The Brown & White

It is the season of brilliant sunshine, blossoming gardens and budding romances. And, for some couples, spring brings pins.

Across college campuses, couples are currently celebrating pinning season.

Historically, pinnings have been viewed as pre-engagement parties, meaning the two people involved plan to spend a lifetime together.

Still, some students think a pinning is nothing more than a nice party.

"I think that back in the day, it meant a lot more to give a girl your pin," Susy Portocarrero, '08, said. "It was like a promise of engagement. Now it is just a way to differentiate your relationship from the average couple dating."

Whitney Colleran, '09, celebrated her pinning with Psi Upsilon fraternity brother Dan Harris, '08, in February after dating for more than two years.

"It wasn't just some random night of binge drinking," Colleran said. "It's a way to celebrate all the time we've spent together and with the house. There are certain houses that have pinnings all the time, but this is not something that happens all the time at Psi U."

Colleran said the brothers voted to approve her pinning. Friends made speeches and presented gifts, and the brothers sang at the ceremony.

"It's not just a booze-fest," Colleran said.

Not all Lehigh relationships are formed at fraternity parties.

Stu Baxter, a senior midfielder on the Lehigh lacrosse team, has been in a relationship for more than a year. His girlfriend is on the field hockey team, and the couple met in a way only athletes could.

"She tore her ACL, and I broke my hand, so we were both in sports med together," Baxter said.

As an athlete, Baxter believes his relationship is stronger because his girlfriend is also an athlete.

"It helps that she's on a team too because we understand each others' schedules, and I still get to hang out with my friends," Baxter said.

But not all students are dating someone at Lehigh, nor would they want to.

Fran Downey, '08, said she has been in a long-distance relationship on and off for the past six years.

Her boyfriend goes to Dickinson College in Carlisle, Penn., about two hours away from Lehigh. Downey said she only gets to see her boyfriend twice a month, but she does not want to be in a relationship at Lehigh.

"At times I hate the distance, but I love to have the independent college experience," Downey said. "I don't think Lehigh breeds healthy relationships, but as a result, people form very close friendships. I bond with my girl and guy friends over bad relationships and awkward moments."

Kiran Thomas, '09, believes relationships at Lehigh can be functional despite dysfunctional beginnings.

"Even though people may initially meet at a fraternity party, it doesn't rule out the possibility that a deep, meaningful relationship can't stem from that," Thomas said.

But, Thomas said he thinks it may be hard to make a Lehigh relationship last in the real world, especially if the students involved are from different graduating classes.

"I think it's difficult to find relationships that last outside of Lehigh if the two people involved graduate at different times," Thomas said. "Personally, I don't think the social scene at Lehigh is conducive to making a relationship work if one person is left behind."