2025
Love & Relationships
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THE HORRORS OF MODERN DATING
By Stella Garner I Diversionsreporter
In the 2022 film Fresh , Daisy EdgarJones’ protagonist, Noa, begins a whirlwind relationship with seemingly charming and empathetic love interest, Steve, portrayed by Sebastian Stan. Noa, increasingly disillusioned with dating after some lessthan-desirable online matches, is refreshed by her chance encounter at the grocery store with Steve — until he kidnaps her and reveals himself to be a cannibal looking to sell her body parts.
The premise sounds like a textbook bizarre horror movie situation, but speaks to something real and pervasive in the hesitant, fearful atmosphere of modern dating, exacerbated by online dating apps.
A 2022 study from the Pew Research Center found that about two-thirds of women less than 50 year old who have tried online dating have experienced harassment while using dating apps. Three years earlier, a survey by Columbia Journalism Investigations found that about a third of respondents had been sexually assaulted by someone they met through a dating app.
Members of the LGBTQ+ community are almost twice as likely to use dating apps, according to the Pew study. Online communities have long been a haven for LGBTQ+ people who face discrimination or ostracization in public, but the risks of online dating are present for everyone.
While the concepts that horror films explore can be fantastical and employ surrealist, exaggerated imagery, they’re rooted in a visceral sense of fear and
primal danger that women are most likely to experience in the early stages of a relationship — the grey area between trust and “stranger danger.”
Films like Fear and TV shows like You are derivative in their use of the man-stalkingwoman trope, but they tap into something real. About 43 percent of women in the Pew study reported being re-contacted after already telling someone they were not interested.
Unfortunately, many dating apps are falling behind other online platforms when it comes to keeping users safe. Companies like Uber have been able to mitigate some of the risk of its platform with new features, such as encrypted audio recordings taken during rides to be used in safety reports and in-app alerts if a ride is leaving the expected route or ends unexpectedly.
The most popular dating app on the market is Tinder, with about 79 percent of online dating users aged 18 to 29 reporting use at some point. While the app has recently begun implementing new safety features, Tinder’s parent company, Match Group, has come under fire for failing to remove reported assaulters who continue to use their apps.
Match Group also owns popular dating apps Hinge, OkCupid and Plenty of Fish, all of which have been implicated in a recent investigation co-published by The Markup, The Guardian and the 19th which found that banned users were able to create second accounts or switch to another app owned by the same company without being removed or facing consequences.
The domination of dating apps is nothing new, but it is symbolic of a larger shift in general relationships toward more online communication. After the pandemic and what the U.S. Surgeon General has coined the subsequent “epidemic of loneliness and isolation,” younger generations whose social growth was stunted might find it easier to turn to apps for friends and significant others than to try and make connections in-person.
But whether this tendency away from face-to-face communication is a positive or
negative change to the dating sphere is hard to pinpoint. There’s no proof that online relationships are more dangerous than in-person ones, and oftentimes the same marginalized groups are at risk of harm in either scenario.
To feel safer on a personal level, it can help to minimize the amount of information you choose to share — such as your workplace or social media accounts. Investigative reporter and Dating Apps Reporting Project researcher Emily Dugdale, recommends that users treat every match with proper precaution and refrain from relying on the information provided in-app.
“Dating is a two-way street, and it’s imperative that both parties are able to feel safe and comfortable while setting and respecting each other’s boundaries.”
While it isn’t fun to think about the risks at hand, the best defense against potential dangers is to use your best judgment. If things don’t feel right or you feel uncomfortable, the most effective option is to walk away from things. It can make all the difference between a rom-com and a horror movie.
Contraceptive and Reproductive Health Guide
By Keira Hardesty and Lillian Glaros I Staff writers
The University of Maryland offers free sexual health, contraception and healthcare supplies that can be found in the University Health Center, the LGBTQ+ Equity Center and some dorms. Here’s a list of some of the products included.
Sexual health
External condom: A thin sheath that covers a penis to prevent sperm from entering someone’s body.
Internal condoms: Condoms that are inserted into the vagina before sex to prevent sperm from entering someone’s body.
