2
Valentine’s Day
‘Sup MOVErs,
It’s Katie and Elana, your editors/love doctors. It’s Valentine’s Day, and love is in the air (or are those snowflakes?). Valentine’s Day can be tough sometimes. From the time Katie was so uncomfortable with a Valentine’s Day gift that she pretended that she didn’t receive it to the time someone broke up with Elana the morning after the big holiday: We get it. Sometimes Valentine’s Day sorta sucks. That’s where this guide comes in. Regardless of your feelings about the holiday, our Valentine’s Day special issue has something for everyone. Our writers did a wonderful job, and we spent a lot of time putting it together for you all; we hope you love it as much as we do. Spend the next few days jammin’ to Adele or ordering flowers for your s/o instead of being stressed about how to tell your kinda-sorta crush that you kinda sorta like them. Valentine’s Day is the time to make a MOVE (haha), or at least it’s the time to watch chick flicks and get tipsy with your girlfriends (check out the Galentine’s Day article on page 3). If you’re struggling to meet someone, check out our tips for meeting someone not on Tinder on page 4. If you’re looking for some #RelationshipGoals inspiration, check out our Mizzou love stories on page 23. Make sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram @movemaneater and check us out online (move.themaneater.com) so you can keep up with all the fun Valentine’s Day action. We love you all so much. Peace, love and those candy heart things,
Katie and Elana
^
E V MO
Valentine’s Day MOVE Valentine’s Day
cover design by Jessie Corbin
3
Valentine’s Day
The ultimate recipe for celebrating Galentine’s Day
LOVE ESSAY
Love isn’t a one GH͆QLWLRQ ZRUG REGINA ANDERSON
KATHERINE WHITE Staff Writer
I’ve never been in love. For this reason, whenever I say that I love Valentine’s Day, people give me strange looks. Why would I, a perpetually single girl, love a day that is basically a Hallmark card holiday for couples? Four years ago, I decided that I wanted to hand out cheap store-bought Valentine’s Day cards I gave when I was young. I bought a box of Scooby Doo valentines at Target for $3. I signed my name like I did in elementary school, put them in a bag and brought them to school with me. I handed them out to anyone who wanted one. I had so much fun watching their faces light up with the recognition of a staple from their childhood. I couldn’t really tell you what motivated me to do it, but I know that it changed how I spent my Valentine’s Day every year afterward. Valentine’s Day became a huge production for me. As I got to know more people, I began to hand out more and more valentines. By my senior year, I handed out over 150 crappy store-bought valentines. I bought at least three different kinds of cards. I even started baking cupcakes and cookies to give to my friends. When you are a child, Valentine’s Day is about all kinds of love. You make cards for your parents in class. You hand out boxes of store-bought valentines to your classmates. You show appreciation for the ones you love in your life, no matter their relationship to you. As you get older, the message changes. The day is no longer about including every type of love. It becomes exclusive to romantic love. Suddenly, you can’t celebrate love because you don’t have the “right” kind of love. Within the past few years, it became my mission to change that. There’s a recurring theme in media that suggests the most important love we will ever feel is romantic love, that somehow we are incomplete without it in our lives. For me, that has never been the case. My life does not have a hole in it without romance. I still find love in many different places. I’ve found it in my friends, in art, in music, in my family, in life and even in myself. I’ve just never found it romantically. And that’s OK. The relationships we have and the love we feel in our lives are not any less valuable or special because they aren’t romantic. No one can tell me that my love for my best friend of 10 years is lesser, just because it isn’t romantic. Whenever people ask me why I love Valentine’s Day, I try to explain that what I love about Valentine’s Day is what we can make it be. It doesn’t have to be a holiday about only romantic love. We don’t have to listen to the messages bombarded at us every February. Find who you love and celebrate with them. Show them you care and you might find that Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be a meaningless Hallmark holiday after all.
Leslie Knope invented this lady-positive holiday, and you will have a blast observing it.
