To some, today is a day to celebrate the love you share with someone special. To others, today is just another excuse to add a mound onto your already-heaping pile of debt. Traditionally, men and women have seen Valentine’s Day from two very different perspectives, and these NIU students agreed to share their opinions on the holiday at hand.

“Valentine’s Day is not a real holiday; it’s just a Hallmark holiday. Valentine’s Day is just a day that women made up to get flowers and candy.”

Steven Madison

Senior, political science

Single

“Valentine’s Day is a holiday, but I think Hallmark has turned it into a commercial holiday. Valentine’s Day should be kept simple and intimate and not commercial.”

Kacie Lambert

Senior, physical therapy

In an exclusive relationship

“Something personal, or something meaningful – that way she knows you put a lot of time into it.”

Marty Murphy

Junior, sociology

In an exclusive relationship

“Lingerie – it makes the day more exciting and worth looking forward to.”

Robert Rivera

Senior, technology

In an open relationship

“Flowers are romantic, but only when used sparingly. When bought on necessity, such as on Valentine’s Day, they lose their meaning.”

Andrew Becerra

Junior, OMIS

Single

“Overdone. If you go buy a dozen roses on Feb. 15, they’re half price.”

Heather DeClerck

Junior, physical therapy

In an open relationship

‘It’s actually a good idea and I also think it’s quite appropriate for the occasion.”

Ratna Jijjavarapu

Graduate student,

computer science

Single

“They can be overdone with the whole roses thing. If you want to be romantic, be original. Sunflowers and stargazers; something different.”

Lindsey Reynolds

Senior, physical therapy

Single

“My boyfriend gave me the ideal Valentine’s Day two years ago when we went into Chicago and he had a whole day planned of cute things to do.”

Jessica Gorney

Junior, sociology

In an exclusive relationship

“I would like to be surprised – have everything taken care of ahead of time. I don’t care where we would go, but it would be awesome to have the day end with fireworks. That is the most romantic thing ever.”

Alisa Prigge

Junior, English

In an exclusive relationship