Freshlove: Will You Be Mine?

This Sunday, Valentine's Day, many singles will undoubtedly bemoan the fact that another year has come and gone, and they still do not have a special someone. But even if students do not have their own celebration to plan, it can be fun to help friends strategize for a special Valentine's Day.

What should Straus Hall resident Peter G. Christodoulo '02 do for his entrywaymate and girlfriend Ashley S. Evans '02? The two have been a couple since late September and will celebrate their first Valentine's Day this Sunday. As of press time, Christodoulo had not told Evans her Valentine's Day surprise.

One pressure is that he has to live up to past romance.

"Freshman Week, we both figured out that we were bad dancers," Evans says. "So we figured out that instead of being embarrassed in front of everyone, we'd be embarrassed in front of each other."

She does have to accommodate Christodoulo on formal occasions, since the two are about the same height.

"When you have heels on, you're a little bit taller than me, "Christodoulo says to Evans.

"So I try not to wear too many heels," she replies.

Christodoulo is nervous about putting on a suave performance this Valentine's Day.

"I have, I guess, normal male Valentine's Day anxiety. I have to orchestrate it. That's what it comes down to," he says. "It's a girl's holiday."

The two see each other quite often. Christodoulo will have to do more than just show up at her door, which is directly below his own.

The couple says their "entryway incest" has not turned too many heads.

"Our prefects definitely had a hard time with it, though. I mean, the first day they said entryway incest was not a good idea," Christodoulo says.

First impressions are not everything though. "I thought you were a big dork," he says. "And I thought you were a jerk," Evans chimes in during a joint interview.

This Valentine's Day they have another opportunity to redeem themselves.

Their relationship began gradually; their first date began as a group affair. In mid-September, the two went with a group of friends to the Rocky Horror Picture Show. The soon-to-be couple went to Store 24 for coffee before meeting their friends. When they arrived at the theater, the show was sold out.

"But we got in to see if our friends were there," Christodoulo says. But they weren't. And that was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Since then, the two have spent much of their free time together. Evans even joined Christodoulo and his friends on a trip to the betting track, where he likes to gamble. "You were slightly impressed with my betting skills," Christodoulo says to Evans. "I was," she replies.

Evans cashed in on this tendency in a meaningful Valentine's Day gift. She gave Christodoulo a pair of small metal dice.

"They're for good luck," she says.

Their relationship has not lacked romance. Over intersession the couple went skiing in Vermont.

This summer, they're planning a trip to theMediterranean. Christodoulo hopes to meet Evans inRome where she will be taking summer classes untilAugust.

Over Christmas Christodoulo suggests a Europeantour.

"She got me this old French map of Greece andItaly. This was when she first proposed that we goon a vacation there this summer," Christodoulosays. "It was sort of a `Here's the map; I want togo there with you.'"

For Christmas, Christodoulo gave Evans a framedpanorama of the Yard, which has special meaningfor them.

The two make a perfect couple. While they don'tshare any common interests--Ashley is interestedin writing and will comp the Advocate thissemester, while Peter is on the squash team--theyhave a special rapport. Any complaints? None fromEvans. Christodoulo, an avid Star Wars fan, hadonly one. "She always confuses Star Trek and StarWars," he says. "I'm only a Star Wars fan."

So where will they be on Sunday? Surprise,Ashley, Peter has decided to take you to dinnerand a movie--"Life is Beautiful.

This summer, they're planning a trip to theMediterranean. Christodoulo hopes to meet Evans inRome where she will be taking summer classes untilAugust.

Over Christmas Christodoulo suggests a Europeantour.

"She got me this old French map of Greece andItaly. This was when she first proposed that we goon a vacation there this summer," Christodoulosays. "It was sort of a `Here's the map; I want togo there with you.'"

For Christmas, Christodoulo gave Evans a framedpanorama of the Yard, which has special meaningfor them.

The two make a perfect couple. While they don'tshare any common interests--Ashley is interestedin writing and will comp the Advocate thissemester, while Peter is on the squash team--theyhave a special rapport. Any complaints? None fromEvans. Christodoulo, an avid Star Wars fan, hadonly one. "She always confuses Star Trek and StarWars," he says. "I'm only a Star Wars fan."

So where will they be on Sunday? Surprise,Ashley, Peter has decided to take you to dinnerand a movie--"Life is Beautiful.