Elkanah Odembo met with students and faculty in Nau Hall to discuss the past and future of Africa. Photo by Scott Miles

Elkanah Odembo, Kenya’s ambassador to the United States, spoke at Nau Auditorium last night as part of the Ambassadors’ Speakers Forum.

Odembo said “things are falling in place” for Africa, speaking of the hope and excitement he has for the future of Kenya, East Africa and the continent of Africa despite instability and insecurity.

“We are still young,” he said.

The ambassador began his speech by drawing attention to the “dark period” of Africa between 1975 and 1995. During this time period, the continent of Africa was plagued by bad leadership “across the board,” the cause of the current problems across the continent, he said.

“Money that was meant for electricity ended up in people’s pockets,” Odembo said. “Money that was meant for health, for schools ended up in people’s pockets.”

In addressing the problems facing Africa, the ambassador focused especially on the eastern region where Kenya is located.

Odembo said Somalia has not had a stable government in 20 years and the civil war in Sudan caused much strife in the region.

“Until Somalia is a stable country, the rest of the world will not be stable,” Odembo said.

Despite existing problems in his country and in Africa, Odembo spoke in detail about the progress Kenya has made as a nation during the last 15 years and the structural and ideological improvements seen across the continent.

In Kenya, “infrastructure investments” are being made and “regional projects” have emerged between nations to tackle some of the hardest problems faced by African countries, he said. Additionally, new regional blocs such as the East African Community, an economic group which includes Kenya, are developing.

“There is a lot of hope,” he said. In the next 10 years, “[we] will see some tremendous things happening” in Africa, Odembo said.

He ended by saying Kenya is now better positioned to engage in the global community.

“I’m hoping that the rest of the world is beginning to look at Kenya through a different lens,” he added.

The event was planned by the Office of the Vice Provost for International Programs. Vice Provost Gowher Rizvi said the goal of his office and this forum is to allow students to “experience the world throughout the four years that they are here.”

Rizvi said the “distinction between national and international is constantly blurred,” so students must think globally.

College Dean Meredith Woo, who introduced Odembo at the forum, also acknowledged the need for students to be involved globally, saying there are “so many things going on” at the University relating to global affairs.

Woo has a personal connection with Odembo, as both were members of the Bowdoin College Class of 1980. Woo and Odembo became friends during their time at the Maine college. Woo spoke of the ambassador’s selflessness, saying he always looks outward.

She described Odembo as a “dedicated civil servant,” but said he also serves as a role model for students because of his dedication and integrity.

Third-year College student Lolan Sagoe-Moses, president of the Organization of African Students at the University, attended the speech and is familiar with the ambassador. Last year, OAS brought Odembo to the University to speak at the organization’s biannual student-faculty dinner.

Sagoe-Moses voiced his appreciation that the University was able to bring Odembo back to speak.

“I’m very proud of the University for doing this,” he said. “It means a lot.”

Second-year College student Marymagdaline Onyango also appreciated the event.

“I came because I am Kenyan,” she said. “It’s really interesting to hear about him talk about issues that haven’t been so apparent in the international scene,” she said.

Rizvi said the goal of bringing the ambassador to Grounds to speak was to increase students’ interest and knowledge in global affairs.

Odembo said students will become more and more interested in foreign affairs if more programs and events can “open up the University and bring the world to the University.”

The National Science Foundation announced this week the introduction of an initiative intended to help women working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields balance their work and family.

The new initiative “will allow researchers to delay or suspend their grants for up to one year in order to care for a newborn or newly adopted child or fulfill other family obligations,” among other new programs, according to a White House press release.

The new initiative comes as part of a broader move by the Obama Administration to open careers to men and women with families.

“The White House has also been committed to making the government a model employer in the area of workplace flexibility,” the White House press release said.

The NSF is especially working to increase the number of women in STEM fields.

“It is timely, therefore, to provide incentives that will affect change in institutions that result in gender-neutral policies and practices that lead to the increased participation and advancement of women scientists and engineers in the scientific enterprise,” NSF Director Dr. Subra Suresh said on the foundation’s website.

Pamela Norris, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and chair of the President’s Women’s Leadership Council at the University, pointed out some of the major hurdles for women in STEM fields.

