I never speed dated before Wichita State’s International Student Union (ISU) gave me the opportunity Friday on Valentine’s Day.

I arrived at the Rhatigan Student Center with some preconceived ideas that I knew might, and hopefully would, be wrong. The expectations came from hearing, reading and watching television news broadcasts about the concept. 

I have watched news broadcasts, and the idea of “speed dating conflict” came to mind. What a way to meet someone. Instead of slowly and what might be considered more naturally, I felt like speed dating would scream at me, “GET TO KNOW THIS PERSON FAST AND MAKE A JUDGMENT ABOUT THEM IN LESS THAN 4 MINUTES!”

How is it possible to make a good, accurate evaluation about someone in that type of setting?

However, ISU’s approach to the activity diminished the discomfort of speed dating. 

ISU gave each participant a personal profile sheet that each “dater” filled out, answering the questions: name, where they are from, likes, dislikes, favorite movies and music, and a comment about what relationships mean to them. Everyone was given a number.

 I was No. 14.

The women were seated at tables and joined by men. The men moved from table to table after a few minutes with their “dates.” They exchanged their profiles, read them, and talked a bit before ISU officials clapped and turned the music down to signal the time for the men to move to another table.

I enjoyed the company of each woman I talked to, making it difficult to choose which ones I liked the most. ISU had each dater select three potential matches by writing their number down on a sheet with columns of first, second and third choices. ISU will contact each participant by email and let them know how their three selections match with the ones others selected. 

I wish I could have chosen more than three. I feel guilty that I didn’t and am open to the ones I did not choose contacting me.

I also wish that more than 20 people had shown up. Hopefully more will the next time ISU sponsors a speed dating opportunity. It is worth the time meeting someone in a safe environment rather than, say, in a bar. 

It would be interesting to hear about Friday’s activities from a woman’s point of view.