutching $3 bottles of Miller High Life. The emcee, a short, stocky promoter with a faux hawk and a pink '80s T-shirt, stepped out of the shadows, produced a limbo stick and said the words everyone had come to hear: "We have six ladies and we're going to see how low they can go and how low they will go to get a set of new boobies."

Held over the last two Thursdays, the "Spring Break Breast Augmentation Contest Series" at V20 culminates tonight when six finalists go head-to-head in an apple-bobbing battle royal dubbed "Bobbing for Boobs." The winner will receive a free breast augmentation from plastic surgeon Dr. Karl Nguyen, who cut off an interview about the contest by saying, "I don't want my name used in this," despite its presence on the event's fliers and website.

Promoter Jason DeLeon, 23, whose Entourage Entertainment will be paying for the procedure, explains how the club hit on the concept. "We just thought that the No. 1 reason people come to the club is, of course, girls," he says. "So how would we attract that demographic? Plastic surgery. It's what they're into."

A look at the crowd of nearly 1,000 on the night of the limbo round revealed a large number of wispy young women in thick charcoal eyeliner, micro-minis and ankle-strap high heels, many of whom appeared to have already been winners of a similar contest.

When limbo time rolled around, two greased-up dancers in red bikinis and furry Yeti Ugg boots were replaced by the six contestants. "My Humps" by the Black Eyed Peas bumped out of the bass-heavy speakers and the hopefuls began to bend over backward for new breasts. The difficulty was ratcheted up by the fact that the women had to limbo toward the audience. Even though almost everybody fell and confusion reigned, four winners emerged.

One, a tiny young woman named Tracy Boi who accompanied her spirited limbo techniques with gracious kisses blown to the audience, seemed particularly excited. "It's always nice to get free boobies," she gushed before being whisked onto the dance floor by her friends. Another, who would identify herself only as "Lanle" and who appeared to have something nearing a C cup, explained her reason for joining the competition. "To get boobs. More self-esteem," she said.

Afterward, Scott Tomomo, who had just turned 21, smoked a cigarette on the patio. Asked what he thought of the night's festivities he said, "I think it's awesome, spectacular, stupendous." His two friends Eric Park, 21, and Mike Layman, 21, nodded their heads and grinned broadly.

When asked if they liked the idea of women winning breast augmentations, Park said, "All guys do, come on! It's not a question; all guys want to see that."

Layman chimed in, "Can you put in a 'hell yeah' for Mike Layman?"

SPRING BREAK SERIES

WHERE: V2O, 81 Aquarium Way, Long Beach

WHEN: 9 pm Thursday (last night)

PRICE: $10

INFO: (866) 402-5828; www.v2olongbeach.com