“By the time you enter the [research] profession as a faculty member, many women are seeking to start families themselves,” Norris said. “It is also the time where [women in STEM fields] need to devote the most time to see that their career is grounded” on the way to tenured positions.

Norris also pointed to a recent study by sociologists at Rice University and Southern Methodist University, which noted the importance of family life in keeping both men and women in STEM fields.

“Young scientists (graduate students and postdoctoral fellows) who have had fewer children than wished are more likely to plan to exit science entirely,” the study concluded.

The new guidelines were not a major step forward or a brand new idea, but they represent a step in the right direction, Norris said. When a grant is suspended, graduate students still need to work and the day-to-day work of the experiment needs to continue, he said.

“I don’t think suspension of the grant is a major advancement at all,” Norris said. “[Researchers in STEM fields] need continuous support.”

One major innovation Norris identified from the NSF initiative was the payment of stipends which allow technicians and graduate students to continue research while the main researcher is on childcare leave.

While the initiative is aimed mostly at graduate and post-graduate researchers, undergraduate students at the University, such as third-year Engineering student Cammie Genda, the public relations chair for the University’s Society of Women Engineers and a former intern at the White House Office of Science and Technology, are taking note.

“From a very personal level, these opportunities make me feel more comfortable about going into the engineering field,” she said. “I really want to have a family.”

Genda added she would “feel much more comfortable” pursuing a graduate school degree and a career in engineering knowing that this initiative was in place.

“Women are really highly underrepresented in science and technology fields,” Genda said. “It’s important to express to these high school girls and undergrads like me how important they are in science and technology fields.”

The Princeton Review considered the curriculum of Darden’s program, evaluations of faculty, and student successes when establishing the rating. Photo by Scott Miles

The Princeton Review ranked the Darden School and its Batten Institute’s graduate entrepreneurship program the third best in its eighth annual survey of 2,000 schools last week.

Robert Franeck, senior vice president and publisher of the Princeton Review, said the publication looked at entrepreneurship in three different ways when determining this decision.

The first was examining the curriculum of the program and actual classes provided, and the second was by evaluating faculty members and seeing whether they were successful entrepreneurs as they maintained businesses outside of their university life.

Lastly, the Review looked at what entrepreneurial ventures students created and whether they were still successful post-graduation.

“All of the schools are superlative and they, Darden included, have been very clear and focused about making entrepreneurship part of the vernacular at the University,” Franeck said.

Philippe Sommer, director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Darden, said he thinks Batten earned this ranking because of its teaching method, which is more hands-on than theoretical.

“We are very proactive,” he said. To him, Batten is about “trying things, failing, starting over and trying again.”

The Review examines what programs the schools offer when it presents its annual rankings, he added.

“Anybody can be an entrepreneur,” Sommer said. “To us, entrepreneurship is not about being in business school per se. It is a mindset, and it is applicable to almost anything anybody does.”

Between Oct. 3 and Oct. 12, barricades and signs will reroute pedestrian traffic. Zehmen expects there to be noise and odor during this time. Photo by Scott Miles

The West Range alleys will be closed at specific times between Oct. 3 and Oct. 12 because of construction. Asphalt walkways will be made, as well as brick cross walks and a retaining wall.

Facilities Management warned in a construction alert that the process will likely be “noisy and odorous.” After the paving, the alleys will be closed to install brick crosswalks on both ends, which will be allowed to cure for 36 hours.

Barricades and signs will reroute pedestrian traffic as needed during this time, and alternative parking will be provided for Pavilion residents.

“I think everybody’s going to like it,” said James Zehmer, historic preservation project manager in the Facilities Planning and Construction Department. “When we started out the sidewalks were six-feet wide. Now it will be eight-feet wide, hurting the banks and causing erosion. The project will control erosion and pedestrian traffic, and will stop all of the Facilities Management trucks from parking on the side.”

Colonnade, Patterson and Poe Alleys will each be closed for a few hours Tuesday, Oct. 4.

Mews Alley will be closed from 7 a.m. Monday, Oct. 3 to 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, and Patterson Alley will be closed from 7 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4 to 7 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 6. Poe Alley will be closed from 7 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5 to 7 a.m. Friday, Oct. 7, and Colonnade Alley will be closed from 7 a.m. Monday, Oct. 10 to 7 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12.