There’s no doubt “Parks and Recreation” influenced the mindset of an entire generation with the invention of Treat Yo Self Day, “the best day of the year.” That’s not the only original holiday “Parks” gave us that’s worth celebrating in real life, however; according to protagonist Leslie Knope, “the best day of the year” is actually Feb. 13, Galentine’s Day. I happen to believe Galentine’s Day should be a national holiday, but you don’t need government approval to celebrate it. Here’s the recipe for the perfect Galentine’s Day.
Your best lady friends Feb. 13 is all about ladies celebrating ladies, so grab your closest female friends — no boys allowed! Your party can be as small as just you and your best friend or as large as a group in the double digits, if you can find a time that fits everyone’s schedules. Let your invitees know if they can or should bring along a friend of their own.
Breakfast food Eating breakfast food is in the definition of the holiday, which is not surprising considering the waffle-loving Leslie Knope is its creator. This doesn’t mean you have to get up early to celebrate, though; brunch and breakfast-for-dinner are both great options as well. It would truly be a shame to limit one of the best categories of food to only the a.m. While breakfast food is the necessary cuisine, you still have options. On-campus dining halls have got you covered if you’re having an early-bird celebration. Catalyst Cafe is another, more flexible on-campus option, which serves breakfast all day. If you’re looking for an off-campus location, The Broadway Diner is just a short walk from campus (and also across the street from a park; Leslie Knope would be so proud). Of course, you can always home cook the meal as well.
Homemade gifts This is the time to break out your Pinterest board of homemade craft ideas. Here are some inspirational examples of gifts Leslie Knope gave: bouquets of hand-crocheted flower pens, mosaic portraits of her friends’ faces made with crushed bottles of their favorite diet soda and needlepoint pillows with her friends’ faces on them next to the leading newspaper headline from the day they were born. These gifts are all over-the-top, as to be expected from Knope. You can take some basic elements of those gifts and apply them to less ridiculous gifts: the use of flowers, pictures that include the giftee, anything sewn or crocheted. Leslie also has her mind in the right place with making personalized versions of the same basic gift idea for each guest; that way, everyone gets something unique, but there’s no favoritism in terms of gift effort or price. Have a fabulous Galentine’s Day, and remember, “what's important in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn't matter, but work is third.”
Customized Valentine’s cards Leslie Knope wrote personalized 5,000-word essays for each of her friends on why they’re so awesome. Maybe you’d rather let a humorous Internet valentine do the same for significantly less work. Either way, nothing lights up someone’s day like reading a message, no matter the length, about why they are loved. Let them know the qualities you adore about them, thank them for the times they’ve been there for you and throw in an inside joke for good measure. Internet valentines can also be a way to show off how much you know about your friends’ interests — there’s some for everyone, from “Star Wars” to history and science.
NERD REPORT
Escape into these classic on-screen romances GABRIELA VELASQUEZ Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to celebrate some of the best love stories in science fiction and fantasy. Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak (“Arrow”) Felicity, quite literally, came out of nowhere. What was supposed to be a guest stint for actress Emily Bett Rickards turned into one of the most popular love stories on television today. Before Felicity Smoak graced our television screens, Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) was stuck in a lackluster love triangle, and “Arrow” itself lacked a spark. But throughout the last few seasons, watching the growing admiration-turned-friendship-turned-romance between Oliver and Felicity has been an absolute joy. “Olicity” is the heart and soul of “Arrow,” and their chemistry hasn’t diminished in the slightest as their relationship has grown and developed. Felicity makes the show fun to watch, and we are allowed to see how much happier Oliver is with her around. His feelings for her very much mimic the audiences: She makes what can be, at times, a very dark show a blast. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger (“Harry Potter”) Sorry, J.K. Rowling, but you’ll never convince this writer that Hermione and Ron’s love story was absolutely,
