Sloan Mitchell
Sloan Mitchell
Redefining Love on Campus: Relationships at Spelman College
Redefining Love on Campus: Relationships at Spelman College
February is the month of love. Across college campuses, it is often associated with proposals, Valentine’s Day cards and red roses. At Spelman College, however, the month also opens space for deeper conversations about what love truly looks like. In friendships, romantic relationships and in the ways students interact with one another.
What makes a healthy relationship?
The Title XI department focuses on preventive education, effective response and intentional assessment around sex discrimination, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. Through workshops, training and student engagement, the office works to help students understand what safe relationships should look like.
Paula Hall, the assistant director for prevention and awareness events around campus, shared her perspective on what makes a healthy relationship.
“With a healthy relationship, it’s having a mutual understanding as well as consent as to the direction of the relationship,” Hall said. “There shouldn't be abuse in the form of emotional and verbal abuse.”
Healthy relationships are built on mutual respect, communication and trust. They create spaces where both people feel safe to express their needs, set boundaries and grow as individuals.
“Relationships look different from every person,” Hall said. “Friendships, both male and female, are important for anyone at any age.”
For Hall both romantic and platonic relationships need a strong foundation where both parties feel loved and appreciated.
“The same way that you have conversations about healthy relationships, you need to have a healthy friendship," Hall said.
Fostering relationships is a pivotal point of college. For many students, this is the first time they are learning how to navigate intimacy, independence and boundaries on their own. These connections shape how students understand love, self-worth and communication long after they leave campus.
However, love is not limited to romantic relationships. It can be shown in many unique and different ways.
That raises the question: How are Spelman students showing love this month?
Payton Everett is a first-year student at Spelman College. She shared her plans for Valentine's Day.
“I'm writing all my friends Valentine's cards and doing Galentine's with them,” Everett said.
Everett’s is focusing on friendship and appreciation this month. Showing that love does not have to be romantic to be meaningful.
Dominique Love is a sophomore at Spelman College. She also plans to focus on friendship this Valentine's Day.
“For Valentine's Day, I am doing a Galentine's Day party,” Love said. “It's never bad to have a day for love!”
For some students, love shows up in small but thoughtful gestures. Logan Dearing, a first-year student at Spelman College, said she bought her roommate a gift to make her life easier.
“Showing love on Valentine's Day does not have to be grand or reserved only for a significant other,” Dearing said. “It is about intentional actions that make the lives of those closest to you better.”
Whether it’s with friends, significant others, or family members, relationships matter. Showing appreciation during the month of love can strengthen the relationships that support students throughout their collegiate journey.
Every relationship in college is unique. But with that comes the importance of understanding the difference between healthy and unhealthy dynamics. By practicing communication and finding meaningful ways to show appreciation, students can build relationships that are both safe and fulfilling.
Paula Hall also emphasized that love should not be limited to just one day or month.
“I believe in showing love through the year,” Hall said. “Not just giving and receiving love when the world is telling us we should.”
As Valentine’s Day passes, the message remains: love at Spelman goes beyond romance. It shows in friendships, community and the care students show one another every day.
Students interested in supporting healthy relationships on campus and those who have experienced any kind of sexual misconduct or harassment can also get involved with Title IX. Peer educator applications will open on Apr. 1, and a meet-and-greet will be held on Mar. 30 in Cosby 214.
February is the month of love. Across college campuses, it is often associated with proposals, Valentine’s Day cards and red roses. At Spelman College, however, the month also opens space for deeper conversations about what love truly looks like. In friendships, romantic relationships and in the ways students interact with one another.
What makes a healthy relationship?
The Title XI department focuses on preventive education, effective response and intentional assessment around sex discrimination, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. Through workshops, training and student engagement, the office works to help students understand what safe relationships should look like.
Paula Hall, the assistant director for prevention and awareness events around campus, shared her perspective on what makes a healthy relationship.
“With a healthy relationship, it’s having a mutual understanding as well as consent as to the direction of the relationship,” Hall said. “There shouldn't be abuse in the form of emotional and verbal abuse.”
Healthy relationships are built on mutual respect, communication and trust. They create spaces where both people feel safe to express their needs, set boundaries and grow as individuals.
“Relationships look different from every person,” Hall said. “Friendships, both male and female, are important for anyone at any age.”
For Hall both romantic and platonic relationships need a strong foundation where both parties feel loved and appreciated.
“The same way that you have conversations about healthy relationships, you need to have a healthy friendship," Hall said.
Fostering relationships is a pivotal point of college. For many students, this is the first time they are learning how to navigate intimacy, independence and boundaries on their own. These connections shape how students understand love, self-worth and communication long after they leave campus.
However, love is not limited to romantic relationships. It can be shown in many unique and different ways.
That raises the question: How are Spelman students showing love this month?
Payton Everett is a first-year student at Spelman College. She shared her plans for Valentine's Day.
“I'm writing all my friends Valentine's cards and doing Galentine's with them,” Everett said.
Everett’s is focusing on friendship and appreciation this month. Showing that love does not have to be romantic to be meaningful.
Dominique Love is a sophomore at Spelman College. She also plans to focus on friendship this Valentine's Day.
“For Valentine's Day, I am doing a Galentine's Day party,” Love said. “It's never bad to have a day for love!”
For some students, love shows up in small but thoughtful gestures. Logan Dearing, a first-year student at Spelman College, said she bought her roommate a gift to make her life easier.
“Showing love on Valentine's Day does not have to be grand or reserved only for a significant other,” Dearing said. “It is about intentional actions that make the lives of those closest to you better.”
Whether it’s with friends, significant others, or family members, relationships matter. Showing appreciation during the month of love can strengthen the relationships that support students throughout their collegiate journey.
Every relationship in college is unique. But with that comes the importance of understanding the difference between healthy and unhealthy dynamics. By practicing communication and finding meaningful ways to show appreciation, students can build relationships that are both safe and fulfilling.
Paula Hall also emphasized that love should not be limited to just one day or month.
“I believe in showing love through the year,” Hall said. “Not just giving and receiving love when the world is telling us we should.”
As Valentine’s Day passes, the message remains: love at Spelman goes beyond romance. It shows in friendships, community and the care students show one another every day.
Students interested in supporting healthy relationships on campus and those who have experienced any kind of sexual misconduct or harassment can also get involved with Title IX. Peer educator applications will open on Apr. 1, and a meet-and-greet will be held on Mar. 30 in Cosby 214.