Anti-Valentines Day
The day on the calendar is marked — Feb. 14.
He buys her flowers and chocolate, maybe even some expensive jewelry.
She dresses up in pink and red, does her hair and runs to the store for a nice card.
They go out to a fancy restaurant to hold hands and ooze over the fact it is their one day to profess their love to each other.
This is Valentine’s Day.
“Just the whole idea and reason behind making it a holiday makes me want to vomit,” sophomore Lauren Huesers said. “It’s just a stupid excuse to be nice to a person one day out of the year.”
Sophomore Kelly Wood said she believes many boys lie on Valentine’s Day because they feel obligated due to stereotypes from movies and society.
“Valentine’s Day sucks,” Wood said. “It was made by Hallmark Communists. It’s a fake hoax that tries to bring people closer to having fake, cheesy love like you see in movies that lie. Hallmark just wanted to sell more cards.”
Huesers said she also believes Valentine’s Day has become commercialized.
“People now expect gifts on Valentine’s Day, and they compare what they received from their loved ones,” Huesers said. “Material things aren’t love. Yeah, it’s nice to get someone you care about a cute little gift to show your love, but it shouldn’t be expected.”
Both guys and girls stress over expectations on Valentine’s Day, but the holiday can be hard on people without a relationship as well.
“It’s stupid how it makes girls think they are alone because they don’t have a significant other,” sophomore Anna Sharp said.
Huesers said the treatment of significant others on Valentine’s Day shouldn’t change on any other day.
“Why should Valentine’s Day be special?” Huesers said. “If it’s a day to profess your love and be extra nice to people, then that’s just totally wrong. If you want to show someone you care about them, be nice to them the other 364 days of the year.”

Pro-Valentine’s Day
In the words of a feline-oriented Disney animation, “Can you feel the love tonight?”
Valentine’s Day has been a tradition in the history of love for centuries. Couples carefully plan out romantic nights with flowers, candles and heart-shaped candy. Aside from the surge in rose and chocolate production, it’s a time of year reminding people to show their affection for each other.
“I just love the fact that everyone’s so happy,” sophomore Paige-Elise Dorko said. “I guess for people who aren’t dating anyone, that can be kind of sad, but I like to see everyone happy together. Love is in the air, you know? It’s so cute.”
Dorko has been in a relationship with her boyfriend for a month and a half, and she said she doesn’t think couples’ plans for the day need to be lavish.
“For Valentine’s Day, I don’t think it has to be super extravagant,” she said. “We’ll probably go out to dinner or something.”
Valentine’s Day also brings to mind pleasant memories of elementary school days for some students.
Sophomore Hayden Cashion said his favorite memory is when a girl chased him on the playground in second grade. Freshman Reat Underwood has a similar favorite memory.
“In fourth grade, when I liked this girl named Megan, she came up to me and said, ‘Will you be my Valentine?’” he said. “I was like, ‘Of course, I will be your Valentine.’”
Cashion said he thinks Valentine’s Day is an important day to celebrate.
“It’s nice if you’re in a relationship because it is a special day,” he said. “It’s a special day to do things with someone. If not, you can go downstairs and watch a movie by yourself and indulge in chocolate and stuff.”
Though Valentine’s Day appeals to couples, singles can also have fun on Feb. 14. Dorko said she doesn’t think people need to be in a relationship to be happy, and Underwood said he anticipates a good Valentine’s Day for himself.
“Occasionally, I will have a girlfriend, but almost never so,” Underwood said. “I want to say I’ll sit at home and eat candy, but that wouldn’t be good. So, I’ll probably just hang out with friends.”
Freshman Matt Schumacher said his favorite part about Valentine’s Day is his “Valentine” — seasonal themed candy.
“I’m in love with candy,” he said. “We’re going to live a nice and happy life and have baby candy hearts.”

Girls and guys compare their effort, time spent getting ready for the dance
Girl’s schedule according to senior Taylor Yeazel:
11 a.m. – take a shower/ apply facial mask
11:45 a.m. – blow dry hair/ apply hair product
12:15 p.m. – do hair
2 p.m. – apply lotion, concealer, liquid foundation, bronzer, blush and powder
2:30 p.m. – apply eye shadow, primer, eyeliner with wings and mascara, curl eyelashes
3 p.m. – relax with music
3:30 p.m. – apply finishing hair and makeup touches
4:15 p.m. – put on dress and finish up
5 p.m. – leave for pictures

Boy’s schedule according to senior Ryan Casey:
4 p.m. – take a shower
4:30 p.m. – get dressed
4:40 p.m. – brush teeth
4:45 p.m. – do hair
5 p.m. – leave for pictures

Staffers asked students how guys, girls flirt differently, contrast how they reveal their emotions
1. How do guys flirt?
2. How do girls flirt?

BOY: Freshman Jack Norton
1.“He gives her ‘the eye’ and then gives her a nod or two. Then he’ll approach her, slowly, slowly approach her, and then he’ll speak flattering words.”
2. “She looks the opposite the direction. I don’t know how because I’m not really a girl, but I assume she just goes over and talks about it with her friends.”

BOY: Sophomore Lance Jewett 
1. “You just talk to them a lot. Don’t be a jerk.”
2. “They don’t.”

GIRL: Sophomore Cameron Smith 
1. “He’ll be like, ‘Yo girl, hit me up with yo number,’ go to the mall or something and go, like, try to hug them. But if it’s someone normal, just be super nice and hang out with them.”
2.“I smile a lot — give lots of hugs. I like to be really weird and let them know that I’m really weird. So, just so you know, if you want to get into this with me, you’ve really gotten yourself into something bad.”

BOY: Junior Parker Russell 
1. “Boys are like, ‘I play sports’.”
2. “Girls flirt with boys by saying really nice things about them and complimenting them and doing really subtle things.”

GIRL: Junior Taylor Morton
1. “Complimenting them.”
2. “Laughing at their jokes, that kind of stuff.”

BOY: Senior Ryan Russell
1. “Turn the lights down real low, get some smooth jazz going [and then] start poking them.”
2. “The pouty face, turn [her] head to the side.”

GIRL: Senior Jansen Hess
1. “Boys tease [girls] to get their attention.”
2. “Then girls, we fall for it every time.”