Sometimes, Cupid misses his target

Students reflect on commercialization, public displays of affection during Valentine's Day.

Many happy couples in State College will be exchanging gifts wrapped in red ribbons, heart-shaped cards and passionate kisses tomorrow for Valentine's Day.

But, sometimes, Cupid misses.

At the sight of these displays of affection, some people will exchange glances of disgust instead.

"For me, Valentine's Day has always been about moping around and listening to sad music," said Amy Feldman (freshman-division of undergraduate studies). "I can't accept it any other way."

Feldman spends the day in this manner because she cannot stand the love-saturated mood of the holiday.

"It makes me sick," she said, "but I guess that's just because I'm jealous."

Some other students aren't sickened by the holiday itself, but by the immense commercial value people seem to place on it.

"Guys go nuts over girls for just this one day," said Asheley Kirk (freshman-elementary education), "but they should do it every day."

Kirk's roommate, Manuella Barbosa (freshman-premedicine) agrees. The two girls have posted several signs protesting Valentine's Day on their dorm room door.

"Everyone makes too big of a deal out of (Valentine's Day)," said Barbosa, explaining their anti-Valentine's Day decorations.

This feeling of animosity toward Valentine's Day extends far past just these few students. WKPS-FM (90.7) was inspired to air two hours of bitter punk tunes in support of the movement against Cupid's holiday.

The "Anti-Valentine's Day Show" aired during "The New Music Show" from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. last Monday. This is the second year in a row that the student-run station has played music dedicated to bashing Feb. 14.

Jeremy Myers (senior-telecommunications), the new music director at WKPS, said other programs on WKPS also chose more romantic themes in honor of the approaching holiday, rather than the anti-love angle of the "Anti-Valentine's Day Show."

Myers said he dislikes Feb. 14 because it seems to be more of an economic ploy than a celebration of mutual affection.

"It's lame because it's perpetrated on American society to help businesses make more money," he said.

Myers, like Kirk, also has a problem with the idea of only an annual expression of love.

"You shouldn't have only one day a year to tell someone you love them," he said. "It should be every day."