Tommie Media – While dating is something college students are exposed to, sophomores Allen-Michael Muench and Emily Casey are helping redefine it.  The two students have created a small group that studies the popular novel “I Kissed Dating Goodbye.” The book explores reasons why dating isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and stresses the benefits of being single, especially at a young age.  Casey said the book does not necessarily advocate for “not dating,” but instead tells readers not to pursue someone if they can’t see themselves marrying them.  “The main idea is that ‘intimacy is the reward of commitment,’ therefore, if you are not able or willing to be open to commit to someone long-term (like marriage), then you should not be in a relationship with them,” Casey said. The Rev. Erich Rutten, chaplain and director of Campus Ministry, said he agrees that discernment should be an important concept when considering a romantic relationship.  “Dating, even if just for fun, creates a bond between two people. The more investment and more bond, the more painful and harmful to split up,” Rutten said. “There are plenty of other ways to have fun with others without the dating connotation.”   Rutten said he stresses the importance of knowing yourself before “hitching yourself” to another.  “This way, you can journey well together. Dating with an eye to marriage, can be part of discerning where you and where the other is headed so that you can make a good choice,” Rutten said.

 

Got this in an email from somebody at St. Thomas.  Talking about how ridiculous it is and how it’s insane that they’re trying to ruin dating.  Umm am I reading this wrong or something?  This Reverend and his little followers are basically trying to eliminate dating in college right?  Saying no serious relationships allowed?   That’s probably the best student group initiative I’ve ever heard of.  Granted I think the reason they’re doing it is to be like spiritual and with God and dumb shit like that but the basic crux of their movement is A+ stuff.   No serious dating in college.  Boom.    Senior year is fine if you think you got it locked up with someone who is worth it but if you’re in a serious relationship freshman, sophomore, or junior year you’re fuckin up.  College is the only time for the rest of your life that you have easy, unlimited access to a huge female population just interested in hooking up.  When you graduate it becomes all about how much money you make, what your job is, if you’re marriage material, if you’re successful.  In college for the most part everyone’s got a shot with everyone.  Get hammered at some Tuesday night mixer and you might find yourself hooking up with a chick 3 points out of your range.  Why fuck that up?   Like the good Reverend said “there are plenty of ways to have fun without the dating connotation” and by that I believe he’s directly saying plow through as many slutty sorority girls that you’ll never speak to again as possible while you still can.