When the time came around for us here at Generation to decide on the theme for our Valentine’s Day issue, the idea of another sex issue came up. Everybody loves sex. Our readers like reading about sex. Our writers like writing about sex. And sometimes our editorial board even has sex.

However, this year we wanted to tackle a topic even more taboo and harder to find than good sex—the lost art of romance.

We’ve replaced candle-lit dinners with battery-operated dildos and slow dancing with speed dating. Romance certainly isn’t what it used to be, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. In fact, we’ve realized that romance is actually alive and kicking on campus. We have proof. People are falling in and out of love all over the place—from the Internet to Lockwood Library to the bathtub.

Our writers have tackled many different aspects of college romance. Can two people hold legitimate, intimate conversations online without ever actually seeing each other? Can dating through the Internet work when there’s no worrying about an unbuttoned fly or a booger in the nose, just about which photo to upload onto Facebook?

To an outsider, online dating seems like an invitation to disaster. And it’s true—some people have had dates from Hell because of misleading profiles. But, better yet, some people actually find their true loves while sifting through hundreds of websites, photos, and “about me”s. We’ve brought you the dos and don’ts of Internet dating and true stories from people that have entered this virtual realm and lived to talk about it.

But, just because we live in a world of IMs and text messages doesn’t mean that our collegiate romantic experience has to be limited to Facebook. We’ve learned that romance can be found across borders, across different languages, and across the aisle on the bus. Little flings may only last for a couple weeks, but they can still be as passionate and special as long relationships. Committed couples can either flourish with new love after every kiss or sour with resentment after every fight.

Romance is something intimate and extraordinary shared between two people who love each other. We take it in small doses and savor the taste in our mouths for months after it’s gone. We take chances. We put our undying trust in another person. We get our hearts broken. We come back for more.

Romance certainly isn’t dead.

And for those of you who thought you weren’t going to have a Valentine to cuddle with this year, Generation has a special surprise for you. We love our readers, but we can’t afford to sit down to dinner or a movie with each of you. Instead we decided that we could sweep your off your feet by showing your our very best assets. Yes, you read that right—we had some of our staff pose in their underwear, just for you, sweetie. We want you to know that you’re the only one for us. We love you and want to see you happy always, but especially on Valentine’s Day.

Un Beso,

Ann Marie Olivo

Senior Editor and Hopeless Romantic