—compiled by Michaela Accardi

Freshman quarterback David Watford nearly overcame a late 11-point deficit against Southern Miss, finishing with 103 all-purpose yards, a passing touchdown and a two-point conversion after replacing injured sophomore Michael Rocco. Photo by Chris Jacob

The Virginia football team enters Saturday’s matchup against Idaho seeking four strong quarters of football.

One week removed from a closely-contested loss to Southern Mississippi, the Cavaliers (2-2, 0-1 ACC) welcome the Vandals (1-3, 0-1 WAC) to Scott Stadium and hope to rectify the slow starts which defined their past two losses. During those games, Virginia trailed by eight points or more going into the half, leading to sloppy and hectic plays which created more problems than solutions. This weekend, Virginia’s top priority is playing high performance football for the whole game.

“Certainly play calling, certainly the players’ initial emphasis on the first couple plays — all those things are important,” coach Mike London said. “I think sometimes we start playing that way third, fourth quarter and are trying to catch up. We need to play that way from kickoff until halftime and then play like we continue to play from the third and fourth quarter on.”

The change starts with defense. Facing Idaho’s veteran quarterback, redshirt senior Brian Reader, Virginia will try to prevent the big plays which marred last week’s loss to the Golden Eagles. Reader comes in with eight touchdowns and only one interception for the season, posing a challenge for a Virginia defense that has been unable to force turnovers.

“Defensively, we have to create more turnovers because I think it boils down to the possessions again,” London said. “When you have turnovers or create those type of turnovers and you’re on the plus side, then a lot of times it reflects your record because you have more opportunities to score, so we need to create more turnovers.”

Despite its strong aerial attack, Idaho does have glaring weaknesses. Opponents score an average of 32.8 points against the Vandal’s defense, and the offensive line has allowed 12 sacks in just four games. After losing its past two games by a combined 58 points, the Vandals are undoubtedly struggling to keep pace in a state where college football headlines are dominated by Boise State.

Virginia also has some wrinkles to iron out. After sophomore quarterback Michael Rocco tallied three interceptions and a rib injury last Saturday, freshman quarterback David Watford took the reins of the offense and nearly orchestrated a comeback against the Golden Eagles. London, however, quickly subdued any rumors of a quarterback switch.

“The quarterback is Michael Rocco,” he said. “I’ll find out what’s wrong with him physically, and then after that, we’ll talk about if he can perform. I’m worried about the young man’s health right now. If he can’t go, then obviously that question is, ‘Who’s going to be the quarterback for this upcoming game?’ Right now, there’s no controversy.”

While potential questions surround the Cavaliers’ passing game, the rushing attack has become the Cavaliers’ backbone, as they have run for at least 150 yards during each contest this season.

Virginia offers a one-two punch at tailback with redshirt freshman Kevin Parks and junior Perry Jones — a tandem which has accumulated more than 500 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. Jones highlighted an otherwise dreary loss to Southern Mississippi with 131 total offensive yards. Still the team struggles to find positives in a 30-24 defeat, believing consolation can only come from a better performance against Idaho.

“Whenever you take a loss like that, there’s always a feeling like everything you did just wasn’t right and you want to just get better,” junior linebacker LaRoy Reynolds said. “That feeling of hurt, that feeling of pain that we have is going to motivate us to do better next week.”

After Saturday’s game, the Virginia football team will play only ACC teams for the rest of the season, facing three nationally ranked squads in their final seven games. A win Saturday would provide the Cavaliers a needed morale booster before going into the toughest part of the regular season.

“I think the guys are doing the right things,” offensive coordinator Bill Lazor said. “The most frustrating time is when you’re close, and I’ve got to believe that’s where we are right now.”

Senior midfielder Felipe Libreros already has surpassed his scoring totals from last season with one goal and two assists on the year. Photo by Thomas Bynum

Eager to come back from a four-game stretch featuring just one win, the Virginia men’s soccer team travels to Clemson, S.C. tonight to tackle the ACC rival Tigers at historic Riggs Field.

After last week’s disappointing loss against then-No. 4 North Carolina and earlier home losses to Liberty and Charlotte, the Cavaliers (5-4, 1-1-0 ACC) hope to get back on track. Clemson (3-4, 1-2-0 ACC) will try to continue a recent streak of relatively good play as it rebounded from three consecutive losses with back-to-back wins in double overtime.