well, magical. Was it perfect? No, of course not. Ron was an absolute idiot when they were younger (remember the disastrous Yule Ball?) and Hermione seemed unattainable at times. Ron and Hermione are very different people. But perhaps that’s what makes them so endearing. Their relationship wasn’t a fairytale, despite their world being one of fantasy. And I’m sure that their marriage won’t be perfect, but what marriage is? Love isn’t easy or simple; it requires hard work and compromise. Sure, Rupert Grint speculated that the two will probably divorce (which is incredibly depressing), but I have faith. I’ve seen imperfect relationships make it. Perfection is pretty boring, anyways. The Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler (“Doctor Who”) The Doctor has had many romances over the course of “Doctor Who,” but the cornerstone of all of them is, without a doubt, his relationship with companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) during his 10th incarnation. And yes, it was totally a relationship. David Tennant himself said at a convention that, “Rose was a girlfriend, even if they didn’t say it.” The Doctor allowed Rose to discover the universe, to become a version of herself she couldn’t have otherwise. And it wasn’t just one-sided; Rose kept the Doctor grounded, reminded him of his own humanity. Together, they were the “stuff of legend.” A lot of this, in part, is due to the once-in-a-lifetime chemistry between David Tennant and Billie Piper. Despite having no real direct lines of romance, every interaction between the two felt loaded with unspoken
emotion and deep connection. The ending to their story is equal parts heartbreaking and beautiful, just as every story in “Doctor Who” should be. And despite the passage of ten years, their story is still as raw and beautiful as it was then. In true “Doctor Who” fashion, it is timeless. Han Solo and Leia Organa (“Star Wars”) This, right here, is the couple to end them all. Ever since that oh-so-charming wink at the end of “A New Hope,” Han Solo and Leia Organa have been the quintessential love story for all of science fiction. Princess Leia is iconic: a powerful woman comfortable in her leadership role who somehow manages to go on despite losing her entire planet to the evil of the Empire. And Han Solo, well, he’s Han Solo. The scoundrel with a heart of gold who went from selfish pirate to war hero. Perhaps what makes their romance so enchanting is the absolute awe with which Han looks at Leia. He knows how incredible she is, and despite all his bravado we know that he’s unsure about deserving to be with her. We see his fear all the way through the saga until Leia finally assures him that he’s the one for her. I won’t spoil where their relationship goes in “The Force Awakens,” just in case some of you still haven’t seen it, but I’ll say this much: Some things never change. I’ll admit it: Valentine’s Day can be really stressful, whether you’re in a relationship or not. But lucky for us, there are always couples like these who have their emotions together far more than we do. Thanks, science fiction, for giving us far-flung stories of love and romance that still somehow feel completely real.
MOVE Talks
Valentine’s day The  best  real-Âlife  tips  for  meeting  the  boo  of  your  dreams AMANDA BATTMER Reporter
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and many of you are probably struggling with the knowledge that you just don’t have anyone to celebrate with this year. With apps like Tinder taking over the dating scene, MOVE thought up some effective tips on how to meet the love of your life the oldfashioned way. It’s time to ditch the swipe-or-like mentality and get back to the basics.
Check out more tips at move.themaneater.com
Follow them around holding a giant stereo over your head This approach is much like the famous scene from “Say Anything.â€? However, you should absolutely not say anything. Let the music do the talking for you. If your targeted sweetie walks too fast to be properly seduced around campus, try stepping your game up by directly imitating the 1980s classic and stand right outside their bedroom window. They might just invite you in. Girls, don’t be afraid to use this method, too. It’s 2016. It might even show your #mcm that you’re not only confident, but willing and able to change his world ‌ for the better.  DISCLAIMER: You must only blast “Your Eyesâ€? by Peter Gabriel. Any other song will not produce desired results.
Literally just give them a pizza They just might give you a pizza their heart as a thank you.
What to get your soon-to-be ex for Valentine’s Day BRADEE WILLIAMS Reporter Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time for happy couples who are still in their honeymoon phase to celebrate their shared happiness with over-the-top expressions of love, commitment and romantic admiration.  In order to perpetuate those feelings, stores and commercials make sure we are constantly bombarded by flying cupids, baby pink hearts and giant teddy bears throughout the
whole month of February. To the unhappily committed, this all seems like a sugary slap to the face, because for all the things that Valentine’s Day stands for, ending your quickly decaying relationship is not one of them. So for those stuck in crappy relationships on this joyous day of love and affection, here are a few V-Day gifts to give your soon-to-be-ex significant other to let them know you are only staying with them out of social obligation, and if you had your way, you’d be out the door in a candy-coated heartbeat.
