This week in From the Archives, we look back on Valentine’s Day festivities and romance at the University. From advice on how to properly blind date to personal takes on the not-so-lovely aspects of Valentine’s Day stress, these authors paint a vibrant picture of how this holiday of love has impacted Hoos for decades.
1950s
Feb. 10, 1950
“Blind Dates May Cause Calm, Charm, or Alarm”
By Staige Blackford
This author details the kinds of worries that might plague a young bachelor considering a blind date in 1950. After a long week of schoolwork, exams and constant stress, a blind date could either mean a true love match and a weekend well-spent or a complete dead end.
1960s
Feb. 10, 1961
“A Guide For the Dateless”
By Max Shulman
Max Shulman tells the story of a young bachelor, Finster Sigafoos, who came to college with the goal of finding the prettiest woman on Grounds. Having secured a date with a beautiful woman, he takes her out to dinner and is horrified when she orders a ridiculously expensive meal. He concludes that she is nothing but a gold digger and sets his sights on the only woman who appreciates the value of splitting the cost of the meal — “Mary Alice Hematoma, a lovely three-legged girl with sideburns.”
1980s (Replacing 1970s)
Feb. 12, 1987
“What’s the Matter? Can’t you find the right Valentine’s Day gift?”
In this advertisement, The Cavalier Daily hoped to persuade readers to purchase a love note to be featured on the Valentine’s Day edition of the newspaper. For a dollar, readers could submit a short note at Newcomb Hall to surprise that special someone.
1980s
Feb. 10, 1982
“Tug heartstrings at the right price”
By Jerry Ferguson
Photos by Yung Kim
In a rather clever marketing strategy, this author reminds readers that although roses for Valentine’s Day are unoriginal, unlike chocolates, they do not risk ruining your lover’s complexion or diet. He urges readers to take the safe route and buy their special someone a bouquet from one of the local florists listed.
1990s
Feb. 13, 1996
“Laughter, youthful memories help alleviate annual Valentine’s Day stress”
By Dominique Apollon
This optimistic author hopes to help readers find some semblance of joy during a holiday that could be dreadful for the single or even for those in a relationship. He reminds readers of the silliness of the Valentine’s Days of our youth, when we cut up asymmetric paper hearts and awkwardly shared candy with classmates. In the card aisle of a local shop, he feels a similar sense of comedic relief while reading some absurd Valentine’s card headers, ranging from “Someone Special” to “For Anyone” to “Yee-Haw.”
2000s
Feb. 12, 2003
“From third grade to third year and beyond, Valentine’s Day wreaks havoc in the lives of men”
By Preston Speed
For Preston Speed, Valentine’s Day is a useless holiday that serves only to highlight the differences in how men and women view romance. Girls sitting behind him in class gossip about dates at their favorite restaurants and eagerly anticipate flowers, yet he could not care less. When Charlottesville is overcome with chocolates and pink and red come Valentine’s Day, Speed hopes that a girl will give him a bag of his favorite candy and help him see the appeal of Valentine’s Day.
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