Sitting at lunch in Levering, a guy friend of mine is searching the Internet. He stumbles across an advertisement for Godiva Chocolates and clicks on the link. It takes him to a Web-site for Godiva's new "G Collection," 15 designer chef-created chocolates in an assortment of simply magnificent colors and artistic designs. They look incredible.
I lean over and ask curiously, "How much would a box of those go for?"
"$90," my friend replies. I gasp. "And more if you want guaranteed arrival on Feb. 14." I gasp again, though somehow the thought of receiving such a fine box of chocolates for Valentine's Day from someone special doesn't sound so awful.
My other guy friend is disgusted and shocked that anyone would spend that much money on someone for such a stupid holiday. I ask him what he thinks about the big V-Day.
"Aw, man this is not my subject," he says. "I mean ... guys, they stress out about it -- they have to spend so much. I think Valentines Day sucks for guys."
Another friend of mine -- a girl this time -- chimes in from across the lunch table. "It's Hallmark's guilt trip to the lonely."
Do others agree? Valentines Day seems to be a much-contested point between girls and guys.
Some view the holiday as a sweet opportunity to do something romantic with the one you love, while others find that the day serves only to make the lonely feel even lonelier. Still others view the holiday as contrived by greeting card companies who will try anything to make a profit -- even love.
"I guess it can be easily branded a Hallmark Holiday," said sophomore Tanya Vargas. "But I think it's great if you're with someone, especially if you're not particularly romantic, because it's OK to be sappy on Feb. 14."
Senior Shivank Gupta agreed, addressing the fact that those not in relationships on Valentines Day are suddenly given a great and easy excuse to do something cute and romantic for that hottie they've had their eyes on all semester.
"I think the whole thing is kind of fun," he said. "It gives guys a good excuse to mush it up towards the girl they're particularly interested in without coming across as a dork. Valentines Day is a great excuse to pursue."
Sophomore Phil Castrovinci added, "It's heavily geared towards women, I feel, but it gives guys who may not be as forward thinking in romance a chance to put on a show. But it's a cool holiday because it does shows a man's affection for a woman and vice versa.
"It's the Superbowl of love," he concluded.
Still, many guys, like my friends at the lunch table, think that Feb. 14 is an utter annoyance -- a holiday laden with obligation and overly grand expectations. Maybe Valentines Day, which was once an excuse to send cute secret notes to loved ones, has just become a chore.
"It is also expected," Castrovinci continued. "In that case, if you don't do something it counts heavily against you."
"It feels kind of forced," said sophomore Joe Henderson.
What exactly do women expect out of Valentine's Day?
"I don't expect a guy to get me anything at all," senior Sarah Siemens said. "And I also don't expect him to pay for anything. I'm for equal opportunity love."
Still, part of us may still want a little something, right?
"I'm never one to expect anything, but I definitely hope that he will [do something]," said Vargas again. "It's just nice to have someone that cares."
"But," she added, "I don't think you should ever expect anything. That leaves lots of room for the element of surprise. And spontaneity is so sexy."
It may be that Valentine's Day, in the traditional sense, is on its way out. Sophomore Sarah Bender, for instance, takes Valentines Day as an opportunity to tell her friends how much she cares about them.
"I like the holiday itself," she said. "Not just because I have a boyfriend, but because I've always done stuff with my friends for it. I see it more as a day when you can show how much you love your friends, as well as someone you're in a relationship with."
"Romance should be a daily thing," said Siemens. "We shouldn't put so much pressure into one day."
Senior Julia Kleene agreed, saying, "I would rather have my boyfriend surprise me on a completely random day."
"Valentine's Day," she added, "doesn't need any help being special ... it's the normal days that do."