 An Adele CD
– because what else says “you’re about to be really sad� better than Adele’s soul-crushing, heart-wrenching ballads about lost love and emotional turmoil?
a body pillow
– a nice, subtle way to let them know that they will soon be sleeping alone.
Say hello Ahh, the good trends always come back. Like a light-wash pair of highwaisted shorts, try throwing it back to the ’80s and woo your heartthrob by speaking to them in person. Try a simple introduction, maybe “hi,� or even “hey,� if you’re feeling more confident. After a few steamy uses of these bad boys, feel free to take it up a notch and whip out the full “hello.� You’ll be finding your way out of the single life in no time.
excuses
Dress in all leather, then break out into song and dance Don’t be afraid to get a little ‌ Grease-y. Dressing in all black will show bae your rockin’ bod, and the singing and dancing will demonstrate your raw skills and high-key devotion to romance. Feel free to write your own song, too. Everyone loves a poet.
Send them an Edible Arrangement Flowers you can eat? How could they not fall in love with you? Not only will they be impressed that you figured out their address, but completely smitten by the artwork that is a heart-shaped pineapple.
A gym membership
– an attempt to offend them so much that they’ll break up with you and save you the trouble. Proceed with caution. If you would rather not look like a huge asshole, you may want to try a different approach.
A keychain
 - A keychain with their name on it that you picked up at a gas station a few minutes before you saw them – this gift is a double whammy. It shows them that you 1) don’t care about them enough to plan out a nice gift and 2) know very little about them or their interests, besides what their name is. Bonus points if the name is spelled wrong.
Look up Try looking up from your phone for one minute each day. Don’t forget to look both to your left and right. Maybe you never noticed the cute guy sitting next to you, or that the girl two rows back is like, totally hot. The first step in any relationship is to know the person actually exists (outside the internet). So there you have it. The time has come to MOVE your way out of the online dating world and flirt IRL. This complete guide to finding a real-world love is designed to give you everything you need to be a certified loveguru. Go forth and conquer.
The Book, “He’s Just Not That Into You�
to make anyone believe you didn’t
SWIPE RIGHT
BIANCA RODRIGUEZ Staff Writer In today’s society, online dating is way more common than it used to be. With a swipe or a tap, the possibilities of meeting someone online are endless, but not everyone approves. By everyone, I mean parents, and with Valentine's Day approaching, you can’t avoid the “Where’d you guys meet?� question any longer. So MOVE has come up with 10 top-notch excuses for you and your Tinder match to get the parental seal of approval.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
You met at Target buying multivitamins. - Yes, mom and dad, vitamins.
You both bonded on your mutual love for Shrek movies. ´3XVV LQ %RRWVÂľ" :KDW D JX\ They requested to sing “I Wanna Dance with Somebodyâ€? by Whitney Houston for karaoke night and you FRXOGQ¡W KHOS EXW WR MRLQ WKHP 7KDW VRQJ ! 7KH &RQVWLWXWLRQ
They checked you out at Chipotle DQG GLGQ¡W FKDUJH \RX IRU JXDFDPROH 7KH UHVW LV FKLSVWRU\ /LNH KLVWRU\ EXW ZLWK FKLSV
You desperately needed a phone charger, and they came to your rescue. 1RZ LQVWHDG RI \RXU SKRQH WKH\¡UH FKDUJLQJ XS \RXU KHDUW
The Movie, “He’s Just Not That Into You� on DVD – just to pour more salt in the wound.
Page design by Christy Prust | Production Manager
You both grabbed for the last slice of pizza. IRU D SL]]D EXIIHW DW &LFL¡V" 7KDW¡V VRPHWKLQJ ZRUWK ILJKWLQJ IRU
8
In the bookstore, you bonded over the fact that you both would have to sell a kidney in order to pay for books this semester. , PHDQ KRZ PDQ\ NLGQH\V GR \RX UHDOO\ QHHG" You met at a student chargeaholic meeting, and later connected over student charged smoothies. :KDW FDQ , VD\" ,W JHWV WKH EHVW RI us.
