Rot Speed Dating Returns
What’s a better combination than college cafeteria food and bell-bottom pants for a blind date?
Sodexo will once again host Rot Speed Dating Feb. 7 at 5 p.m., and this time, the event will feature the retro vibe of the 1970s.
Sodexo Dining hosts Speed Dating every February at the Food Court at Reber-Thomas, just in time for the Valentine’s Day season. Students can sign up for the event beginning at 3:30 p.m., and participants will be placed into groups of 20 —10 guys and 10 girls.
The event will have five 30-minute rounds, allowing students to meet everyone in their group through 10 three-minute dates. Participants stay for one round but may enjoy the entire event from the sidelines outside of their round.
Sodexo usually equates Speed Dating to a high-energy event. Students who do not participate can cheer their friends on from the sidelines. If participants fail to fill their slot in their designated round, onlookers can fill in for the round and join the fun.
“This is a great event to meet new people and have a ton of fun,” Shelby Burton, Sodexo marketing manager, said. “We want to give students an opportunity to break up their normal dinner routine and offer a fun activity where they can meet some new people.”
Anyone who wants to come out and have a good time with their friends and make some new ones will find Speed Dating enjoyable. Even commuters have found previous events an excellent opportunity to meet more people on campus.
David, a senior at Liberty, had heard about Speed Dating during his freshman year through posters around campus and talking to upperclassmen.
“I’m grateful that campus has events like these,” David said. “I always put it off, thinking I (have) enough time, but now I realize that this is my last chance to check it out.”
Speed Dating at Liberty began in 2014, going on a brief hiatus during COVID-19 but returning to campus in 2022. Like other Sodexo events, Speed Dating has the purpose of enhancing the dining program for students while bringing fun events to campus.
“We know the culture of ‘ring by spring’ at Liberty, so we knew that Speed Dating would be eye-catching to students,” Burton said.
Whereas previous Speed Dating events have had themes focusing around love such as “Love Like the Movies,” this year Sodexo chose to take a new spin on its usual Valentine’s Day theme.
The 70s-themed Valentine’s Day cards, which are available at each table, will allow students to create their own unique card to give to someone at Speed Dating or even to their best friend. Sodexo will provide free flowers at
the event.
“We hope that students come to Speed Dating with the mindset of meeting some new people and making friends,” Burton said. “Our intention is for people to have a good time and keep the conversation light.”
Kicinski is a news reporter for the Liberty Champion