Amidst the multitude of fall weddings, actors Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher reportedly tied the knot last Saturday, according to People magazine's Web site. The relationship between the celebrities has been highly publicized due to the tremendous age gap of the couple -- Moore is 42 and Kutcher is 27.
Despite the controversy the relationship fired up in the media, the wedding may not be a challenge to the beliefs of University students, even those who are relatively set in their convictions.
First-year College student Julia Villageliu said she usually has strong opinions about the appropriate age difference among couples.
"I think until you're eighteen, anyone over twenty is too old [to date]," Villageliu said. "It's practically a different generation."
Villageliu said there are logical reasons why people of the same age-group date.
"People who are far apart in age have completely different maturity levels." Villageliu said. "Why would someone who is twenty-two or something want to hang out with high school kids?"
Yet Villageliu was not completely adamant in her position. She said there can be exceptions, such as with celebrity couples.
"As for Demi and Ashton, I can see the appeal of an older woman who is more secure with herself and experienced," Villageliu said.
Third-year College student Timothy Rogers agreed with Villageliu's overall stance. In addition to looking at the specific ages of couples, Rogers considered the social environments that could create awkwardness in a relationship.
"I think it's weird to be in a relationship with someone who is in high school when you are in college," Rogers said.
Like Villageliu, Rogers said he is flexible in what relationships he considers normal and what he regards as more controversial.
As for an appropriate dating age after college, Rogers said, "It doesn't really matter."
While students tend to be somewhat critical of their peers' actions, they seem to apply different relationship standards to the worlds of adults and celebrities.
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