Dental Dams: A sheet of latex placed against the body before oral sex.
Lubricant: A gel that can increase pleasure and reduce STI risks during sex.
Gloves: A hand covering used while touching genitals, to protect against dirt and STIs.
The largest supply of these items is on the ground floor of the health center, where you have the opportunity to make your own grab-n-go bag. Faculty, staff and student leaders can request bulk packs of supplies for sexual health events.
Birth control
Birth control pills: A hormonal pill taken once a day to stop ovulation and prevent pregnancy.
NuvaRing: A small flexible ring worn inside the vagina that secretes hormones that prevent pregnancy.
Diaphragm: A shallow silicon cup inserted into the vagina before sex to cover the cervix and block sperm.
Contraceptive patch: A patch that releases hormones through the skin to prevent pregnancy.
Implant, also known as Nexplanon: A thin rod that releases hormones into the body to prevent pregnancy and can last for up to three years
Shot, or Depo-Provera: An injection received once every 3 months to prevent pregnancy.
IUD: A small device inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy.
Emergency contraception
Emergency contraception is taken after sex. It works most efficiently the sooner it’s taken, and this university offers two options.
Plan B One Step: Free for students and can be obtained over the counter at the health center pharmacy. Students must present their UID to get this medication. You can also purchase it for $15 at convenience stores on campus, such as the North or South Campus Markets.
Ella: This option is more effective, but requires a prescription from the health center. Appointments must be scheduled as soon as possible within at least five days after unprotected sex.
Pregnancy tests
Students can get free pregnancy tests by providing their UID at the health center pharmacy.
STI and HIV testing
These tests should be taken 10 days after a possible exposure to gonorrhea or chlamydia and 3 months after exposure to HIV. The health center offers two options.
Free STI Express Test: This test should be taken by students with no symptoms or exposures. Appointments for these tests are free and you can be tested for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. A limited number of tests are available each week.
STI testing with a medical provider: These appointments are not free, and can be billed to insurance or paid for out of pocket. They could also include physical exams, which are more effective for people experiencing symptoms.
HPV and Hepatitis B vaccine
HPV vaccine: This vaccine decreases the chance you will be infected with HPV, a group of viruses that can infect the skin, which is associated with types of cancer and genital worts. The vaccine is most effective if taken from ages 9 to 26 and an appointment can be scheduled at the health center.
Hepatitis B Vaccine: This vaccine is given to most children in the USA, but the health center also offers appointments.
Other providers around the University of Maryland
Metropolitan Family Planning Clinic 5915 Greenbelt Road, College Park, MD 20740
Services include:
l Abortion pill
l Surgical abortion
l Hormonal contraceptives
l Non-hormonal contraceptives
l Long acting contraceptives
l Sterilization
l Exams, STD testing and birth control
Carol Whitehill Moses Center of Washington, D.C.
1225 4th St. NE Washington, D.C., 20002
Planned Parenthood Prince George’s County of Suitland
5001 Silver Hill Road Suite #103, Suitland, Maryland 20746
Services at both locations include:
l Abortion
l Birth control
l Morning after pill
l Gender-affirming care
l HIV care
l Pregnancy testing
l Pregnancy planning
l Prenatal services
l Postpartum services
l STD testing and treatment
l Sexual/reproductive concerns
l Vaccines
l Preventative medicine
The Carol Whitehill Moses Center of Washington D.C. also provides mental health services.
University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center Assault and Abuse Services
901 Harry S. Truman Drive North, Largo, Maryland, 20774
This center provides services for victims of sexual assault, sexual trafficking, elder abuse, domestic violence, strangulation and more.
The emergency department provides care such as:
l HIV screening and preventative treatment to prevent transmission from sexual assault
l Emergency contraception
l STD treatment
l Injury treatment
l Collecting evidence
l Diagnostic testing
The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center includes services such as:
l 24-7 help hotline at 240-677-2337 monitored by trained professionals
l Trauma counseling from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., in regular business hours
l Danger assessments
l Safety planning, such as information on getting protective orders
l Victim advocacy
ANTI-Rom-Com WATCHLIST
By Adam Hudacek I Tabloids editor
Ifyou’relookingforsomethingalittlelesstraditionalthanthestandardrom-com,TheDiamondbackhassomerecommendations.
