–Kelly Abercrombie–

Valentines day is an overrated commercialized production that is for giddy in love infant couples to get into each others pants. Couples in relationships celebrate their anniversary every year have no need for this steroidal love event.

The typical memorandum operandi is to surprise with flowers, receive cards with poems ending in “xoxo,” or a candlelit dinner either out on the town or in the house.

The end event that is supposed to occur is an evening in the bedroom, a goodnight kiss or a proclamation of loving devotion.

Events listed above happen throughout the year for a typical committed couple. There is no need to contribute to the mayhem. Acts of gift giving just look cheesy and rehearsed between significant others who have been together for a while.

“Valentine’s Day, I honestly don’t care as much for it as I’ve gotten older,” communication studies major Marlyena Howard said. “It’s just another Hallmark holiday that makes people who have a significant other feel obligated to buy things they don’t need.”

Lucky singles are usually tortured by their coupled-up friends by being set up on blind or double dates – because everyone wants to feel in love on Valentines day.

For students who are on tight budgets and busy with jobs, internships and school work, the time and energy that has to be put into this day is unnecessary.

Save time and energy and stop sharing a special day with the whole country and dedicate that effort towards a more personalized day – the anniversary.

–Andrew Paunon–

Valentine’s day may seem like an artificial holiday to sell chocolate and roses, with cliche phrases and quotes found on many 15-year-old teenage girls’ Tumblr blogs, but it should be a reminder of the love and affection couples share with each other.

The day could be used as a opportune moment for a person to open up and explain their feelings.

Couple Jessica Guevara and Alvaro Tellez, both senior health science majors, have been together for nine months.

“It’s a day for the guy to open up,” Tellez said. “Guys won’t show their affection, so Valentine’s day would make it easier to do so.”

Guevara agrees that opening up to each other would bring them closer.

“It can bring us closer, emotionally, if he does open up more than normal,” Guevara said.

The teddy bears, heart-shaped chocolates and red roses are gifts to represent the love between the couple but what matters is the actual connection between the two – that they are sharing parts of their lives with each other they wouldn’t share with anyone else.

It’s about sharing secrets with each other, trusting that the significant other will love unconditionally by accepting the other without judgment.

The day is to remind couples of the gift of companionship and to be genuine by removing the mask which hides one’s true self.

Being grateful to have someone inspiring you to do the things you love,  to always be there to cheer you on and catch you when you fall – this is the meaning of Valentine’s Day.