Virginia still can take away several positives from its 3-0 defeat against North Carolina last Friday. The Cavaliers appeared to be the more aggressive team and controlled the possession, especially during the second half. Virginia created numerous scoring opportunities but ultimately had nothing to show for them.

“Things just aren’t going our way right now,” redshirt junior defender Sean Hiller said. “We just have to keep chugging along. [We] keep working hard in practice and hoping things will change. One game could change the whole entire season.”

Missed opportunities plagued the team against the Tar Heels but also gave Virginia’s players added motivation to bounce back and work harder. If the Cavaliers can continue the level of play they exemplified against North Carolina, conference success should follow.

“We got pretty frustrated,” senior midfielder Felipe Libreros said. “That’s why we didn’t get the chance to finish it, but I think the attitude towards the second half was very positive. We came out to win the game.”

After a hectic start to the season, things finally seem to have calmed down for the Cavaliers. They faced three top-25 teams during the past three weeks, a tough stretch which may have taken its toll on the team. The squad has relished its recent seven-day stretch between games, the longest such break this season.

“The biggest thing [this week] is rest,” coach George Gelnovatch said. “It’s been a hard stretch for us. The next two weeks we have no midweek game … We’ll get some guys back healthy and try to get a couple of conference wins.”

Clemson hosts the Cavaliers on the heels of two straight miraculous victories. Both wins came off the foot of freshman forward Brynjar Benediktsson, who scored the game-winning goal during both games with less than 30 seconds left in the second overtime.

Although Clemson can claim a momentum advantage entering tonight’s game, Virginia still dominates the Tigers statistically. Offensively, the Cavaliers lead Clemson in goals, assists and shots per game. Virginia also leads the Tigers in goals against average, though the fact that both teams rank at the bottom of the ACC in the defensive category suggests the game could turn into a high-scoring shootout. That type of game suits junior forward Will Bates, who is still looking to reach double digit goals after the Tar Heels kept him off the score sheet during the 3-0 shutout.

Virginia took last year’s match at Clemson, 1-0, on a goal by junior midfielder Ari Dimas, but two years ago the Tigers came out on top when the game was played at Klöckner Stadium.

“Last year we beat them in their place,” Gelnovatch said. “I think that left a bitter taste in their mouths, so I have a feeling we’re going to get their best.”

Kick-off in Clemson, S.C. is slated for 7 p.m. The game will be televised by Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic in Virginia.

Sophomore forward Elly Buckley leads the Cavaliers with seven goals, four assists and 24 shots on goal. She ranks among the ACC’s top 10 in goals scored and netted two shots during Virginia’s recent win against Richmond. Photo by Thomas Bynum

The Virginia field hockey team gets another shot at knocking off an ACC powerhouse when it travels to College Park to play No. 3 Maryland tonight at 5 p.m.

The Cavaliers (5-6, 0-1 ACC) lost a heartbreaker during their first conference game against No. 6 Boston College, falling 5-4 in double overtime last Friday and extending their longest losing streak in more than a decade to four games. Despite halting the skid Sunday against Richmond, 3-2, the Cavaliers’ drought dropped them out of the top 20 for the first time this year, after entering the season ranked third in the country.

Maryland (9-1, 2-0 ACC) potentially poses the greatest challenge yet to Virginia. The defending champion Terrapins are in the midst of one of the most dominating runs in NCAA history. The team has won four of the last six national titles and puts a 37-game home winning streak on the line against a Cavalier squad which has struggled on the road by losing four of seven away games despite facing just two ranked opponents.

“Everyone wants a shot at the national champions,” coach Michele Madison said. “We’re going to give it our best.”

While the Terrapins’ focus is firmly on defending their title after jumping out to an impressive 9-1 start, the Cavaliers’ humbling season has them focusing on a more modest goal — finishing games.

Virginia has struggled during the second half all year, and during Sunday’s victory against Richmond, a team Virginia holds a commanding 30-4-1 all-time record against, the Cavaliers nearly squandered a 3-0 lead. The Spiders netted two goals during a 10-minute stretch as they outshot the Cavaliers 11-6 during the second half before the Virginia defense finally settled down and secured the 3-2 victory.

