Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

COLUMN: Valentine's Day last bastion of romance in U.S.
By Christen Jean Powell
Daily O'Collegian (Oklahoma State U.)
02/11/2008

(U-WIRE) STILLWATER, Okla. — As we approach Valentine's Day, I began to think about dating and relationships and how they don't seem to exist in the same way anymore.

More often than not, you hear of people "hooking up" but you never hear girls gushing about the wonderful date that Johnny B. Good took them on last night.

No, it seems as though chivalry and romanticism are saved for one day a year: Valentine's Day. If you're lucky enough to have someone on that day, then you expect something romantic.

The thing is love should be an every day thing. That's what most people don't realize or understand. If you're in a relationship where the only romantic thing about it is what happens on Valentine's Day, I think it's time for some perspective.

Recent studies have shown that the practice of "dating" is almost completely extinct. Many students at colleges nationwide prefer "hooking up," "booty calls" and "friends with benefits" to actually going out on a date.

This basically means to have sexual relations with someone with no strings attached.

St. Joseph's University associate Professor Katherine Bogle, author of "Hooking Up," said sexual intimacy has become more of an icebreaker to help ease people into relationships.Pretty much a complete reverse of how things used to be.

Many students claim that a lack of money is to blame for the decline in dating. However, if you have money for fancy phones, nice clothes, beer or parties, you have money for a date.

The man doesn't always have to pay and neither should the woman, if you can't decide who should pay then I say go "Dutch," which just means split the bill in half.

I encourage my fellow students to stop selling themselves short. Yes, perhaps dates are awkward, but try to preserve your dignity.

Sleeping around can lead to all kinds of unpleasant diseases and pregnancy.

This isn't to say pregnancy is bad, but I'm sure most of you aren't ready for the responsibility of caring for another human life.

Ladies, I encourage you not to go to bed with a guy just because you can, or just because you're drunk.

Yeah sex is great, but I say make him work for it if he wants to get in your pants.Don't just give it away.

Surprisingly enough though, there is an increasingly higher virginity rate at US universities. According to a U Magazine poll on http://www.colleges.com, at least 30 percent to 35 percent of college students are choosing to save it for someone special. To this I say, "Bravo!"

So, with the most romantic (and completely commercialized) holiday of the year coming, I encourage students to take another look at their relationships. What is it worth to you?It's time for a change: I say we make love a year-round celebration, instead of just one day a year.

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