Intro to Grinnellian Dating

On the opening day of New Student Orientation, all the first-year students gather in Darby Gym for the welcome ceremony. During speeches and words of wisdom, the new Grinnellians learn one especially noteworthy statistic: 60 percent of Grinnellians marry other Grinnellians.

Remember, they tell us, this does include alumni who met after their tenure at Grinnell. But the excited whisperings that go around the room pay no heed. The thought that their soul mate could be in that very same room at that very moment runs rampant through everyone’s head.

For most people, however, this statistic also forces consideration of that one unanswered question: what does this mean about the dating culture at Grinnell?

What strikes me most about dating at Grinnell is the incredible diversity you’ll find within relationships. For starters, crossdisciplinary dating is the norm. We have pairings of math and history, computer science and religious studies, and English and physics, to name a few. In fact, finding a couple dating within the same field is rare at Grinnell. Similarly, cross-cultural dating is not uncommon either. Grinnellians often gravitate toward those who aren’t just like them … which only makes the relationship more interesting. From holding hands to holding your ground in a debate about the merits and demerits of globalization, the Grinnell dating scene embodies the diversity of the student body.

As far as the practical aspects of dating go, there are plenty of places to meet interesting people who share your interests. Often people connect through a club — an a capella choir group, salsa dancing, GSPAN (Grinnell Student Peace Action Network), the Scarlet & Black (the College newspaper), the Stonewall Coalition (a student group of lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, gay, and allied students), and the like.

Consequently, the general trend I’ve found is that the let’s-go-get-a-cup-of-coffee culture is not quite as prevalent at Grinnell as it is elsewhere. Most relationships blossom out of good friendships, and many relationships end up being long-term. That’s not to say casual dating doesn’t exist, but if you are looking for a relationship, your best bet would be to start by building friendships.

While no one can guarantee you’ll find your soul mate at Grinnell, you will meet some of the most lovable people in your life here. You’ll make lifelong friends – and hey, you never know when a friend can turn into something more!

Sunanda Vaidheesh '12 is a Sociology Major and Global Development Studies Concentrator from Mumbai, India.