The world came to a halt when the pandemic was declared back in 2020, and with that, dating changed drastically as well. Valentine’s season is a good time to examine how the pandemic has modified every single aspect that defined dating and admit it has been a struggle, especially for college students looking to find that special someone.
Lockdown and quarantine meant more singles and fewer couples, not to mention a serious reexamination of how college students date. Going into the pandemic, people thought that dating has now become the era of meeting strangers online with dating apps such as Tinder or Bumble. But is this the wisest way to date during a pandemic?
“I don’t think I would date right now,” said Andrew Perez, a mechanical engineering student. “It’s hard to go on dates and indoor dining in general because it feels kind of annoying now, having masks on and all that protection to not catch COVID. It feels kind of scary.”
His brother, John Perez, who is also a mechanical engineering student, agreed but said things are “finally” starting to get better. “Through the pandemic, you can’t talk face to face, and you can get sick easily,” said John Perez.
Dining out isn’t the only dating ritual that has changed during the pandemic. Travel, while possible, is more cumbersome and often includes masks, as does simply going to a movie or a concert. The pandemic even affects how much affection one can display in public, and for some that’s a good thing.
“We can’t kiss in public during the pandemic, and I feel more at ease since I am very introverted,” said Annabelle Dileva, a fine arts major. “It’s been better for me because I met my partner before the pandemic. It’s tricky, I believe, because most of the places we want to go are closed…but also my relationship with him feels better.”
“We don’t drive, and it’s hard to go on public transportation because of restrictions and that is the only time we basically get to see each other. We also went to New York to eat at a restaurant and things are even tougher there. You have to be vaccinated, and it’s kind of hard,” Dileva said.
Monday, Feb. 14 is Valentine’s Day. On the Brookdale calendar, it says the holiday “also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, through later folk traditions, has become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in regions of the world.”
On campus, Student Life and Activities is marking the holiday with a take-and-make event held both Monday and Tuesday during which students can stuff a heart, make candy, or enjoy a single rose.