When Harry Met Sally Clueless 10 Things I Hate About You . These films, along with dozens of other genre-defining romantic comedies, have captured the hearts of audiences for generations. They’re the comfort food of cinema, known for crackling chemistry between lead actors, familiar narrative structures and relatively low-stakes. In short, a perfect weeknight watch or rewatch.
But, if you’re looking for something a little less traditional, where you’re not sure the guy will get the girl – or other guy –in the end, The Diamondback has some recommendations. These thrillers, mysteries, comedies and more are sure to have something for even the most hardened rom-com lover – or hater.
Matt and Mara (Canada, 2024)
Directed by Kazik Radwanski
For the mumblecore cinephile. The newest film on the list, Radwanski reunites with Deragh Campbell and Matt Johnson in this morally gray will-they-orwon’t-they tale that evokes the style and pacing of many of Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig’s early collaborations.
Paris 05:59: Théo & Hugo (France, 2016)
Directed by Jacques Martineau, Olivier Ducastel
For the nightlife lover. Martineau and Ducastel track two men on a surprisingly heartfelt real-time journey from sex club to health clinic to empty Parisian boulevards, finding a connection neither saw coming in the process.
Vertigo (USA, 1958)
The Living End (USA, 1992)
Directed by Gregg Araki
For the true-crime junkie. Billed as “an irresponsible movie by Gregg Araki,” this lowbudget indie helped kick off the New Queer Cinema movement with its darkly comedic tale of two HIVpositive men on a crime spree.
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
For the fan of twists and turns. The master of suspense turns his gaze to San Francisco in this VistaVision classic, which follows James Stewart’s descent into troubled obsession when he’s hired to investigate the wife of an old friend.
Fallen Leaves (Finland, 2023)
Directed by Aki Kaurismäki
For the very, very hopeless romantic. Finding true human connection in an increasingly isolated world is tough, especially for the working class of modernday Helsinki. Kaurismäki’s bleakly funny Cannes Jury Prize winner succeeds at exploring contemporary romance in a uniquely honest fashion.
In the Mood for Love (Hong Kong,
2000)
Directed by Wong Kar-wai
For when you need a good cry. Arguably the definitive work from one of Asia’s greatest auteurs, In the Mood for Love explores the morality of love and infidelity through two unforgettable performances from Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Maggie Cheung Man-yuk.
Double Indemnity (USA, 1944)
Directed by Billy Wilder
For the classic Hollywood obsessive. Wilder spins a tale of love, lies and murder in Double Indemnity, told through the eyes of a calculating life insurance agent who becomes embroiled with a woman planning on killing her oil-rich husband for his policy payout.
Stranger by the Lake (France, 2013)
Directed by Alain Guiraudie
For when you have the TV to yourself. Guiraudie’s erotic thriller combines murder mystery with gay cruising culture to create a uniquely smart, violent and sexy exploration of lust and desire. It’s worth noting that this is probably best left to when your roommate has stepped out for the night.
Belle de Jour (France,
Directed by Luis Buñuel
1967)
For the French New Wave fanatic. Screened in the University of Maryland’s Parren J. Mitchell ArtSociology Building last year as part of the Il Cinema Ritrovato on Tour Film Festival, this Buñuel classic explores the fracturing psyche of a bored housewife as she takes up employment in a well-to-do Parisian brothel.
The meet-cutes of college park
By Adam Hudacek, Emely Miranda-Aguilar, Lauren Frank, Sanya Wason and Joe Wicke
You’ve seen the viral video scene before — someone approaches a couple on the street and asks them a simple question: “How did you two meet?”
In February, four Diamondback reporters did just that. What followed was reminiscent of Hollywood’s greatest romantic tales, stories of love, lust and laughter with a little luck along the way.
These are the love stories and meet cutes of College Park, pulled straight from the sidewalks, streets and steps of this university.
