University of Wisconsin-Platteville students, myself included as a reporter for the Exponent, gathered on Valentine’s Day to participate in Speed Dating hosted by Campus Programming and Relations.
There were approximately 30 women and 60 men who signed up for the event. According to CPR representative and media studies major Bridget Hughes, it was a much larger turnout than expected.
“We wanted another way to get people out of their residence halls and come to Stand Up Saturday and we figured since it was Valentine’s Day speed dating just made sense,” Hughes said.
When I arrived I wrote my name on a nametag along with a number, 88. Then I proceeded to the tables in the University North and South rooms in the Pioneer Student Center. All of the other women were seated as well. When the bell rang someone would sit down in front of you, talk for two minutes, then get up and move to the next table.
If you were interested in someone after the two minutes were up you wrote that number down in your speed-dating book provided. If you both wrote each other down, CPR staff provided your contact information to that person after the event.
All participants were very polite and had interesting questions as a conversation starter. “What superpower do you wish you had?” “What is one thing you want me to know about you?” And my personal favorite, “Do you know what my shirt is made of? Boyfriend material.”
Conversations were very short but some topics discussed were the campus activities we enjoyed, each other’s majors and where we were originally from.
The majority of the people I talked to were engineers. When I asked them why they chose to come to Platteville they all shared the same answer: the engineering program here. They all saw this event as a good way to get out and meet new people.
During a few of the conversations, I told them that I wrote for the Exponent and wanted to ask them some questions about the event. I asked industrial technologies major Aaron Tarragano how he heard about this event and also if he had met anyone yet.
“I saw the CPR flyers hanging everywhere and decided to sign up. I have written quite a few numbers down as well,” Tarragano said.
According to sophomore environmental engineering major Connor Reynolds, this event was a good way to make platonic relationships as well.
“I have met a lot of people, not just people I would date but people I could see myself being friends with. I would definitely do this again,” Reynolds said.