Celebrations vary for Valentine’s Day

Susanna Barnes, freshman history major, signs up for Love Bingo at the Student Life Center. Students are celebrating Valentine´s Day in different ways.

Susanna Barnes, freshman history major, signs up for Love Bingo at the Student Life Center. Students are celebrating Valentine´s Day in different ways.

It’s that time of year again where flowers, candy and cards are high in demand and love is in the air.

That’s right, it’s Valentine’s Day. Dinner and a movie may be the usual date couples typically go on, but there are some individuals on campus at who have different plans.

Carry Degruson, a junior with a double major in speech theatre communications and secondary education, already made plans with her husband to buy each other professional massages.

Also with another idea is Dr. Gwendolyn Murdock, head of the psychology department. Not only are she and her spouse celebrating Valentine’s Day, but their anniversary as well. The two are taking a trip to Lawrence, Kan., for dinner then off to the Kansas International Museum in Topeka, Kan., to view an exhibit of Russian artifacts.

Even if one can’t spend Valentine’s Day with a loved one, why not celebrate it a day early? Lacey Messick, senior mass communications major, and also a Lady Lion for Southern’s basketball team, has a game on the 15th.

“We’ll be on the road, so me and my boyfriend are going to celebrate on Thursday,” she said

Tracy Hamilton, senior speech communications major and her boyfriend are also celebrating the day before with dinner and a concert in Springfield.

Even though this is a popular holiday, there are still some individuals who choose not to take part.

“I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day because it is just a holiday for the flower and candy companies to make money,” said Samantha Dennis, junior elementary education major. “My fiancé and I are going to spend this Friday just like every other Friday.”

“It just makes people feel like they have to have a date, and if they don’t, they feel bad about themselves,” said Terrence Fusselman, freshman undecided major.

Whether one is into Valentine’s Day or whether people have a special someone or not, there were still some events at Southern to take part in.

Throughout the week, there were STD seminars and other health awareness activities along with games such as love bingo and a relationship game.

The last event takes place at 9 p.m. Friday in the Student Life Center when Southern Impact sponsors a Valentine’s Day party.