More than 30 U students with diverse backgrounds, majors, ages and interests came together in the west ballroom of the Union on Tuesday with one common goal: to meet and mingle with as many singles as possible in 30 minutes.
On Valentine’s Day, the Office of Student Health Promotion and the Student ?Health Advisory Committee put on the U’s first speed dating event in honor ?of the theme for this year’s Sexual Responsibility Week: a little more conversation.
“We wanted to emphasize getting to know your partner and awareness about what it means to have a healthy sexuality,” said Audrie Willden, an intern at the Office of Student Health Promotion and a senior in health promotion and ?education. ?
“Hopefully we are also bringing people together to meet and have fun,” she said.
The students who participated in the event gave their name and e-mail address to volunteers and were given a speed-dating scorecard. They then had three minutes to talk with each participant and score each ?person as “would date” or “not interested.”
If both parties match, the Student Health Advisory Committee will send e-mails to each person and let their interests in each other progress from there.
“I think speed dating is really effective,” said Iris Moulton, a junior in English and anthropology. “There is no pressure and no sense of rejection after you meet someone,” she said.
Moulton said she wanted to speed date because she was newly single and said it seemed like a fun way to meet people. You can get a really good sense of a person by cramming in all the information as quickly as possible, Moulton said.
“I totally think I would date someone after this, and I would definitely do this again,” she said.
Judy Vu, the chairwoman of the Student Health Advisory Committee, said ?Sexual Responsibility Week has in the past been about promoting safe sex, but they wanted to focus on communication and getting people to talk about aspects other than the physical ones. The committee volunteers also gave the daters sexual wellness kits and brochures about monogamous relationships and safe sex.
“Initial sparks can go anywhere,” Moulton said. “I’m really glad I came.”?