9 10
You both needed someone for the 2 IRU GHDO DW &KLOL¡V %URNH EXW VDWLVILHG Your Uber driver turned out not to be a serial killer, but instead a rather charming individual. 3HUNV RI 8EHU 6HOHFW DP , ULJKW"
6 No date, no problem NANCY COLEMAN Deputy Copy Chief
No matter how single you are, there’s a perfect Valentine’s Day plan for everyone.
I have been single for 18 consecutive Valentine’s Days. Wallowing in self-pity is the easy thing to do, but it’s not suited for everyone — make sure that you get the most out of this Feb. 14.
Single and cynical:
You’ve had your anti-Valentine’s speech ready to go in your head since midnight on Feb. 1, and now is the day to let it all out. Buy some roses and burn them. Find some candy hearts and crush them to smithereens. Go on an anti-love rampage and destroy any remotely romantic rubbish that stands in your path to pessimism.
Single, recent dumpee:
Watch “The Notebook.” Eat a box of chocolates. Cry. Repeat.
Single and picky:
Alright, let’s face it: You’ve tried everything and everyone, and it’s becoming pretty clear that no one will ever be good enough. That’s exactly why you need a boyfriend pillow. The boyfriend pillow is the perfect companion — he’ll never be the huge disappointment that all of those other losers were. As one online commenter so eloquently wrote, the boyfriend pillow may only be half a man, but he’s twice the man that your ex ever was.
Single, recent dumper:
You’re strong. You’re powerful. You can crush the hearts of a thousand men with a single high heel. Today’s the day to listen to “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyonce and triumphantly parade around your room. Better yet, start a bonfire and burn all remnants of your relationship. Nothing like the smoldering ashes of old cheesy prom pictures to snuff out an old flame. Bonus: Make s’mores while you’re at it.
Single and hopelessly romantic:
You’re alone on Valentine’s Day. Once again. Just like last year. But it’s fine. No big deal. You’re fine. Everything’s fine. Drown your sorrows in as many romantic comedies as possible. Someday your prince will come (probably not. But it’s fine. Everything’s fine).
Single and desperate:
Run out of swipes on Tinder? Try farmersonly.com. Real-life cows are way more exciting than teddy bears.
Single and ready to mingle:
Don’t be intimidated by the hordes of couples flooding the streets — Valentine’s Day is the best day of the year to find other people with commitment issues just like you. Simply walk outside and take a look around. Pinpoint the one person standing alone in terror, fearfully surrounded by other horrifyingly cute couples. You’ve found your match.
Single and loving it:
Leslie Knope on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” changed the Valentine’s Day game forever when she introduced the world to Galentine’s Day. On Feb. 13, “ladies celebrate ladies” by kicking it breakfaststyle. Keep the friend love going on Feb. 14 by spending some time with your best friends. Have a movie night, bake some brownies in the microwave, make friendship bracelets, whatever floats your boat. Just because you’re single on Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean you have to be alone!
