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6B - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 10, 2005
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The Michigan Daily
The fast track: Speed dating comes to A2
KEEPING IT CLOSE
STUDENTS WEATHER THROUGH LONG-DISTANCE RE
By Megan Jacobs
Daily Arts Writer
It's easier than catching the bar-
tender's eye at Rick's on Friday
night and faster than the line outside
of The Necto. All year, especially
come Valentine's Day, many singles
find themselves at a lass for a great
date or a fun weekend night. Tom
Jaffee, founder of 8minuteDating,
has an exciting and fast approach to
the chaotic dating scene.
Eight dates, each lasting eight
minutes, are on the agenda for event.
Typically held at bars or clubs, the
events provide an atmosphere ripe
for meeting and mingling, costing at
most $45, depending on the food and
entertainment.
Tonight, 8minuteDating will host
it's annual cupidParty at Studio 4 at
314 S. Fourth Ave.
The party begins at 7 p.m. with
two separate events that split up par-
ticipants by age group - 21 to 29 and
30 to 40. Participants will receive a
complimentary DVD of the British
comedy "Coupling," free appetizers
and other surprise giveaways. There
is also a cash bar at this $35 event.
The Arena sports bar at 203 E.
Washington St. will also be hosting
an 8minuteDating party on March 9.
"We're primarily a sports bar, so
it's a different venue than a club set-
ting. Our suggested age group for
the event is between 20-30, although
probably 21-30 would be better since
there will be drinking available,"
said Arena manager Justin Hakala.
To ensure safety and security, only
first names and a number are used for
identification. Participants arrive and
are assigned to a table, where the first
date begins. After eight minutes, a
bell sounds and participants move to
their next assigned table.
There is a 20-minute intermis-
sion after the first four dates, where
participants are encouraged to mix,
talk to people they found interest-
ing, order drinks at a cash bar or eat
appetizer-style food. Another four
dates follow intermission, as well as
a post-event party. Events typically
last two and a half hours.
Participants keep a card over the
course of the night to write down
names and identification numbers of
8minuteDating around town
Tonight, 7 p.m.: 8minuteDating's annual cupidParty, host-
ed by Studio 4 at 314 S. Forest Ave. Cover is $35 for eight
eight-minute-long "dates." Participants will receive a free
DVD of "Coupling," the British comedy.
Wednesday, March 9, 7 p.m.: The Arena bar on 203 E.
Washington St. hosts 8minuteDating. Participants are auto-
matically registered for $20 Arena gift certificates. Cover is
$35.
By Emily Fellows
For the Daily
those they found interesting, attrac-
tive or would like to date again. At
home, they send the information
to 8minuteDating's website; if two
people have selected each other as
a match, the site will send contact
information to each party.
8minuteDating is so confident of
its effectiveness, it offers a guaran-
tee: if you don't meet someone you'd
like to see again, the next event is
free (although you may not be eligi-
ble for give-aways at the free event).
Events host anywhere from 20-
100 participants, always with even
numbers of males and females. Par-
ticipants are guaranteed eight dates,
assuming that all registered guests
show. There are also events geared
toward same-sex daters. Event orga-
nizers plan evenings aimed at groups
with specific interests (e.g. dancing)
and age (e.g. 20-30-year-olds).
According to the website, more than
97 percent of attendees say that they
enjoy the events, and over 90 percent
meet someone that they would like
to see again. Speed dating doesn't
have to be awkward or embarrass-
ing, as proven by the hundreds who
return to the events. Attendees say
the best success tips are to go in with
an open attitude and to have thought
about interesting things to say about
yourself.
Pre-registering
for an event is not a
required, but is highly
recommended. If the idea
of attending an event
alone is less
appealing than
going on one
more blind
date, you
can regis-
ter with a
friend.
Event
Organiz-
ers will
ensure that
if you come
with an oppo-
site-sex friend, you
will have an eight-minute date with
him/her. There are events in almost
every state, including several in Ann
Arbor.
To register for an event or find
out more about 8minuteDating, visit
www.8minutedating.com.
Event Organizers in Ann Arbor
are also available by phone or e-
mail; information is provided on the
website.
While some students opt to cel-
ebrate Valentine's Day by having
a romantic dinner on Main Street
or attending a movie at the State
Theater, Liz DeMar and Lauren
D'annunzio will rush across state
lines to celebrate Valentine's Day
with their boyfriends. Liz is visiting
her boyfriend Marcus at Indiana and
Lauren is visiting Adam at Syracuse.
Both DeMar and D'annunzio are
living through the "double-edged
sword" concept of a long-distance
relationships.
While some University students
can make organic chemistry look
easy, others know how to make
maintaining strong relationships
across the country look even easier.
Those in long-distance relation-
ships know that whether it's a phone
call, an instant message conversa-
tion or an e-mail, keeping in con-
stant contact with their significant
other strengthens the commitment.
DeMar, an LSA sophomore, has
been with Marcus for seven months.
She deals with her withdrawal by
talking to him throughout the day.
"I know that no matter what, we will
talk before one of us goes to bed.
This is usually when we talk the lon-
gest," she said.
On the other hand, LSA junior
D'annunzio, has been with Adam
with over five years. She believes
that "it is important to talk several
times a day, but not for an exces-
sive amount of time like hours each
time."
Don't Turn Green
Because the typical college life-
style is so accommodating to sexual
activity, it is very easy to feel threat-
ened by a companion's friendships
and interactions with the opposite
sex. However, some couples under-
IF YOU WERE IN
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Absence makes the
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- Leslie Robbins
LSA sophomore
stand that trust is essential to all
relationships, especially a long-
distance relationship. "There were
times when he would get so jeal-
ous I couldn't even talk about guys
with him'or post pictures of me with
other guys online. Most of our fights
were because of jealousy," said Tay-
lor Stein, an Art and Architecture
sophomore, who is in a seven-month
serious relationship.
DeMar even attributes a lot of
her relationship's impressive suc-
cess on the fact that it is a long-dis-
tance relationship. After all, while
distance may cause a lot of fights,
it also makes it difficult to fight. In
a long-distance relationship, when
couples are together, every minute
counts, and they cannot take time
together for granted; there is no time
to fight.
"I like that I don't have to priori-
tize between him, my friends and
my work. We never have to have the
argument about choosing things over
each other."
Going the Extra Mile
For those in a long-distance rela-
tionship, a little bit of extra affection
goes a long way. Most students deal
with the distance by visiting as much
as possible.
"We take turns visiting each other
for important holidays and birthdays.
Although students in long-distance relationships miss their significant oti
together.
It's important to spend a lot of time
together," DeMar said. As DeMar
heads over to Indiana to visit this
weekend, the last weekend was his
turn to make the trip to Ann Arbor.
"It's important to visit each other
as much as possible. Absence makes
the heart grow fonder and every time
you see each other, it will get more
amazing," Robbins added.
Feb. 14: A Day to Love or a Day to
Loathe?
Everyone deals with their long
distance relationship differently a
a time when everyone else seems t
have a warm body to be near. Les
lie Robbins, an LSA sophomore, ha
maintained a serious long-distanc
relationship for two years. Her boy
friend and she are both film major
so they send each other DVDs an
movie-related posters.
D'annunzio, who has contir
ued to keep her five-year long-dis
tance relationship alive and strong
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