Ryan Gosling attends the premiere of ‘The Place Beyond The Pines’ in New York City March 28. Credit: Courtesy of MCT

Ryan Gosling attends the premiere of ‘The Place Beyond The Pines’ in New York City March 28.
Credit: Courtesy of MCT

Throughout the years, Hollywood, in coordination with the relentless efforts of advertisers across the globe, has painted a specific picture of the quintessential Valentine’s Day.

Many movies and advertisements show the flowers, chocolates and various romantic gestures that have all become associated with the heart-filled holiday, but are these the things college students want when they envision Feb. 14?

Some Ohio State students envisioned their perfect Valentine’s Day date and came up with a multitude of plans, some agreeing with the on-screen clichés but others differing from the format entirely.

Rachel Berton, a first-year in dietetics, said that while the allure of a night on the town seems nice, she’d rather a comfortable night in.

“I’d just want to stay in and have a nice home cooked meal or something,” Berton said. “Then I’d want to watch a movie. Something funny, not anything romantic.”

On the other hand, Haley Pohl, a first-year in respiratory therapy, had her romantic evening all planned out.

“Where I live, we have a Ruby’s on the pier, so I’d want to go there and share a milkshake,” Pohl said. “Then we would go on the lifeguard tower and watch the sunset.”

Jackie Binder, a first-year in mathematics, might have had the most specific plans of all, even singling out the man with whom she’d want to spend the special day.

“I’d want to jet down to Florida with Ryan Gosling,” Binder said. “We’d hang out on the beach and watch the sunset.”

The women weren’t the only ones describing their perfect Valentine’s Day, a few gentlemen stepped up to the plate and offered up their perfect night as well.

“I’d probably go out to eat, get her flowers and probably watch a movie,” first-year engineering student Ryan Tucker said.

After he set up the special evening, Tucker said the choice of movie was all hers.

“She can pick which movie she wants,” Tucker said. “That’s the nice part.”

Finally, William Madley, a third-year in computer science and engineering, described his Valentine’s night on a local scale.

“If it had to be something on campus, it would probably be something nice like a dinner at the Blackwell,” Madley said. “If it was off-campus, I’m sure there’s plenty of options, probably somewhere in the Short North, somewhere a little fancier, I don’t really have anything in mind.”

Following the nice dinner, Madley said he would want to kick-back, relax and enjoy some TV time.

“A movie would sound pretty good,” Madley said. “Maybe we could watch a bunch of Netflix, that might be nice.”