Valentine’s Day Ten things we’ll do watching Adele’s special KATHERINE WHITE Singles of the world, rejoice. For once, it seems almost clear that we will have the better end of the deal than the fancy-date-bound folk this Valentine’s Day. OK, so maybe not everyone would agree with that, but I’d prefer an Adele performance to an over-sized teddy bear any day of the year. The “Adele: Live in London” special, hosted by Graham Norton, airs 9 p.m. Cemtral Valentine’s Day on BBC America. MOVE gets it, so here’s our V-Day gift to you. Presenting: 10 things we’ll all be doing while watching Adele’s special alone on Valentine’s Day. 1. Going straight for the Haagen-Dazs. Of course you’re going to be eating chocolate ice cream; that’s a given. However, the choice of specific flavor and brand is an important one to consider. Haagen-Dazs is the clear winner for three reasons: one, the chocolate peanut butter flavor is the elixir of the gods; two, the smaller-sized containers can definitely be consumed in one sitting; three, it’s Valentine’s Day. Treat. Yo. Self. 2. Shamefully redownloading Tinder/rereading texts from your ex. Resist the urge to sassily send “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” lyrics to your ex. Briefly consider cheekily sending “Crazy For You” lyrics to your Tinder match. 3. (Loudly) singing along even though Adele’s Grammy-winning voice is light years ahead of any other human’s. We’ve all had that moment: You’re driving late at night, “All I Ask” is playing on your car radio, and you decide to belt along. Approximately around the second time through the chorus you’re realizing that Adele is super-human and you’re losing your voice. 4. Trying to give yourself Adele’s flawless eyeliner. Adele’s winged eyeliner is the most flawless work of art since Vincent van Gogh’s “Still Life: Vase with Pink Roses.” There’s no way we’re getting through this special without trying at least once to pull off that perfect wing. 5. Attempting to figure out which Adele song is your No. 1 favorite.
Why V-Day is actually the best Here’s why you shouldn’t worry about being single on Valentine’s Day. THEODORA LEVENTIS Reporter I used to think Valentine’s Day was a bogus holiday only celebrated by those who were in relationships. It was just another excuse for couples to be overly affectionate in public. Well, I was wrong. You see, anyone can celebrate Valentine’s Day. It doesn’t matter what your love life looks like. Whether you’re seeing someone or not, you still have special people all around you. This day is not exclusively about celebrating being in love, but rather about showing appreciation to those close to us. With our busy schedules and quick responses via text or email, we tend not to make it clear that we care when in actuality, we do a lot.
Love is love, and it takes several forms. For instance, there’s unconditional love, tender platonic love, friendship and family love, and passionate romantic love. Saying “I love you” is executed differently depending on the affiliation with that person. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I meet people and even if I don’t see them often, I still wonder about them at times. Take this day to ask them how they’re doing. Do something nice for your friends and family. We’re in college, and we may not realize this, but our families back home miss us and worry about us. Whether you choose to go out with your significant other or have a movie night watching “How To Be Single” with your girlfriends while binge-eating chocolate, have a good time. Valentine’s Day isn’t for everybody, and you don’t need to fit into a certain category in order to have fun. This day could be an opportunity to finally take time to treat yourself. Instead of waking up with a dreadful mood, be excited! In the end, no matter how the day
Is your name wifi? Because I am feeling a connection.
Fun fact: This is actually impossible. 6. Getting nostalgic about your nonexistent hurtfulyet-passionate lover from your early years. Something about “When We Were Young” makes you feel incredibly sentimental about your questionable but handsome significant other from years past — even though you’re technically still young and this person didn’t exist in real life. 7. Wishing you were Adele’s best friend. From that one time Adele impersonated an Adele impersonator to surprise other Adele impersonators (say that five times fast) to her adorable Carpool Karaoke session, Adele comes off as not only just a great vocalist, but also as a great person as well. 8. Holding your own hand because someone has to do it. Be strong. You might feel alone, but know in your heart that millions of other viewers are crying to “Love in the Dark” at the exact same time you are. 9. Shedding a single tear. Actually, there will probably be several tears shed. Remember to stock up on Kleenex. 10. Having the perfect end to Valentine’s Day. Whether you spent the day with a significant other or your best friends, tuning into a live Adele concert is a wonderful way to end the day. See you on Valentine’s Day, and make sure to follow @MOVEManeater on Twitter so you don’t miss any of our live tweets during the event.
Valentine’s Day
Love DW ͆UVW VHPHVWHU Explore the stories of two A+ Mizzou-made couples.
MOVE STAFF Anywhere you go on campus, you’ll hear about people who were #MizzouMade. There were two players in the Super Bowl from Mizzou, Jon Hamm and Brad Pitt passed through the columns just like we did, and the “Mizzou Mafia” is a known advantage in many of our majors’ post-graduation
7
job searches. Although the hashtag #MizzouMade often evokes things like hype and pride, it also has a softer side. Just in time for Valentine's Day, MOVE took a look at two Mizzou-made couples who prove true love does exist.
