By Ela Jalil
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, UMD students are looking to find some fun activities to fill the day. We’ve rounded up the events going on around campus.
SEE Presents: Valentine’s Day Bouquets & Cards Student Entertainment Events (SEE) recently made headlines when it hosted a surprise concert with Big Time Rush on Feb. 7. Beyond concerts, it’s known for comedy shows, movie nights, and all around fun events for students. For Valentine’s Day, it is holding a bouquet and card making event – and not just for those in a relationship. “For those in a relationship, it’s the perfect opportunity to make a bouquet and card for your significant other. For those who are single, it’s the perfect time to come with friends and have a belated Galentine’s Day hangout, or just make a nice decoration for your room,” said Alyssa Pryputniewicz, the special events and traditions director. 2-6 PM in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union Atrium. Free.
SEE Presents: Romeo and Juliet If crafts aren’t your speed, you can also head over to the Hoff Theater where SEE is holding a showing of “Romeo and Juliet” on Feb. 14. Enjoy Leonardo Dicaprio and Claire Danes on the big screen, and Pryputniewicz recommends students treat themselves to a dinner at Stamp before heading over to the theater. 8 PM in the Adele H. Student Union Hoff Theatre. Free.
Arts and Crafts, Snacks, and Self-Care in Iribe If you’re a computer science student, you might want to head over to Iribe’s Initiative for Inclusion and Diversity in Computing to do arts and crafts, create candy grams and engage in some self-care. 2:30-4:30 PM in the Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering, Room 1104, the DICE lounge. Free.
Free valentines from UMD’s police department Teddy the Terp will be handing out valentine’s to students at the Student Involvement Suite. The valentine’s are as long as supplies last, so you should try to go as early as you can. Teddy boasts himself to be UMD’s “comfort dog,” and meeting with him is sure to ensure a brighter day. 11:30 AM-1:30 PM in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union Involvement Suite on the ground floor. Free.
Celebrate your love for data with International Love Data Week All week, the Office of Institutional Research, Planning & Assessment (IRPA) is holding activities that center around the international celebration of data. There will be panels, workshops and help sessions all centered around the importance of data. This year’s theme is about using data to make change in the world. All week at various times in the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Building. Free.
Free ice cream from the Honors College Bring a valentine or your bestie to the Honors College’s ice cream – or you could meet your valentine there! 12-3 PM in Anne Arundel Hall. Free.
Although Valentine’s Day is often thought of as a holiday for couples, it’s important to remember that the overarching theme of this day is to celebrate love. Platonic love and self love both need to be nurtured, and should not be overlooked in the pursuit of romantic love. No matter who the special person is in a student’s life, they should make an effort to see them on this special day- whether it be in classes, at the dining hall or just over the phone.
“Valentine’s Day is whatever you make of it,” freshman Vishwa Dukkipati said. “It’s about appreciating the people that you love.”