Ananya and Jaiman
Amidst the chaos, confusion and endless IKEA bags during last semester’s residence hall move-in, freshman environmental science and policy major Ananya Garg found love.
Jaiman Munshi, a freshman computer science major, wandered into Garg’s room looking for her roommate, a family friend of Munshi’s. Instead, he ran into Garg’s family, discovering that his friend had yet to move in. After a brief conversation with her parents, Munshi left without exchanging a word with Garg.
Garg said that she thought highly of Munshi, even during their short non-interaction.
The two continued to run into each other throughout the first week of classes. Garg’s roommate invited Munshi to their room a few times and the two grew close. That weekend, they exchanged phone numbers.
Shortly after, Garg and Munshi deepened their bond after Munshi returned from a late-night trip to
Washington, D.C. Unable to fall asleep, he spent the night talking about their shared Indian culture and their love of food and dance.
Garg said she can talk to Munshi about anything, even if it’s on a three hour bus rides back to campus. The couple loves this candidness the most about each other.
“He’s so ready to communicate with me about anything and everything,” Garg said, “I talk so much, and even when he needs to focus, he’ll just let me talk.”
Garg and Munshi log their favorite memories of each other into a shared photo album. This includes this university’s Hindu Students Councils’ Oct. 4 Garba, an Indian dance, where they spent the night together weaving through circles of dancers.
Yet, it’s another dance that means the most to Garg. She recalled spontaneously dancing with Munshi in the pouring rain, one of her favorite memories.
Jaiman MUNSHI, a freshman computer science major and Ananya Garg, a freshman evironmental science major. The couple poses for a photo outisde of Yahentamitsi Dining Hall on Feb. 19, 2025 (Giuseppe LoPiccolo/The Diamondback)
The two plan to live in off-campus housing with their group of friends next year, eager to cook their favorite dishes together. Until then, they look forward to every little moment together.
Jaylen and Jahlia
Like many of the best love stories, Jaylen McCullough and Jahlia Solomon started out as friends.
McCullough, a sophomore secondary education and English major, and Solomon, a freshman psychology major at the University of Maryland Global Campus, first met and became friends while working at Target. They were friends for awhile, Solomon said, before they ventured into something more.
Solomon was talking to other guys who were “playing games,” and eventually, McCullough stepped up, she said. Now, the couple is approaching their two-year anniversary.
“She was really down to earth and just very real with everyone that we worked with,” McCullough said. “If something happened, she would always stick up for us and stick up for other people around her. So I really admire her for that.”
McCullough expressed his feelings to Solomon on Christmas. They chose to not start dating at the time, deciding to not rush into things too quickly. Instead, they remained friends and often hung out together after school, until three months
after Christmas, when McCullough officially asked her out.
“He was a really great guy. Honestly, he was very genuine and very sweet. He’s very loyal, but also very attentive and everything,” Solomon said. “He was a family person … who doesn’t love a family man? He was just really nice. He showed me kindness.”
For their first date, McCullough took Solomon to Red Maple in Silver Spring. As a sushi fan, McCullough encouraged her to try the Japanese cuisine for the first time.
“He’s definitely getting me out of my shell about trying out things that I’ve never tried before,” Solomon said. “I’m not super keen on sushi, but you know, every now and then, I’m like, ‘Okay, I’ll take a bite.’”
In the nearly two years they’ve been together, McCullough and Solomon have taken a trip to Delaware’s Rehoboth Beach over summer break.
“It was the first time that we’ve been on a trip together by ourselves, and, for me, the first time without my parents. So it was just really nice to be able to have that freedom,” McCullough said.
They savor their memories of walking through Christmas lights together. Despite the bitter cold, each other’s company warmed the evening as they winded through the bright holiday streets.
“It’s always nice and cozy and romantic,” Solomon said. “It’s nice to spend the holidays with each other.”
Emily and Eric
Recent graduate Emily Nyugen and senior computer engineering major Eric Chen just celebrated one year and three months together.
The pair met through mutual friends in the Vietnamese Student Association where they started to hang out. Although the club is large, the two found each other in smaller groups, Chen said.
The two said the Vietnamese Student Association gave them the chance to spend time together.
