Section B · Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, February 10, 2000
Gift giving adds stress to holiday
Chocolate and stuffed animals are popular gifts for students to give, especially if they are trying to save money. However, many students
Students look for unique ideas within budget
By Molly Gise
Kansan correspondent
The days when Valentine's Day gift-giving choices consisted of which cards to give to the boys and which to give to the girls are long gone.
Now Valentine's Day gifts include more than cartoon character-themed cards and conversation hearts. For some student couples, deciding how to celebrate the holiday takes the fun away from the Valentine's Days of childhood.
"I have no idea what to do for my boyfriend on Valentine's Day," said Hilarie Raleigh, Little River junior.
Raleigh and her boyfriend have a troubled history of exchanging gifts.
"We have totally different tastes, so it's hard for me to get him a present," she said. "In the past we've had to take back his presents. We just resorted to doing personal things."
Like Raleigh, Iola sophomore Geoff Gillman that finding the right gift was not easy.
"A lot of time I just let the spirit move me," he said. "Or I hit up her friends for information."
Ultimately, Gillman said he thought that Valentine's Day should be about more than buying gifts.
"The money thing really bother me," he said. "It puts a price tag on things."
For students such as Gillman, the significance of a gift should be more important than its price.
"You don't want to give them a
CD and have them give you a picture frame with the two of you in it," said Karen Keith, Tulak, Oka, freshman.
Although a dozen roses is one of the most common gifts on Valentine's Day, Keith recommended that men consider buying just a single flower.
"Not only is it cheaper, but it's so much better for them to have picked something out themselves," she said.
Rather than a dozen roses, "I would like just as much a daisy and a picnic," Keith said.
Other students agree that gifts should not be an integral part of Valentine's Day.
"It should be about doing something fun and special, not about giving something," Keith said.
Many couples, especially those who have been dating for a long time, celebrate Valentine's Day by simply spending time together.
Portland, Ore., junior Kari Jamison and her boyfriend have been dating for about five years.
"We'll probably just spend the day together," Jamison said.
When finding the perfect gift proved problematic, Raleigh said she found greater success doing personal things for her boyfriend, such as cooking dinner for the two of them.
For some students, buying Valentine's Day gifts was easy and enjoyable.
Classic tokens of affection such as roses, candy, balloons and stuffed animals never go out of style. More said.
Chris More, Anchorage,
Alaska, freshman, has bought
gifts ranging from a dozen roses
to a 2-foot tall teddy bear for past
girlfriends on Valentine's Day.
in showering girls and not getting anything in return."
"All girls have a thing for chocolate, so you can't go wrong," he said.
"There are things that melt their heart," he said. "And that's what I get them for Valentine's Day."
More said he also researched what his girlfriend liked before looking for a gift.
"Valentine's Day is a girl's day," More said. "I truly believe
Sweethearts suffer from post-Valentine letdown after big day
By Sara Bouska
Kansan correspondent
Another gift-giving holiday has arrived in the form of Valentine's Day, and while some University of Kansas students search for the perfect gift, others prepare to be disappointed.
"It can put strain on the relationship because expectation levels of the guy and girl are so differ ent," he said.
Travis McAtee, Washington graduate student, said that with all the agonizing about gifts and resulting disappointments, Valentine's Day was the worst time of year to be in a relationship.
Though both men and women could be disappointed with what they are given for Valentine's day, some men said their girlfriends seemed to do less for them than they hoped.
"One year a girl got me a pair of boxers with hearts on them. That's all I've ever gotten besides phone calls and love notes," he said.
Chris Zachary, Baldwin freshman, said he had never received a big present on Valentine's Day.
Some women said their biggest complaint with Valentine's Day was a lack of originality from men. "I get so sick of getting flowers and candy and gifts like that," said Juliana Colby. Beloit senior
This reaction only seemed to apply to the traditional but perishable gifts of flowers and chocolates. Jewelry, also a common gift, drew no complaints.
"I remember in sixth grade my boyfriend got me a necklace," Colby said. "It was so sweet. I heard all his friends talking about going with him to pick it out."
According to Steffon Carlson, owner of McQueen Jewelers, 809 Massachusetts St., the advantage to gifts of jewelry was the timelessness.
"I think the wonderful thing about a gift of gold or diamonds is that you'll have it for the rest of your life," Carlson said. "Even if you don't continue to date or marry that person, you'll always have that gift to bring back good memories."
Carlson said that between 75 and 80 percent of the Valentine's Day customers were men and that the most popular gift for women was just about anything with a diamond.
"They don't have to be big diamonds." he said. "Small pendants and promise rings are very popular."
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