Valentine’s Day: it’s not just for couples anymore

By Jeanne Robinson

While people traditionally view Valentine’s Day as a day for couples to express their love for each other, those single on the fated Feb. 14 can, and should, feel the love as well.

Sophomore José Galarza created his own Valentine’s Day tradition and bought two dozen red roses, which he handed out in Coblentz Dining Hall during supper that night, he said. Galarza spent $40 to share his love to 24 people instead of dedicating his gifts to only one person.

“I feel that Valentine’s Day represents love between everybody,” Galarza said.

It made Galarza feel good to surprise friends, strangers and the dining hall staff with the roses Saturday, he said. He got the idea because he thinks that if someone gave him a rose it would “be nice,” and that everyone should enjoy spreading love, Galarza said.

Some students used the night to relax, such as senior Sam Lopez. He and his brother had nothing going on, so they stayed in their dorm room and played video games for a “brothers’ night,” Lopez said. Theirs was a celebration of familial love.

Daniela Amezquita, freshman, and her friends contributed to the millions of dollars “50 Shades of Grey” earned on Valentine’s Day. They spent an average girls’ day that included mall shopping, eating Chinese food and ending the day with the movie, she said.

Though Amezquita did not want to see “50 Shades,” her friends outnumbered her, she said. Afterwards, the girls discussed how the movie is “antifeminist” and “objectifies women,” Amezquita said.

Amezquita has never spent Valentine’s Day with anyone before, she said. While she spent the day with her friends, Amezquita and her sisters sent gifts to their mother to show their love. The day is not limited to just one’s significant other, she said.

Amezquita believes that Valentine’s Day has gotten too commercial, she said. However, she did admit that she would like to have received flowers herself, because she never has on the holiday before, she said.

In the end, Valentine’s Day is about showing others “how much you appreciate them,” Amezquita said.