“That’s how you get to know people better,” Chen said.
The two ventured off-campus for their first date during the Christmas season. They walked around and got a sweet treat in Georgetown, where they enjoyed the neighborhood’s famed pint-sized baked goods.
If the pair isn’t spending time at a cafe or bakery like Georgetown Cupcakes, they also enjoy watching popular TV shows, especially ones that are easy to pick-up, Chen said.
Jaylen McCullough a sophomore secondary education and english major and Jahlia Solomon, a freshman criminal justice major at the University of Maryland Global Campus. The couple poses for a photo in front of Yahentamitsi Dining Hall on Feb. 19, 2025. (Giuseppe LoPiccolo/The Diamondback)
A gay guy’s guide to dating in college park
By Adam Hudacek I Tabloids editor
You once were standing, with a cap perched crookedly on your head and a gown draped over your shoulders, at the precipice of your future.
You survived high school alongside the handful of other gay kids in your hometown, but that small pond was about to get a lot bigger at not just any college, but the University of Maryland — a solidly blue state school just less than 10 miles from the USA capital.
You were about to find yourself, your community and all those classic comingof-age movie moments you missed out on for years. Only problem is, you may not have found them here either.
To put it lightly, College Park is not the center of the gay universe. It can sometimes feel like the farthest from it. Whether you arrived single or, like me, made the unfortunate choice of bringing a doomed high school relationship with you to college, there’s a realization many LGBTQ+ freshmen make when they arrive at this university — it’s pretty straight.
Despite not having a dominant Greek Life culture — it’s only about 16 percent of the undergraduate student population — and a renowned LGBTQ+ Equity Center, finding a distinct LGBTQ+ subculture on campus can feel like an impenetrable obstacle, especially when you’re confined to the freshman dorms.
If you arrived dreaming of flings, dates, situationships, or, dare I say full-fledged relationships, where should you turn?
For many, that answer is dating apps. Although your straight friends may look down upon Tinder and Hinge, they don’t understand that those are the upper echelon of digital gay dating. Grindr has always been a game of
chance, while emerging websitebased platforms such as Sniffies introduce a new level of sketchy behavior, disregarding all illusions of safety and risk mitigation. Tinder is probably your best bet, although I’m a little biased, it’s where I met my now-boyfriend a couple years ago.
A good rule of thumb is to stick to the main industry players — chances are you’re not finding the love of your life on fringe apps and websites.
But understandably, many view all of the apps as bottomless pits of frustrations and dead-ends. For them, bars are their chosen hunting ground, but they too have their shortcomings. First, and most obvious, College Park lacks a gay bar. This basic life necessity, which can even be found in the college towns by comparatively more conservative colleges such as the University of Kansas and West Virginia University, is nowhere to be found among College Park’s already thin bar lineup. From the few options, Looney’s Pub emerges as a frontrunner, with the Greek Life-dominated RJ Bentley’s likely being your worst bet.
Really, if you want a real possibility of late-night romance, you’ll have to head south.
Washington, D.C., is the gayest place in the country, with 14.3 percent of its population identifying as a LGBTQ+, according to a report from UCLA’s Williams Institute. The city boasts dozens of gay bars across multiple neighborhoods.
If you’re just starting out, Pitchers D.C. is always an easy night out. Located on a bustling throughway in Adams Morgan,
the gay sports bar boasts a younger crowd and a number of themed rooms, ranging from speakeasy to dancefloor.
U Street’s Kiki features an inclusive lineup of weekly events, from Friday night drag shows to weekend dance parties complete with go-go dancers and DJs. For the already initiated, Green Lantern’s shirtless Thursdays are a Washington, D.C., classic, promising free drinks for those willing to show a little skin.
Whether or not you decide to take your exploration into the city or not, LGBTQ+ communities and relationships are out there, even if it doesn’t feel that way at first. With the exception of an unfortunate slur hurled my way during an evening walk through Old Town freshman year, my experiences here have been vast improvements over high school.
