Hopefully, with the exception of last-minute shoppers, all the roses and chocolate have been bought, love mix CDs have been made, and sappy poems have been written. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there’s been lots of talk about vaginas – with the Vagina Monologues, safe-sex, good-love and various other sex related topics. This week has been “good-love week” in my residence hall, and there has been a myriad of activities ranging from AIDS jeopardy, condom bingo and sex tips from the expert.Isn’t Valentine’s Day about love and commitment? So when did Feb. 14 get so sexual? And where did all the love go?

By definition, love is an emotional attachment and a tender feeling of affection.Sex by definition is, well, I don’t think that needs to be defined.Besides, I don’t know if I could type that without blushing. Anyway, love is affection and feelings on an emotional level whereas sex is, well, sex.

I’m an not saying the promotion of safe sex and sex education is bad because I believe it’s something that isn’t reinforced enough these days.People have sex – lots of sex – and, I suppose, what better time to cause awareness for safe sexual practices than during love week – good love week if you will.

And I’m also not saying that sex is bad.It’s a personal decision between two people.A relationship should be built on love, and then if the couple chooses – sex. You can’t just have sex and work on the love part later.It doesn’t work that way.

I just don’t understand the direct correlation between love and sex.Well, obviously, in some relationships, sex is one way of showing affection and love, but not in all relationships.

Love and sex, to me, are two completely different things on two completely different levels. The general consensus I have come up with is that people are having too much sex , and they don’t have enough love.

This year for Valentine’s Day I will not be spending a glorious evening with my one-and-only, while he showers me with gifts and whispers sweet nothings into my ear.Actually, I will be spending a wonderful V-Day with my parents at a hockey game – Go Bucks – but maybe they will bring me some of those heart candies with the cute sayings on them.

Sex is a big commitment or at least it should be. For some couples it is, but for others it isn’t.I reiterate if people are going to have sex well then please listen to your gym teachers from high school and be safe, and there can never be too much promotion of safe sex.

But what I don’t like about good-love week is that it makes me feel as though everyone is having sex, and that it’s the cool thing to do. Well, you know what?Maybe I don’t want my boyfriend to bring me roses and condoms for Valentine’s Day. Maybe I want a committed relationship without the expectation of sex.Maybe I want love.

I cannot claim the idea for this column was purely my own because I actually stole it, with permission, from one of my friend’s online journal entries. I hadn’t really thought about the idea until I read her entry, but she’s exactly right in her questioning the connection between love and sex.She asked me, “Laura, are we the only two humans on the face of the earth not having sex?” And I said “Well, I don’t know, but it seems that way.”

I know there are many people who feel the same way I do, and I don’t want e-mails telling me I am making rash generalizations that every single person on this campus is having sex, because I know that’s not the case.

Love is in the air. Couples are making reservations at romantic restaurants for Saturday night, I am buying hockey tickets for my date with my parents and RAs are passing out condoms. Ain’t love beautiful?

Laura Corry is a freshman in journalism. She can be reached for comment at [email protected].