“One of our problems has been coming out just as strong in the second half [as we did in the first], whether it’s fatigue or just mental,” junior forward Britt Knouse said. During a season marred by poor finishes, the loss to Boston College offered Virginia both a reminder of its late-game struggles and a glimpse of its vast potential. The Cavaliers played the Eagles even for more than 90 minutes and forced overtime on a clutch penalty shot by sophomore forward Carissa Vittese. Boston College ultimately spoiled their gutsy performance when senior forward Courtney Tavener collected the game-winning goal ­— and completed her hat trick — in the 93rd minute.

“There’s always room for improvement,” Madison said. “I think there’s still opportunity to put more balls [in net].”

Virginia did just that as it rode a strong performance from sophomore forward Elly Buckley to edge Richmond just two days after the emotional loss. Buckley took six of Virginia’s eight shots on goal and scored twice as she moved into the top 10 in the ACC in goals with seven this season. The performance also pulled her ahead of Maryland senior midfielder and co-captain Jemma Buckley, Elly’s older sister, who has scored six goals in her second season with the Terrapins.

Both Buckley sisters began their NCAA careers in 2010 in impressive fashion. After moving from Perth, Australia, Jemma and Elly finished second on their teams in goals with 22 and 19, respectively, and both were named to the All-ACC Team. Jemma Buckley and sophomore forward Jill Witmer form a dangerous scoring duo for the Terrapins. The two have combined for 16 goals on the season, more than the 13 total scored by Maryland’s opponents.

The elder Buckley bested her younger sister in 2010 by assisting on the game-winning goal of a hard-fought 2-1 overtime victory for the Terrapins. Beyond sibling bragging rights, the game also handed the then-No. 3 Cavaliers their first loss of the season after a 9-0 start. Virginia knows that a revenge win against the defending champions tonight would show that their slow start is merely an aberration and that the team has the talent to turn its season around during the coming weeks.

“Whenever we play Maryland, it’s a battle,” Knouse said. “I think it would be awesome to beat Maryland. It’s a great opportunity to move forward and show that we’re getting better every game.”

The last time the Virginia women’s cross country team competed, it earned a perfect score of 15 by sweeping the first seven finishes at the Lou Onesty Open.

Today, the Cavaliers will return to action for the Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh University. The men’s cross country team will join them after finishing second behind Georgetown during its season-opening meet.

Junior David Wilson paced the men’s team with a 26:20.60 time and finished 13th in the 8K race, while senior Anna Corrigan took first place in the women’s 5K race. The women’s and men’s teams currently rank No. 16 and No. 19, respectively, but neither sits atop its conference — the men’s team ranks second in the Southeast region and the women sit at third in the ACC. Both will have a chance to prove themselves against some of the nation’s elite competitors Friday, as eight ranked men’s teams and three of the country’s top five women’s teams will race against Virginia.

—compiled by Ashley Robertson

Date: Friday, Sept. 23
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Biltmore

Jake:
Major: Undecided

Sexual orientation: straight

U.Va. involvement: co-chair of SYC Community Service Committee; committee member of IFC’s InterGreek Relations, Diversity and Outreach; volunteer with Pancakes for Parkinson’s

Hometown: Franklin, Va.

Ideal date person (physical attributes and personality): Can hold a conversation, funny, goofy, involved in U.Va.’s community, a little bit shorter than me, and just being overall an attractive person

Ideal date (activity): Eating outside at a restaurant and then just walking around Grounds and talking; pretty simple.

If you could date any celebrity, who would it be? Eva Mendes

Deal breakers? Too many piercings, bland personality, and if they constantly text while on the date

Typical weekend: Volunteering for some event, then going and chilling at a friend’s apartment or the fraternity house watching football or enjoying the night’s festivities

Hobbies: Playing sports, volunteering, watching sports, hanging out with friends.

If your dating life was a primetime or reality show, what would it be? TNT knows drama.

Have you ever streaked the lawn? No, waiting for extreme conditions. e.g., blizzard or a real hurricane

Brag about yourself. What makes you a good catch? I’m a good guy, [who] likes to joke around and have fun, but am always willing to do anything new and fun.

Describe yourself in one sentence: In the words of George Strait, “I ain’t here for a long time, I’m here for a good time.”

