February 10, 2016

By Nayah James

Remember when Valentine’s Day rolled around when you were a kid? Remember picking through various valentines of your favorite cartoon characters to give to students in class? Remember picking out the perfect candy to attach and words to write on the card? Times have changed. Valentine’s Day used to be about sending love through cute messages and candy grams and now it’s has turned into a week of back to back social events and about raising awareness.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, some student groups at Dominican will be giving students a chance to show they care.

The Resident Student Association will be putting on Caritas Carnations from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 10 and 11 Students can write a note to a friend, and RSA will deliver the note and a flower to their door.

“RSA sets up a table and a sign saying ’Caritas Carnations for Valentine’s Day’ in the Coughlin Commons,” said Coughlin Resident Ashlynn Hill. Students arrive in the Commons to see they have to fill out little sheets of paper, to who and where. Who being a spouse, a best friend, a floor mate, roommate or a friend in need of love and the where being their dorm room or office. Anyone can be sent a Caritas Carnations and it can be anonymous.

“A single flower comes with a message attached to it,” she said. “The carnations I received were taped on my door.”

Another student group, DASH, the Domestic Abuse Stops Here, will put on a learning event two days in a row.

From 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 9 and 10 in the Lewis Alcove, DASH is hosting Real Love Doesn’t Hurt and Feminist Valentine Making events. Students can make Valentine’s Day cards and make a pledge to engage in non-violent love.

DASH President Katie Fox discussed how the event became to be and how students can engage in it.

“Real Love Doesn’t Hurt has been going on for a few years – it’s our Valentine’s Day campaign to have people take the pledge to engage in non-violent love and relationships,” she said. “We hope that through participating with us that students will learn the signs of unhealthy relationships, and what to do, and their resources if they find themselves or someone they know in that situation.

“It’s all about raising awareness,” she said. “We are always happy to provide support and resources, but we in DASH are not professionals. Dominican and the surrounding areas have wonderful resources that very accessible, and we are fortunate to be able to share those with the community.

“People are free to what they like with the Valentine’s Day cards, make them for their partner, friends, or themselves,” she said “It’s a fun way to raise consciousness and really put into practice what we speak, and teach about.”

jamenaya@my.dom.edu