Take it slow, get out of your comfort zone and trust that the right people will find you — even if it isn’t in your freshman dorm.
college park DATING POLL
By Adam Hudacek I Tabloids editor
If you stepped out onto McKeldin Mall during the past few weeks, you likely saw the lawn dotted with couples soaking in the early spring warmth. With love in the College Park air, The Diamondback polled our Instagram followers about their own relationship statuses, partners and favorite dates. Here’s what the respondents had to say:
“What’sthebestdatespotinCollegePark?”
“Vigilante, because who doesn’t love a coffee date.” -- @tulalock
“Chapel Garden, under the willow.” -- @haelevans18
“First date: Doghaus during the week.” -- @emilycseibert
“Onikama Ramen Bar, then walk over to Casey’s Coffee.” -- @ktvolland52
“The alley beside Turf.” -- @madieades_
“Spot Mini for something casual.” -- @mahii.gandhi
“Ifyou’reinarelationship,what’syour favoritethingaboutyourpartner?”
“He is always so thoughtful and loving, and he always goes out of his way to make me smile.”
@m.bazdekis
“Their silliness and support.” @txylor.alxnder
“She’s my best friend. It’s so easy to talk to her and she supports me in whatever I do.” @zachary._hancock
“I can always rely on him in the hard times and have fun during the good times.” @buen_floricel
“Experiencing life together, whether that’s job struggles or staring at the night sky.” @ayman.aok
“The way they blabber about stuff.” @playedreality
“My girlfriend’s smile can cheer me up any day.” @morgan.pl4287
“They are as much of a weirdo as I am.” @kat.reid.y
The good, the bad and the Bentleys: AreflectiononCollegePark’sbars
Route 1 is lined with vital restaurants and businesses, but more importantly is home to the beloved bars that define College Park’s nights — for better or for worse.
Pass Marathon Deli, where speakers blast songs you haven’t heard since middle school. Walk by the ATM, where a long line of students scramble for last-minute cover. Weave through clusters of girls in their weekend uniform — black skirts, black tops, black boots. This is how you know you’re home — and that there’s a good chance your night’s antics will end up on Maryland Chicks by the morning.
Yet the routine has a shared motive: meeting people. Dating in college is hard, especially at a school with more than 40,000 students constantly moving in different directions. But there’s a fallback for when Route 1 nights don’t go as planned — Tinder and Hinge.
These quirks — some hilarious, most downright regrettable — are what make College Park nights worth remembering, even if you wake up begging to forget.
Terrapin’s Turf is the bar everyone has stumbled into at least once — and probably sworn off in the group chat the next morning. The packed center bar leaves no air to breathe as you wait for the bartender’s glance. In the chaos — whether you’re looking or not — slurring suitors emerge, using shared frustration as an excuse to flirt.
Maybe it’s the dim lighting, the slippery stairs or the way shadows conveniently hide everyone’s flaws. Or maybe it’s the Pitbull-obsessed DJ, playing cupid with an aux cord, determined to make sure Usher’s prophecy comes true: we’re all falling in love again. Whatever it is, the people you
By Jade Tran I Diversions editor
meet here usually vanish into an abyss of Snapchat adds and meaningless streaks by the next week.
A short walk away is Cornerstone Grill and Loft, the bar you graduate to once you outgrow Turf. The odds of meeting someone you’ll actually date are slim, but the likelihood changes depending on what floor you choose. Stay upstairs, and you might find someone to buy you a drink or dance with you, but you’re also at risk of attracting someone who likes you way more than you like them. Stay long enough and you may even run into the Instagram-famous lurking old man.
Stick to the lower level, and you’ll find the more relaxed crowd, where potential suitors are distracted by the game on TV — barely audible over a chorus of “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
RJ Bentley’s — Route 1’s closest thing to a dive — blends in like a red shack, decked out with vintage license plates and automobile trinkets. It’s an upperclassman favorite, but not the place to find the love of your life.
Bentley’s is where you go when you’ve already settled down. No banter, no mid-drink number exchanges — just couples splitting ciders and beers, and friend groups that gave up pretending they’d go anywhere else. It’s the quiet comfort of a three-year relationship that somehow survived College Park.
