A great way to tell how your day is going is to step outside and take a deep breath. Will the sweet scent of chocolate from the Dove Company be drifting across Elizabethtown College’s campus, or will the smell of cow manure from nearby farms be lingering? On Feb. 14th, there’s always something different in the air: love.
Whether you use Valentine’s Day to hang out with your partner or stick around for the half-off candy on the 15th, there’s no denying that every year the holiday gets bigger. Heart-shaped decorations and candy have been in stores since New Year’s, and commercials on television set lovers’ expectations high. But what are college students doing about Valentine’s Day? Have gifts become too expensive for a college budget, or is love worth the extra cash?
For one couple, Valentine’s Day is as good as abolished. Sophomore Jess King celebrates a whole different holiday with her boyfriend. “Our year-and-a-half anniversary and Valentine’s Day are really close together, and I didn’t want to have two big celebrations in a row,” King said. “My boyfriend Jon and I celebrate ‘Jon and Jess Day’ on the 4th instead.”
This year, the couple came up with a cost-free gift that’s unique. They wrote down date ideas and categorized them. The categories included cheap, expensive, outdoor, indoor and seasonal options. King seemed unbothered by the prospect of not celebrating on the 14th, saying “Jon and Jess Day is something that’s special to us, and it’s 100 percent better than Valentine’s Day.”
For single students, Valentine’s Day can still be a fun time. While the holiday is traditionally used to spend time with your significant other, platonic love can be celebrated too. Some clubs and groups on campus will celebrate the day together. Etown’s Lighthouse group held a celebration last week.
“There’s a really sweet community member who invited us all over,” first-year Madeline Dunham said. “She’s been hosting Lighthouse events at her house for years, and she only lives a few blocks away so we can walk there!” The group played games and enjoyed Valentine’s Day treats. Dunham enjoyed her time, saying “I love getting to spend time with everyone, especially outside of the normal school week because there’s less stress and we just get to connect and have fun!”
For student athletes and student workers on campus, Valentine’s Day is still life as usual. Many sports teams still have practices, and jobs like dining services and intramurals are still operating. Classes are still going at the College, a source of contention for some students.
“We shouldn’t have classes,” sophomore Taylor Huyck said. “Everyone deserves to be happy on Valentine’s Day, even those that are single. It should just be a mental health day.”
Students have another reason for skipping class on the 14th. Super Bowl LVI fell the day before Valentine’s Day this year. Many students stayed up late to watch the game, and even later to celebrate their team’s victory or mourn a hard loss. No matter what your reason for skipping your 8 a.m. on Monday is, know that you were not alone.
Whether you love your partner or love alone time, Valentine’s Day is a holiday with something for everyone. When you stepped out of your dorm on the 14th, you hopefully were able to feel the love in the air.
