This week features a bustle of love inspired events on the University of South Florida campus due to Valentine’s Day this Tuesday, Feb. 14. Many organizations put together fundraisers and other happenings, though few were planned on the actual day of love.
On Monday, World Watch: Animals. Kids. Earth. sold cookies and flowers in front of the library to benefit The Children’s Home orphanage in Tampa. WWAKE also put on a semi-formal Valentine’s Day dance party at 7 p.m. inside MSC Ballrooms A and B. There was music, free food and themed activities for partygoers. The organization also collected children’s books at the event.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People also put on an event the eve before Valentine’s Day. Cupid’s Shuffle: Speed Dating took place at 8:30 p.m. in MSC 3711. Participators mingled before commencing the shuffle. The three-minute dates were free for students and the public, but the organization also sold usual Valentine’s Day fare including candy grams, flowers and teddy bears.
Finding Mr. or Ms. Right was part of the Wellness Workshop series, but the topic of this Monday’s free workshop in SVC 5012 coincided well with the theme of Valentine’s Day. During the workshop Leonard Kirklen, Ph.D, helped students explore what qualities they look for in their “ideal” partner and relationship expectations. Next Monday’s workshop on Feb. 20 is Identifying Obstacles to Intimacy, which will take place at 1 p.m. inside SVC 5012.
Activities and events on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, Feb. 14, are actually quite sparse. The only special on campus is happening at Fresh Food Company with the dining hall’s Celebration of Chocolate during normal operation hours. As the title suggests, the offerings of the day include many more chocolate choices than usual, like a chocolate fountain.
Wellness Education’s Produce of the Month for February is the strawberry, a fruit often associated with Valentine’s Day. Every Wednesday during the month at Bull Market you can sample free strawberries and learn about the berry between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 17 Swinging Bulls are hosting a post-Valentine’s Day dance, Love-a-Bull. Don’t know how to swing? Amos Chong and Jeila Alai will give lessons at 7 p.m. before the dance at 8 p.m. in MSC 2708. Partners are also not required. The event is free for USF students and $5 for others.
This week is also Sexual Health Responsibility week and REACH, Responsible Education for Campus Healthy, is holding an event every day to support it. To learn more about Sexual Health Responsibility week visit the organization's Facebook event page
Looking for something to do off campus? Dinosaur World is essentially offering a buy one; get one free deal for adults. Purchase your own admission and your “sweetie” can get in for free, saving you $12.75 plus tax. Today, Tuesday Feb. 14, is the last day for this deal.