Cupid’s arrow aims for the hearts of many University of Tampa students on Valentine’s Day.
But for some, well, they are shooting back, using the holiday as a long awaited time to declare war on love and on each other.
In the interest of fair and balanced reporting, we offer here the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly of Valentine’s Day.
The Good
“My cocker spaniel had four puppies on Valentine’s Day,” said Amber Gleason, a junior at UT and a sports management major.
Nicole Caouette, a freshman at UT and also a sports management major, said that her best memories of past Valentine’s Days were when she would buy Valentines Day cards with her mom.
James King, a senior, set high standards when he gave his girlfriend, junior Laura Phillips, an otter for Valentine’s Day.
“I adopted the otter from the zoo, and she named it JJ,” said King. The couple still visits their otter friend and it reminds them of their wonderful Valentine’s Day they spent together.
For some, the holiday didn’t start out so great.
“I was having the worst day ever,” said Hector Florez, a sophomore performing arts major. “I had just finished doing laundry and was going back up to my room when I opened the door to find that my boyfriend had decorated my entire room with streamers, balloons, rose petals and bought my favorite candy.”
Junior Stephanie Dutka doesn’t depend on boyfriends to make her Valentine’s Day wonderful. She relies on her dad.
“There are three girls in my family, and every Valentine’s Day my dad brings us home the best chocolate covered pretzels Ohio has to offer,” Dutka said.
For more of St. Valentine’s good deeds, see last’s year’s selection The Good(2007), or if you dare, read on for the bad and the ugly.
The Bad
For others, the holiday is just as memorable, but for all the wrong reasons.
“In fourth grade, I bought my first girlfriend a card, a box of chocolates and a cheap necklace,” said Tyronne Robinson, a UT junior. “She never wore the necklace or opened my card, and she shared the chocolates with her friends. Who would have thought that elementary girls could be so mean?”
Lee Hedlund, a junior, also found out that it isn’t always better to give than to receive.
“In sixth grade I gave my girlfriend her favorite CD, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and a chocolate rose,” said the sports management major. “She broke up with me because she was embarrassed for having nothing to give me.”
“I was sung to,” said Huth. “It was a Marvin Gaye song, we were at a friend’s house, and it was really awkward.”
“The day isn’t so good if you don’t have a boyfriend. Watching other girls carry around flowers and candies isn’t that fun,” said senior Alyssa Mancuso.
The Ugly
“My worst memory was with him,” said Jenna Glasser, pointing at her boyfriend.
The sophomore said that during their Valentine’s Day dinner, her boyfriend turned to someone and mouthed, “I hate her so much.”
Their relationship survived, however, and they still remain together.
Nicole Robinson, a junior Chemistry major, recalled how one Valentine’s Day turned sour, ended with the sweet taste of revenge.
“This guy I had a crush on asked me to the Valentine’s dance and I was really excited, but before the dance I found out that one of my friends had made out with him during lunch.”
Nicole decided to keep her date, and when they arrived at the dance she ignored him the entire night.
“He cried in front of everyone at the dance,” she said.
Caitlin Reardon, a sophomore elementary education major, was taken to a beautiful room in the city decorated with rose petals, and was given a box filled with handcuffs, whipped cream, and champagne.
But, as the night led into the early morning, she became extremely intoxicated and slept by the toilet instead of her boyfriend.
“I didn’t even get a chance to wear the fuzzy handcuffs,” she said.
Sarah DeOlivira, a freshman nursing student, said her boyfriend gave her the “typical” Valentines Day present which included her favorite movie and some chocolates.
Although, to her surprise, as she continued to pull out the tissue paper she found a jewelry box lying at the bottom of the bag.
As she opened it she found a ring inside, but it “wasn’t the right one” so she gave it back.
Post your own Valentine’s Day story below, and then click to see last’s year’s selection of The Good(2007), The Bad(2007) and The Ugly (2007).
http://www.buzzdash.com/bb.swf?BB_id=69694
Contributors: Katie Anilionis, Maggie Welch, Kristen Benoit, Cameron Razi, Kristine Kodytek, Megan Brinckerhoff, Melissa Small, Rachel Schule, Erika Ginzl, Cassandra Clark, Adrian Canillo, Evan Lubin, Sierra Mims.