TL20050214_001 "Baltimore's #1 College Paper - Published Twice-Weekly - www.thetowerlight.com Monday, 2/14/05 Gambling spreads among campuses 5 SGA looks toward eventful semester m^sm 7 Program broadens academic horizons 9 Music faculty to perform classics Departments Opinion News ?... 5 Campus Calendar. 6 Arts 13 Sound Bites 14 Sports 20 In This Corner. 20 Face-Off. 19 Classifieds 16 Holiday's roots hardly Hallmark Valentine's source evident in modern traditions; Harbor events, leisure activities celebrate day Erica Kritt Lauren Tilley The Towerlight Whether happily in love or free wheelin' and single, many think of Valentine's Day as a fabricated holiday. """"It's kind of a made up holiday, it's a Hallmark holiday,"""" Emily Larson, a sophomore biology major, said. Senior physical education major Sean Herron agreed, saying, """"I may not know what the real origin is, but Hallmark has made it what it is now."""" But this year, perhaps people both attached and loose can drop the cynics and think about the real source of this heart-felt holiday. Several legends exist about the beginning of V-Day, but Saint Valentine is the center of all of them. One tale contends Valentine was a priest in third-century Rome. When Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for young men - he believed single men made better soldiers - Valentine recognized this injustice and secretly performed marriages for young couples. He was killed when Claudius discovered his defiance. Another story suggests Valentine was killed helping Christians escape Roman prisons, where he was rumored to have sent the first valentine. It is believed that while imprisoned, Valentine fell in love with a young girl who visited him, allegedly signing a letter to her, """"From your Valentine."""" Today society celebrates Valentine's Day in mid-February to honor the death of Saint Valentine - a tradition that has been in effect since his generation. Various events across Charm City are contributing to the Valentine's celebration. Since Valentine's Day falls on a Monday this year, many activities occurred over the weekend. """"I already celebrated with my boyfriend over the weekend, we celebrated on Friday,"""" Larson said. """"We went out to eat at Paolo's and just kind of hung out."""" Also over the weekend, the Mt. Vernon Love Stories tour enchanted listeners with tales about Baltimore's more interesting residents and their activities on the romantic holiday. Some of the featured Baltimoreans included Edgar Allen Poe, F. Scott Fitzgerald and H.L. Mencken. The tour may be over, but there are plenty of other events to take part in today. The National Aquarium will hold its usual Valentine's Day affair, during which the aquarium will be open from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The price for admission, $40 per Lisa Johnson/The Towerhght couple, also covers champagne and chocolates. The Harbor Point Ice Rink will hold a special skate time for couples from 4 to 9 p.m. and admission is two-for-one. At the other end of the Harbor, there will be """"Valentine's Day at the Top of the World,"""" held on the roof of Baltimore's World Trade Center from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. """"This is the first time we are doing this,"""" Jim Clark, operations manager for the World Trade Center, said. To venture away from the Harbor, the Light Street Branch Library is holding """"Valentine's Day at Your Library"""" in the library's auditorium, featuring the Baltimore Jazz Trio. Feb. 14 has not always been remembered for flowers, chocolates and romantic outings. Sophomore family studies major Kristen Carson made it a romantic evening in with her boyfriend. """"I hung in with my sweetie apd. watched movies,"""" she said. Today High 43 Low 41 Tuesday High 57 Low 38 Wednesday High 49 Low 27 Thursday High 38 Low 22 Friday High 46 Low 31"