Looney’s Pub — the furthest bar from the heart of campus — contains a chaotic mix of students and locals. If the line snakes out the door and down the stairs, forget about meeting someone you’ll text back in the morning. Shoulder-to-shoulder Saturdays mean the only lasting re-
lationship you’ll make is with the DJ, who remixes every song like his life depends on it — and it always works.
Between the deafening music, the performative drunkenness and the overwhelming number of bars with interchangeable vibes, the idea of meeting your soulmate on a night out seems less and less likely. The best you can hope for is the tiny, ridiculous thrill of spotting a Tinder match in real life, and then lingering by the bar thinking of your next move until they start talking to someone else.
Bars aren’t the romantic set tings movies make them out to be. They’re not where you find the love of your life. If anything, they’re where you awkwardly run into your ex — or worse, their ex.
Of course, there are excep tions — the lucky few who stumble into something real and have a meet-cute story worth telling their kids. But for most, a swipe right holds more promise than a night out, and the most play you’ll get is a bouncer grabbing your hand to stamp you in.
At least you’ll have that — a stamp that stains for days and the next morn ing’s hangxiety — to remember a night of thrills that only Route 1 can promise.
RJ Bentley’s on Route 1 is a hot spots for students to meet new people and spend time with friends on Feb. 25, 2025. (Christina Dunca/The Diamondback)
‘The Bachelor’ revives old school romance with season 29 premiere
By Maxine Poe-Jensen I Diversionsreporter
On Monday night, a 27-year-old woman in an evening gown brought out a llama on live TV in hopes of finding her husband.
This isn’t a futuristic version of The Hunger Games, but one of the most popular reality dating shows of all time — The Bachelor.
She’s working to impress the newest bachelor, Grant Ellis, who made it clear that his commitment is to commitment itself. Standing in front of a room of 25 women, eager for a diamond ring and a lifelong partner, Ellis pledged to offer marriage and true love to one lucky woman out of the group.
Reality dating shows are notoriously sappy and staged, filled with crocodile tears and fake cat fights. But look past the sparkly dresses and cheesy one-liners, and the hope of true love in each of the contestants’ eyes shines through — especially if they’re there for the right reasons.
While watching these first dates between Ellis and his many “girlfriends,” I’m baffled at how the dating rituals aired differ from younger audiences’ experiences.
For older Gen Z, first dates seemed to happen regularly, as a way to fill weekend nights and meet new people. Butterflies were normal, but they were nothing to sweat over. Now, we’ve axed the first date and buried it deep underground.
We’ve completely lost the spontaneity of meeting someone new. How did we singlehandedly manage to create such a huge stigma around the first date?
The modern dating world is filled with hours dedicated to carefully curating dating profiles, juggling multiple apps, dodging one-night stands and agonizing over Snapchat replies. Despite the over-produced, manufactured vibe of The Bachelor, it might be this era’s most natural way to meet
someone.
Gen Z’s universal social anxiety destroyed the concept of a “meet cute.” When venturing out into a bookstore or coffee shop, it’s impossible to bump into anyone without headphones on and a phone in hand 24/7.
Our pulses pound at the thought of having to make a phone call, and we prefer mobile ordering in restaurants to talking to a waiter. Dating apps and messaging platforms are the perfect places to hide, allowing us to avoid the inevitable awkwardness of meeting someone in person. Online “relationships” feel the safest — an arena where you can curate a witty text or endlessly retake a photo to find the best shot.
There’s an old-school romance to The Bachelor that’s kept viewers swooning for more than 20 years. The season premiere ended with Ellis in a suit, handsomely handing out red roses to the women who had caught his eye.
I couldn’t help but blush when the camera cut to Ellis or squeal when he propositioned a rose to one of my favorites in a scene straight out of a Hallmark movie. Monday nights are now the world’s fix for romance.
The Bachelor is a breath of fresh air in a world where AI imitates human emotions and DoorDash delivers everything from strawberries to toilet paper. For a few weeks, the eligible man and his numerous suitors prioritize face-to-face relationships in a way that newer generations should take notes on.
(Screenshot via YouTube)