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF HANNA YOWELL
Gray says. Gray and Biernbaum had been dating for two and a half years before he proposed. Although the proposal was a surprise, Gray said she was half expecting it. The scavenger hunt’s second stop was Delta Tau Delta, Biernbaum’s fraternity. Last Christmas, Biernbaum lavaliered Gray, an Alpha Phi, and promised they would get married. Since that night, the couple had gone ring shopping together and talked about marriage. Biernbaum, who is a year older than Gray, graduated from MU last year. He lives and works in Tampa, Florida, and was supposed to come down that Friday to visit Alex. To her surprise, he showed up a day early. After stopping by Delta Tau Delta, Gray was taken to the football field, where their friends from church stood, and then to the Alpha Phi house. Her
friends in Alpha Phi took her upstairs, where she fixed her hair and makeup before slipping into a blue dress and heading to the Columns for the proposal. The wedding is set for Sept. 3 in a St. Louis church. Gray knew she wanted to have the wedding after she graduated so she could move with him to Florida afterward and start working on an internship there. Gray has a whole Pinterest board of ideas for her wedding. She said she already has her dress and the venue, and the colors will be pink and burgundy. Gray says she’s not nervous about being young and getting married, but moving away from home makes her uneasy. However, she’s confident in the love they share and knows that this will be an exciting new journey for the both of them.
“I was smitten, and apparently (Susan) was not bothered by my backwards St. Louis Cardinals cap and sweatiness,” Reboulet says in an email. “I knew I wanted to marry her right away.” Though this was the early ’90s, the beginning of the couple’s relationship looked much like it would today. They spent two weeks lunching at The Heidelberg, having study dates at Ellis Library and talking all night on the steps of the Delta Delta Delta house. Their first date was dancing to Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus” at The Blue Note. But because they met so late in the semester, their two weeks of bliss was followed by a summer of long distance. “When we got back to school and we were able to see each other again, it was really the time we both realized we would be together the rest of our lives,” Reboulet says.
With that realization, their senior year was their happiest collective memory. Now married for 24 years, Columbia is filled with memories for the Reboulets, from John’s wrestling matches at Hearnes Center to trips to Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and Les Bourgeois Vineyards. “I can’t separate my memories of John and Mizzou,” Susan Reboulet, formerly Susan Scott, reminisces. “Even though we didn’t meet until junior year, Mizzou and John are one. Mizzou became so much more to me after John and I met. More fun, more special, more memories made, more relationships formed.”
Columns Courtship Eric Biernbaum and Alex Gray have known each other most of their lives. What started as a friendship in a St. Louis church as children culminated last October in a proposal that took MU social media by storm. It was a Thursday afternoon during Homecoming week and Gray had just walked out of class to find a group of her friends waiting to pick her up. The scavenger hunt that followed, planned entirely by Biernbaum, took her first to Excellence, her freshman residence hall and where Gray lived when she and Biernbaum first began dating. “I’ve always had a crush on him, but we waited until college to date; we knew we wanted to date with the intentions of eventually getting married,”
MIZZOU MARRIED It was spring of Susan Scott’s junior year when she met the love of her life. She’d spent much of her time practicing for Greek Week in Beta Theta Pi’s dining hall; it was there one night she spotted 21-year-old John Reboulet as he left for an evening run. Though it was over 20 years ago, Scott still recalls in an email him donning “white shorts and a long sleeved navy and red Polo shirt.” After he left, Scott confided in a friend how handsome and amusing she found Reboulet, and she remembers him now as endearingly shy. A mutual friend of the pair called Reboulet over after he returned from his run.
— Morgan Brown, Reporter
— Cat Whitmer, Reporter Edited by Katherine Rosso and Elana Williams | krosso@themaneater.com and ewilliams@ themaneater.com
THE STUDENT VOICE OF MU SINCE 1955
Follow us on social media:
themaneater.com