Alestle Valentine's Days through the years |
Dimple Mohauty |
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It's February, and there is love in the air. People become all mushy and romantic as Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, draws near. This is a day honoring love and lovers since time immemorial. How did SIUE celebrate Valentine's Day through the years? A peep into history shows that students in the '60s celebrated in a quiet way. In 1963, the Alton freshmen played Cupid for a Valentine dance. The February '67 issue of the Alestle carried a valentine heart encircling "pretty Rosemary Santini for the February Cougar Den mate." In fact, the Springfest of '68 got more attention than the 14th of February. By the '70s the occasion had definitely become more popular. Alestle ads were fast catching up with the great commercial potential of the occasion. The February '70 issue carried ads for "Keepsake diamond rings" as the perfect valentine gift. University Bookstore and University Hair had begun special valentine discounts. Then there were the numerous "Lovebundle" ads from the florists, announcing the best way to "say it with flowers." The Alpha Phi fraternity of '73 used the day for a good cause by sponsoring "Heart Day." Members sold heart-shaped lollipops at a dime a piece to raise money for the St. Louis Children's Hospital. Valentine's Day 1974 was downplayed by other events of far-reaching consequences. The Alestle was full of Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal. The opinion pages would carry heated debates both in his favor and opposing him. The Vietnam conflict overshadowed everything else. At long last a cease-fire had been signed. But many, including those writing to the Alestle, voiced concern over the continuing military aid to Saigon, particularly when the U.S. economy was in trouble. The '80s had more verve and enthusiasm. A feature in the 1980 issue of the Alestle titled "A Day Just For Lovers," delved deep into history and tradition. It told us the story of the Christian priest, St. Valentine, and how Feb. 14 got its significance. In the year A.D. 269, Roman emperor Claudius II canceled all marriages and engagements in Rome as he thought love and family came in the way of recruitment of soldiers. Valentine, however, continued to marry couples in secret. For this he suffered martyrdom on Feb. 14. Legend has it that Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter - she had become his friend - and signed it, "From your Valentine." This perhaps started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. Toward the mid-1980s, Valentine's Day had become a favorite media event. The Alestle would carry chubby Cupids with bows and arrows symbolizing love. Valentine personal messages had begun. One sentimental message read "To Rhett: You mean more to me than Ashley and Tara combined. Happy Valentine's Day, Scarlett." A rather bold one with a particularly good alliteration was "I can't wait to hear the slapping, slurping, sensuous sounds of your hot lips. To feel the lavish, lustful, luscious texture of your kinky hair. To hear the meaningful, mad words of indescribable pleasures come from your mouth as I slowly lovingly tell you happy Valentine's Day." The February '85 Alestle sought the opinion of students regarding the meaning of true love. Responses varied from John Williams' "Love is having someone to stand behind you 100 percent" to Rhonda Collins' "I don't like relationships. I lose my individuality that way." In an imaginative move, the same issue of the Alestle modified love poems for SIUE students. One poem read: Roses are red,
The February '88 issue of the Alestle kicked up a controversy with one of its valentine ads for "Images Photographic." It said, "Valentine's Day? Does he really want a sweater or a tie? Be creative. A picture of you in a sleek teddy is worth a 1,000 words." In those women's lib days, there were angry letters to the editor saying the ad was belittling to women, that it was a setback in the fight for equality, women were not playthings for the sexual satisfaction of men and so on. In the '90s, there was bolder, aggressive marketing for Valentine's Day. Ads were becoming more colorful and vivid. Valentine personalized ads offered a choice of several types of messages. Besides flowers and rings, there were valentine pendants, T-shirts and mugs. The February '90 Alestle had a feature "Love Connection." It was about single classified ads and how popular they were becoming as an alternative way to meet people. Like dating networks on television, singles classifieds would turn out to be an important meeting ground for young and old alike in the '90s. The Alestle's "A date from hell" in the February '95 issue was interesting. It was full of humorous accounts of how students' first dates turned out to be disasters - as when a freshman girl was taken out after dinner to an auto rac etrack to race cars! Or when a cheapskate, in order to save money, suggested going to a club where food was free and drinks were two for one. | |