Eleanor Laville ‘29
News Staff Writer
Happy season of love! This holiday is celebrated thanks to the actions of St. Valentine, who is commemorated with a feast day on Feb. 14 in the liturgical calendar. St. Valentine was a priest who was martyred around 270 AD for secretly marrying couples and assisting persecuted christians in defiance of Emperor Claudius II’s command. Therefore, St. Valentine is venerated as the Patron saint of lovers, as well as of people with epilepsy and beekeepers.
While the origins of Valentine’s Day are rooted in faith and sacrifice, the spirit of love and community continues to be celebrated in joyful and creative ways today. Throughout February, Holy Cross orchestrated numerous fun events in the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day. One of which was called “Valentine’s Crafts and Candy” located in Ciampi on Friday, Feb. 13. At this event, one could create their own goodie bags filled with trinkets like scrunchies, pens, pencils, and candy. Additionally, there were various craft supplies to make the goodie bags truly personalized. Caroline Guravage ‘28, a wellness engagement assistant, compared the goodie bags to the goodies one would receive in elementary school from fellow classmates, adding an element of nostalgia to everyone’s day. To top it off, there were delicious Dunkin’ donuts that made this event extra sweet!
Additionally, Ciampi hosted an event called “Be Mine Bouquet Workshop” on Feb. 12. A florist vendor from Petite Petal Co. in Worcester came to campus to assist students on beautiful bouquet arranging. In this way, students could surprise their loved ones with a stunning creation that they crafted themselves. Besides enjoying such a fun activity, the attendants delighted in some delectable chocolate fondue.
One of the most exciting and memorable series of events was witnessing the Delilah’s, the oldest all-women a cappella group at Holy Cross, circulate around campus to serenade students as a love letter from their friend or partner. It was amusing for many, witnessing students get tracked and chased down for the sake of student joy. On behalf of the Holy Cross student body, we are immensely grateful for the Delilah’s for continuing to make the Valentine’s season truly special.
Throughout all of these events, we are reminded that the love that is celebrated on this holiday is not reserved for romantic couples. The love that we share among our family and friends is sacred, so Valentine’s Day is a time where we can appreciate those relationships and not take them for granted as we often do. Around this season, many can naturally feel sorrowful by their lack of a romantic relationship to spend Valentine’s Day with, but it’s an opportunity to focus on the friendships in which so much has been invested!
Fittingly, campus also acknowledged Sexual Respect Week hosted from Feb. 9-13 that reminded us to put sexual respect in practice throughout the whole year. So what does sexual respect mean? A fundamental aspect is exercising the act of receiving real consent from your partner. Consent means that you receive a sure and sincere “yes” from one’s partner before proceeding with any intimate activity. And remember, an unenthusiastic “yeah” or vague gesture doesn’t constitute consent. The first no means no, anything beyond that is known as pressure. If someone were to say no, they don’t owe the other person an explanation as to why not. Moreover, if someone were to say “yes” in the past, that doesn’t mean that “yes” is implied in the future. And if one’s partner requests the use of contraceptives, then the other must comply, if they choose to move forward.
It should be assumed that everyone has different experiences and comfort levels, so people should act accordingly. In intimate relationships with others, it is paramount that everyone is respectful so that everyone can all live comfortably and safely. So, how can we avoid these dangerous and uncomfortable situations? Boundary setting! It is vital to set boundaries immediately after an intimate relationship starts. Although these conversations can often be weird and awkward, they are necessary in order to prevent future uncomfortable circumstances. A brief chat is all that is needed for a couple to convey what their expectations are to have a stress-free and fun relationship.
Thank you, Student Government Association (SGA), for fostering an environment where we can have fruitful conversations on this topic and making an essential difference in our community.
In closing, the Holy Cross community truly embraced Valentine’s Day in such beautiful and meaningful ways, inspiring students to reflect on and celebrate the people they cherish most. On behalf of The Spire, we hope that you spent Valentine’s Day lovingly and respectfully.
Featured image courtesy of @holycrosssga on Instagram
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