Kate:
Major: Architectural Design

Sexual orientation: straight

U.Va. involvement: Kappa Delta, Madison House — Adopt a Grandparent

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

Ideal date person (physical attributes and personality): Taller than 5-foot-9, nice smile, nice eyes

Ideal date (activity): Hot air balloon ride to Paris; go-cart racing

If you could date any celebrity, who would it be? Jake Gyllenhaal or Ryan Reynolds

Deal breakers? Talks about cars too much; not a tobacco user

Describe a typical weekend: Hanging with friends at apartments, going out with Kappa Deltas, volunteering, homework

Hobbies: crochet, paint, draw, Frisbee, soccer, being awesome

If your dating life was a primetime or reality show, what would it be? Parental Control, haha, but seriously.

Have you ever streaked the lawn? Boo yea!

Brag about yourself. What makes you a good catch? I am intelligent, creative, beautiful, interesting, corky, funny, fun-loving, goofy, AWESOME and awkward! I also go with the flow in any situation.

Describe yourself in one sentence: A poodle-loving, shwayze-chilling goofball

Kate: My friend Meghan was looking at the Love Connection survey, but then she realized she couldn’t do it because she’s on the Cav Daily and was like, “I’m going to fill it out for you.” It was really funny when I found out I was chosen. I was like, “Really? Seriously?” I wasn’t expecting anything to come out of it.

Jake: I filled out the survey because a friend on The Cavalier Daily presented me the idea of doing it, and then a friend from First Year Council who already went on a date expressed to me the fun of taking part in this activity. I’d never been on a blind date before, and I didn’t really have any expectations. I was kind of nervous.

Kate: He got to the Rotunda first; he was just sitting there when I got there. Usually people don’t just sit there alone, so he was easy to find. I said hi from really far away.

Jake: This family of kids and parents walked up [while I was waiting at the Rotunda], and I was like, “I hope this isn’t the person.” Then I see these two girls, and I made eye contact with one of them. I asked if she was Kate. She said yes and introduced me to her friend.

Kate: He seemed really friendly, and he had a friendly smile. He was cute, but he’s probably not my type. I’ve never really picked out a Southern person, so that was surprising.

Jake: She seemed nice. She gave a good first impression, but I wasn’t going to make any assumptions about her before the dinner. I asked her what kind food she wanted, and then we mutually decided to go to the Biltmore. On the walk there, we were just making generic conversation, getting to know each other.

Kate: We were talking about how I’m in the A-school, then Mississippi, and we continued on. We didn’t really stop the conversation at all. He was always asking me questions, and he was really interested in me. It was really polite and showed a lot of character.

Jake: At dinner, I had the thumbs ‘n toes and she had chicken soup. We started talking about the riskiest things we’ve ever done. Mine was going on a Tarzan swing in Oregon, and she said hers was skiing on uncharted terrain. We talked about Greek life. We have really similar senses of humor. I’m 99.9 percent sure she said she didn’t like math, and I don’t like math either.

Kate: Later on during dinner, four of his fraternity brothers showed up at the Biltmore. They sat down at the table next to ours, and they were throwing stuff like spitwads at him. One of them came over and hugged him in a really awkward way.

Jake: They didn’t know I was on this date, but I think they went for the table next to ours once they walked in and saw me. I introduced Kate to them. They sometimes abruptly tried to join the conversation. They threw out a nickname of mine, Lloyd, and she was like, “Why do they call you this?” It’s just a nickname that honestly came from nowhere and stuck. I guess she got a little taste of what my social life is like. She had said she was excited because her sister was coming into town from Duke that night, so we left the restaurant and I walked her to Beta Bridge.

Kate: I had to meet my sister, so we hugged twice, and then I left. He asked for my number, but we already had each other’s numbers [because Love Connection gave them to us]. If he hadn’t had mine, I would’ve given it to him. He was very nice and invited me to come by his frat. He seemed like a great guy, but probably more as a friend. I’m not looking to date right now because I have too much schoolwork.

Jake: I would give the date a 7 or 8 because it was nice meeting her, and it was good conversation. It was quality time getting to know someone. I had fun.

Kate: Going on the date was different and exciting, so I’d give it an 8, 8.5. I was surprised with how well strangers could keep a conversation going without being like, “OK, I don’t really know you.” It was a great experience.

Jake and Kate haven’t talked since the date, but Jake says it’d be cool if they bumped into each other.