In the wake of the approaching Valentine's Day, a dreaded holiday for many singles everywhere, Beta Kappa Psi Black and Latino Fraternity Inc. (BKPsiNOXUC
Guests walked in and soon grew accustomed to their instructed seating arrangement. All the males were instructed to sit on the left side of the tables while the ladies sat on the right. Miguel's "Adorn" single, which had welcomed guests, was turned down while BKPsiAgui
Answers were shouted from all sides of the room. The young women came to the agreement that they liked, among other qualities, "persistence", "honesty" and "loyalty". When asked the same question, the males marveled over characteristics such as "intelligence", "looks" and "plays video games". The two common denominators between both lists, however, were "sense of humor" and "affectionate".
After a short introduction, it was time to discover everyone's personal interest. One by one,each guest gave their name, major, and what they are looking for. Some expressed their interest in relationships while others said they were simply looking to have a good time.
When the timer went off and the race to romance began, everyone put on their best smile and gave their firmest 'job interview' handshake. Though the multiple conversations going on at once made for a lot of distracting noise, everyone seemed focused on the person across from them. Despite how awkward a sit-down conversation with a complete stranger can be for many, there was no awkward tension in the air. "Over the years, texting and social media has made dating different because there is so much less face to face conversation now," freshman computer science and business major SultonAvent
Before anyone knew it, the timer rang again and it was time for everyone to part as the guys moved over one chair to talk to the next neighboring young lady. Cliff Lee, freshman business major said, "I think this was more awkward for the females than the guys because they had to be approached by a different guy each time." Once the timer was up they were back in the ring and someone else took their place as the dateless participant.
As the event carried on, the night became less about romanticism and more about simply socializing. "Unless you're in a serious relationship, Valentine's Day is overrated. People just want to enjoy their selves and have a good time, like this" stated Lee. The night ended with new-found friends saying their goodbyes and exchanging numbers. "This event is really just a way to get everyone to network, meet people, and see what others have to bring to the table" concluded Agui
Anyone interested in contacting BKPsibkpsi@kean.edu and kean.collegiatelink.net/organization/betakappapsiNOX
