Dating ... ? At Harding? Social life at Harding isn't always what it 's cracked up to be. With nearly 3,000 young people living, working, studying and having fun together, Harding students' opinions on dating were inevitably many and varied, and ranged from enthusiastic praise to uncomplimentary cynicism. Students noticed several definite advantages to dating at Ha rding, as opposed to dating "back home." One girl appreciated the difference between Harding and home-boys, because the latter were only interested in a physical relationship. "Guys are nice here," she said simply . Others agreed, expressing the opinions that Harding boys were more trustworthy, and that a common religious background helped break down barriers and avoid misunderstandings. "When you start you already know what you have in common," one student said. Many students found the sheer numbers of potential dates at Harding to be an advantage. "There's a higher concentration of good guys here," one girl said. "At home, if you' re a little bit choosy, there's no one to go out with." Some also noted that campus life itself was conducive to dating. "Cheap movies make dating easy for the guys," remarked one student. However, others viewed campus life with distate in regards to dating. "At least at home you don't have to worry about going up to your front porch and finding 68 other couples on it," said one. Many students agreed that dating was a delicate subject at Harding, and produced a lot of tension, but were not completely agreed on the causes of this uneasiness. Some students believed that the close quarters and mutual familiarity at Harding created the problem. ' 'Everybody knows everybody," expressed one student. "If you're seen with someone more than two or three times, people start asking questions and jumping to conclusions. It's scary." A lot of students disliked the feeling that their dating habits were subject to public scrutiny. "Other people can mess up your relationships sometimes, if they're not cool about it," said one student . Both guys and girls agreed that guys at Harding tend to be reluctant to ask girls Just a swangin'. One lucky couple demonstrates what a date at Harding can be. Th e swings , placed throughout campus make t.he perfect setting for a romantic evening - if the situation should arise. ~--- photo by John Rad cliffe. · ··· 34 Dating Life for dates , though they had different explanations fo r this phenomenon. One girl believed that "a lot of guys are afraid to date because so many people here get married. Guys take dating too seriously. They th ink if you go out that you want to go steady." One guy, in explaining why he didn't date much, said, "I have to know 100 percent that she wan ts to go out with me first." "Guys here at Harding are basically timid," said a senior girl. "Even when you know they want to ask you out, they usually don't. A little aggressiveness would solve a lot of their problems, I think ." Some guys denied this theory, though, saying that they weren't asking girls out because of a girl back home or because they were simply tired of dating around and playing the field and were waiting to . find a special girl to date steadily. One girl found a solution to the "Reluctant Male" problem. "Sometimes you have to ask them yourself," she said. Jm - Sherry Daniel Shaving the pounds. Cindy Corbello, from Los Angeles , trys a new procedure to attract da tes ... getting slim and trim! Could this be the answer to those date less weekends? Only time w ill tell . - photo by Kelly Holaday.
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