Love, according to Merriam-Webster, is defined as a strong affection for another, an attraction based on sexual desire, a warm attachment, enthusiasm or devotion. It is an emotion that is universal, yet experienced in different ways, by different people, at different points of their lives. But perhaps there is no better representation of the highs and lows, the ebbs and flows of love than in college.
Here, as adolescence becomes adulthood, is where the journey of love begins for many. In this Valentine’s Day Sex and Romance supplement, we examine love at this juncture of our lives — from exploring the spectrum of experiences love manifests itself in to understanding the process of starting and maintaining relationships. We send people searching for love on blind dates while also profiling couples who have already found love. We speak with those swiping right on Tinder while also talking to people who dread Valentine’s Day (read: single people). And we indulge in the sexual nuances of romance, through a profile of the Kinky Trojans.
Love is different for all of us, and as this issue reveals, that’s something to be celebrated. So on this Valentine’s Day, whether you are single, taken or in a “complicated” phase, join us as we attempt to answer the age-old question made famous by Haddaway’s lyrics: “What is love?”
Eric He, Features Editor
Couples of ‘SC
Some of us are lucky enough to have found love. The Daily Trojan featured three couples around campus: underclassmen, upperclassmen and faculty. Their background are different, their personalities varied. But they all have one similarity: love for their significant other.
Kinky Trojans: Forming a bond(age)
The Kinky Trojans club explores the boundaries of sex while fighting the stigma against its intentions.
Have dating apps lost their true meaning?
Though they are intended to start and cultivate relationships, dating apps such as Tinder have instead become increasingly popular in hook-up culture.
Single and silent: The stigma of being untethered
Nobody wanted to talk on the record about being single. So, we explored why.
From the Archives: What’s new Pussycat? 25 years of pornography
This article was originally published in the Dec. 10, 1985 issue of the Daily Trojan.
Going in blind
The Daily Trojan set up a blind date between two USC students to explore the ways that love can find its start. The two participants were told to meet at the Starbucks in the USC Village at a given time and day, but were given no further instructions other than to write about how the date unfolded for this issue. What follows is an account of the date from each person’s perspective. The participants’ identities are kept anonymous.
His Perspective: When it comes to dating, step out of your comfort zone
“I figured it wouldn’t hurt to send an email expressing my interest. I was half expecting to receive an email saying that a lot of people had applied already, and they were no longer looking for people, but at least I could say I tried.”
Her Perspective: Dating is more than about seeking validation
“Somewhere, somehow, at some point during my adolescence, it was impressed upon me that I was going to experience love in college — the walking around campus holding hands while crisp autumn leaves fell down from the trees, having picnics on the grassy student quad, reading together on Sunday mornings kind of love. “
