Other Campuses

(U-WIRE) COLLEGE PARK, Md.- The screen overhead flashes Question 14: "What's your favorite dream vacation?" One male speed dater can't help but chuckle to himself.

"I kind of find this hilarious," he says as he grabs a mint.

He was one of 40 students who speed dated Friday night in the dimly lit Prince George's room in the University of Maryland's Stamp Student Union in an event sponsored by the Thai Student Association.

"I was thrilled about the idea because it's the kind of thing you see in the movies," said Tim Kobus, a junior government and politics major. "Now I can say, 'Yeah, I've been speed dating. Have you?'"

Cinema-goers have watched some of their favorite movie stars struggle in awkward, forced social situations like speed dating in movies such as "Hitch" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin." This is the first time the Thai Student Association has brought the concept of speed dating, pervasive in romantic comedies, to the campus.

In the age of rapidly advancing technology and 24-hour information, some relationship experts have questioned the validity of speed dating.

"If something starts from speed dating, it usually fizzles away," said Diana Kirschner, a psychologist and love expert based in New York who counsels daters from ages 20 to 57. Kirschner said based on her experience, she's "not seeing that good of a result from" speed dating because people can't convey who they really are in three-minute intervals.

"I think it's pretty much easy to meet people (on the campus), but through casual stuff like parties and a network of friends, not forced stuff like this," said Jason Cheung, a junior architecture major who participated in the event.

The No. 1 way to meet people is through a social network of family and friends, but if a person puts enough energy into online dating, it can also be successful, Kirschner said.

"In college, there's all different rules," she said.

College students who participated in the event struggled to define the college-dating scene.

Dating in college is easy, but having a lasting relationship is much harder, said Tony Nguyen, a senior criminology and criminal justice major. "There's so much temptation," Nguyen said.

- Brianna Bond

"A lot of girls at University of Maryland are kinda trashy ... it's kinda hard to meet a girl of substance," Kobus said. "It's probably not hard to hook up, but I'd like to think that there's more out there."

The Thai Student Association wanted to reach out to students looking for a unique dating experience.

"On-campus dating isn't very prevalent on this university," said Tip Fallon, one of the presidents of the Thai Student Association. "The social scene can be very fulfilling without a significant other ... but I think there is a group that is looking for that."

Guys in crisp dress shirts gelled their hair while ladies donned flowy skirts and figure-flattering sweaters. "I've seen some people that dressed up real nice, and I feel bad," said Anthony Abraham, a senior computer science major with curly blond locks who wore a vintage caramel brown leather jacket and brown Converse.

Each dater was assigned a number and a list of the other participants' numbers. They noted whether they were interested after three minutes of socializing.

After about an hour of socializing one-on-one, the daters mingled while club's officers compiled the requests and made envelopes for the daters with contact information for those who received requests.

Participants paid $3 to attend the event. The proceeds benefited Hurricane Katrina.

"This is just a way for us to do something for the campus community," said Diana Donavanik, secretary for the Thai Student Association. It's also "a way to get more people involved in the club."

Most participants agreed at the end of the night that they met a couple good friends but didn't see any lasting romantic relationships materializing.

"It was for fun," said Khine Lwin, a junior biological resources engineering major. "Everyone's heard of the idea, and everyone's curious about speed dating."

"I met my future wife," Kobus said. After meeting 20 women, though, he said, "I don't remember which one she is."