While the calendar lists today as St. Valentine’s Day which is a celebration of love, things are a little different at Cal. With names from V-day to National Condom Day what I saw on Sproul would be described best as Sex Day.

Starting as early as 9, at least half a dozen people were passing out condoms and lubricant as part of safer sex kits. Students with shirts proclaiming themselves as sexperts stood ready to answer questions about sex. There were tables with information about contraceptives and tips for making your sexual experience better. I saw a person dressed as a condom and even a woman as a KY lubricant tube.

The message I got today was focused on everything but what the heart means.

The ASUC was even marrying people on Sproul with certificates and candy rings. With some people getting married multiple times, this encourages a casual attitude toward marriage. With divorce rates as they are, more thought and respect for marriage and its commitment are needed not less.

To get everyone in the mood the Daily Cal ran a special sex issue yesterday. It boasted a Dorma Sutra section with seven suggested places to get it on. There were even a few illustrations to aid the imagination, however I could not find them online.

There were a few student groups doing more noble things. The Berkeley Students for Life were selling roses and many other groups were selling flowers and candy to raise money for charity.

There was a noteworthy letter in the Daily Cal yesterday. The author talked about radical feminists and the change of the holiday over time:

But V-Day isn’t just about ending violence against women. It’s something else. V-Day is a day to celebrate “Vagina Warriors.” V-Day is a day to “be” your vagina. And it has usurped Valentine’s Day—a day that was originally intended to celebrate love and relationships-which college campuses need today more than ever.

In this hyper-sexual atmosphere we need love more then ever. It is not about getting in someone’s pants, it is finding someone who you can connect with and share your feelings with. It is about finding that special someone who you can share your life with and rejoice in the uniqueness that is you.

Maybe I am an old-fashioned romantic, but I am not the only one.