Students experienced a quick taste of dating Saturday evening at the International Center as a part of “Speed Dating,” an event hosted by UAB.
The event for students encouraged diversity by including four sections catering to students — LGBT, romance, friendship, and romance and friendship.
“UAB always tries to be inclusive. We want to make people feel comfortable,” said Marc Reed, human resources management senior and Human Resources Director and Chairperson for UAB.
With more than 400 student attendees, speed dating was an opportunity to put yourself out there, Reed said.
“In heterosexual relationships, it’s easier to find people on a day-to-day basis,” music education freshman Melody MacLachlan said.
MacLachlan said she usually follows her own advice of “don’t go searching, then settle and fall for someone you don’t like. Let it come to you.”
For other students, speed dating was a way to form new friendships and relationships, minus the party atmosphere.
“It’s a way to meet new people. It’s better than going to a party and getting drunk,” education freshman Robert Lee said. “My advice would just be, ‘Be yourself. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not.’”
The dating world is changing as dating apps such as Tinder, Grindr and OkCupid are becoming more popular on the home screen of smartphones.
“Dating is very different than it used to be. The speed-dating environment brings you back face to face and you know if the other person is interested too,” hospitality business junior and Events Director for UAB Jordan Hensley said.
Finding a perfect match out of 40,000 students can be difficult.
“It’s not easy to meet people on such a large campus,” supply chain management sophomore Dakota Tossava said. “I think it’s cool, our generation is so into Facebook and Tinder. It’s cool seeing people meet face to face. I might make 20 new friends after one night.”
Some students took the opportunity to be more outgoing than they normally might.
“Go for it, the worst thing that can happen is that they say no. When you meet someone it’s going to be least expected,” Hensley said.
Global studies arts and humanities junior Mauricio Hernandez was apprehensive to attend the event.
“The majority of guys just want to have sex,” he said. “I’m afraid of going because of the type of guys going and our interests not paralleling.”
Hernandez expressed that because of miscommunication, he felt intimidated by attending.
“Sometimes it’s really hard to find a gay partner on campus,” Hernandez said.
As a frequent user of online dating, Hernandez said the majority of guys he finds online seem cool, but they just want a hookup or friends with benefits relationship.
Marketing junior Ashley Melnick said she benefits from socials between her sorority and a fraternity.
Getting matched up through friends at date parties is convenient, Melnick said.
“It’s flexible, you’re not tied down. I don’t want anything too serious right now. I had a long-term relationship and I’m not into the dating thing,” Melnick said.
Melnick isn’t the only student who casually dates on campus. Political theory and constitutional democracy senior Luke Dzwonkowski is open about his feelings and intentions going into a relationship.
“I think, like most people in college, I’m not looking for someone to marry,” Dzwonkowski said. “I just think things are better when you’re in a relationship. I think college is about more than going to class and getting a degree and hopefully finding a job. I think you should use your time in college and most of your 20s to figure out what kind of person you’re compatible with.”
