J Juniors Jody Miller and Adam Rollins put up a fight inside the bell tower near Pattie Cobb dorm . According to a campus legend, students who walked through the tower together were supposed to be married later in life. (Photo by Amy Beene) 80 II people \ people----------------------------------- adVicE for DatiNg Even incoilege, first dales caused many laugh-out– loud and cry-out-Ioud moments. Students experienced the good, bad and ugly while on first dates. Several approached dates by standing in front of the mirror and practiced 412 different ways to say "Hey," while others secretly practiced kissing their hands. At Harding, it is easy to obsess over first dates because people don't understand them. Due to this fact, I'd like to diagram and explain first dates, in an effort to alleviate the worry sUITOlmding them. A typical first date, like a sermon, is comprised of three main parts: the picking up of the date, the actual date and the dropping off of the date. Asmost experienced first-daters know, all three stages must be executed with precision in order to have a successful experience. Too many people drop the ball during one of these three stages, forfeiting all chances of a second date, which is typically the purpose of the first date. The first stage of the date is possibly the most critical. This consists of picking up the date and going to the predetermined destination. Typically, the destination is a food or beverage establislunent. Great care must be taken in the first step because a date is a lot like a job interview. At Harding, it is easy to obsess over first dates Most interviewers decide whether or not to hire you in the first four minutes of the interview. Too many people lose all possibility of a second date in the first four minutes. Don't do that! Inorder to have a victorious first stage, be sure to compliment your date and try to make a small joke to lighten the mood. However, make sure you don't combine the two; it can lead to serious consequences. The second stage of the date - the date activity - isusually the easiest to pull off and it consists of the date activity. The possibilities for a first date are numerous - dinner and a movie is a classic, roller skating is risky;. bowling is okay if you can match clean socks - and can be anything that you and, hopefully, your date are interested in. Most of these activities require some talking. so it's a good idea to have a list of at least 100 questions. You can ask, "What's your major? Why? Do you support human cloning? Explain. Why is Harding's mascot a bison? What if there was no gravity?" The final stage of the date is typically the most difficult. After you've completed your dating activity, it's important not to "wear out your welcome." So if you don't have anything else plarmed, ifs a good idea to just drop your date off and go on your way. The actual dropping off is potentially the most awkward part of the date because people don't understand them. --senlOr Todd Ramsey because, regardless of your first-date-kissing policy, there is always the feeling that something more needs to be said or done to bring conclusion to the night. This could range from scheduling a second date to shaking hands and agreeing to never speak to each other again. However you choose to say good night, be brief and choose somewhere besides the dorm steps for the good night ritual. So in a nutshell, here is Todd Ramsey's dating advice based loosely on the good book's directions. Seek and ask. But wouldn't it be nice if my advice had been, "Greet one another with a holy kiss?"
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