Valentine’s Day is here and no matter the relationship status, some University of Miami students are planning to celebrate the day of love with the special people in their lives.
On campus, students are setting the tone by sending Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a social fraternity for men with a special interest in music, to serenade their loved ones with a surprise Singing Valentine. Some students are swinging by the Otto G. Richter Library Breezeway to buy their special someone a wooden rose handcrafted by members of the University of Miami Relay For Life team, an organization that raises funds to benefit the American Cancer Society.
Whether it’s a fine-dining experience with their partner in Downtown Miami, or a lowkey movie night with their best friends at home, find out how some 'Canes are planning to spend their Valentine’s Day.
Shadae Nicholas, a junior studying biochemistry from Raleigh, North Carolina, is being surprised by her boyfriend—but has high hopes that he will make the night special.
“I know that I am going out, but he will not tell me where,” Nicholas said. “I do think it will be a seafood restaurant because he knows how much I love it—I hope he got that memo. I also think he’s getting me something special.”
Yixiao Chen, a junior from China who is studying sports administration, is looking forward to celebrating Valentine’s Day in the United States.
“My girlfriend and I will go out for dinner on Monday before coming home to prepare for a test,” Chen said. “In China, there are three similar Valentine’s festivals during the year. So, this will be our first time celebrating Valentine’s Day in America.”
Priscilla Ruiz, a second-year law student from Miami, plans on spending her Valentine’s Day surrounded by her best girlfriends.
“We’re planning on doing a ‘Galentine’s’ dinner together,” Ruiz said. “We made reservations at a new restaurant downtown called Sexy Fish that all five of us have been dying to try.”
Chika Nwosu, a junior from Atlanta, Georgia, is double-majoring in biology and psychology. She’s planning to meet up with her friends and continue a tradition they started last year.
“My friends and I will be gathering Monday evening to make chocolate-covered strawberries before we get all dolled up and head to this new restaurant called Sola,” Nwosu said. “I have my dress and my heels all planned out. The restaurant looks fancy. I’m so excited.”
Emmalyse Brownstein, a senior majoring in journalism from Vero Beach, Florida, is taking the reins on this year’s Valentine’s Day plans with her boyfriend.
“We usually like to dine out, so I took the initiative and picked a surprise restaurant for us this year,” Brownstein shared. “It’s an Italian restaurant that we’ve both wanted to try. I don’t think he has any idea where we’re going, so I’m looking forward to him being surprised.”
Jamie Williams-Smith, a junior from Philadelphia studying business technology, normally wouldn’t care about this day. But since it's her first time in a serious relationship, she and her beau are going all out.
“Even though I think you should do something sweet for your partner throughout the year, because it’s our first Valentine’s together, we are planning to do something,” Williams-Smith explained. “I got him something that he’s been wanting for a while.”
