Whether single or paired, Valentine’s Day can be more of an obligation than a celebration.
“If your girlfriend likes it, you have to pretend you like it,” said Emanuele Arabia, a clinical psychology graduate student.
Dustin Brown, a third-year English student, shares this sentiment. But despite his indifference toward the day, he still intends to celebrate it.
“I plan on doing something, not because I believe in Valentine’s Day or what it stands for,” he said. “But it is a holiday, and I kind of want to follow the crowd and just do something.”
But Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to involve flowers, candy and shiny things. Hate it or love it, students have discovered living in Los Angeles gives you plenty of options for Valentine’s Day.
To Dina Huang, a third-year communication studies student, the purpose of Valentine’s Day isn’t restricted solely to romantic love.
“Love isn’t just between a guy and a girl,” Huang said. “Valentine’s Day should be about celebrating what you love.”
Make Love Not War, a rally to observe the Iraq war moratorium, gives students an opportunity to demonstrate the power of love has plenty of practical uses. The rally, which will feature such events as music, speakers and sending Valentines to elected officials, will be held on Kerckhoff lawn at noon.
There are also options for those whose object of affection is, literally, an actual object. One such event is Big Bike Love, for those whose passion is reserved for their bicycles. The evening at Basswerks on 5411 W. Adams Blvd. in Culver City includes, but is not limited to, a date auction, kissing booth and professional portraits of you and your bike.
Los Angeles is also fraught with events for the more jaded. The Upright Citizens Brigade comedy group is putting on “Worst Laid Plans: Worst Laid Mans.” “Worst Laid Mans” offers singles an opportunity to laugh at past horrors and be thankful they’re free; couples can smile to themselves about how this totally does not apply to them; and other couples can use it as a tool to dump their partners when they realize this supposed comedy routine is actually mirroring their own lives. The event on 5919 Franklin Ave. in West Hollywood begins at 8 p.m. and costs $5.
Another approach to Valentine’s Day is to treat it like any other holiday with an ambiguous origin ““ a chance to go out and party. Kazai Rex, a UCLA-based band that performed at last year’s Spring Sing and this year’s Battle of the Bands, is having a show for anyone, single or paired, who wants to get out of the house. Playing at the Derby with an open bar from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., the show itself starts at 8:50 p.m. and is only $8 at the door with a flyer that can be printed from their MySpace page.
Despite the alternatives, there will always be those who cringe at the mention of the day altogether. Mary Broome, a French graduate student, suggested to someone she was dating that he be her Valentine and hasn’t heard from him since. She’s is going to channel her energy into baking with friends.
“I’m going to try to use my feelings in a positive way,” she said.
Some students neither love it nor hate it, but just view Valentine’s Day as a chance to appreciate the people in their lives.
“Everybody thinks Valentine’s Day is all about romantic love, but I don’t think that has to be the case,” said Liz Sellier, fourth-year English major. “Sometimes it’s more fun just to celebrate platonic love and your important friendships.”
“I might go out tomorrow night, but probably with girls. I really try to treat it like any other day.”