Romantic Tropes at Duke by Ariela Shuchman
It’s that time of year. Love is in the air at Duke. You’re being forced to buy candy grams on BC. For those Coop readers who love a good rom-com, let’s see how some classic romantic tropes fit into our life at Duke.
Secret billionaire: He has a foyer…
Ahhh, the secret billionaire. The secret billionaire is fond of the simpler things in life. Remember in Crazy Rich Asians when she found out he was rich from their First Class flight to Singapore? We love a man who is humble about his “comfortable” upbringing. At Duke, secret billionaires are hard to come by — most students are, how do I put this, “loud” billionaires. So there is nothing more attractive about a Duke man who is cheap about his food points when you grab dinner. He just loves to go thrifting and eat McDonald’s like the rest of us. One day, on a walk in an obscure part of campus, you discover that he, in fact, has a foyer (fo-yáy) to his name. We’ve all been there, the good old-fashioned foyer discovery. You aren’t super impressed as the foyer is quite small; he might as well have a floor tile to his name. Nonetheless, you are pretty shocked. He assures you that nothing has changed, and he’s still the same guy you fell in love with, just much, much richer.
Age gap: A freshman and a Fuqua…
A big age gap can be hot, especially when the guy is older. There is a 20-point difference in women's and men’s maturity (a 40 year old man has the maturity of a 20 year old woman). So, by dating a 40 year old man you are basically dating someone your own age, which isn’t scandalous at all. Brodie Gym is a magnet for Fuqua students looking to work up a sweat and release the pent up aggression that comes with day trading. In fact, many Duke love stories begin here. Now, you may get some judgment from friends for dating someone so much older. But the Fuqua fetish is real so the chicks at the Coop will support you. If you fancy a Fuqua, I suggest preparing a slide deck and portfolio to pitch them on your value.
Holiday romance: Dirtyyyyy Myrtle…
The Holiday is a classic holiday romance. The Christmas spirit, the snow, the music, everything about the holidays screams romance. Traditionally, a holiday romance begins when an overworked city gal with high heels returns to her small town to reunite with the bearded flannel lumberjack who lives a simple farm life. She decides to pursue her dream of being a baker and marries the lumberjack on their farm. For Duke students, the chance for a holiday romance occurs after the Spring Semester at the slightly less romantic location of Myrtle Beach. Regardless, the seclusion, the escape, the pristine beaches, everything about Myrtle, is bound to create some sparks for the perfect holiday romance.
Forced proximity: All over him on the C1…
“Are you kidding me?! There’s only one bed in this hotel room?! What are we going to do with hours of forced proximity??!!” The C1 gets pretty crowded. Like really really crowded. Crowded to the point where you can be all up on someone. Don’t get me started on the big turns at the Chapel roundabout. People are falling and body parts are everywhere, hands finding themselves in dangerous territory. If you are a fellow short chick, you might even find yourself at the midsection of a fellow rider. But take this as an opportunity, my chicks. The C1 can be just the kind of forced proximity you need to feel a spark with that special someone. Don’t be afraid to move with the motions of the bus and see where the journey takes you.