Hundreds of Penn students flew to Houston Hall on Cupid's wings yesterday afternoon to join the festivities of Lovefest 2002, Penn's annual Valentine's Day celebration.
Boasting a cookie decorating station, chocolate dipping exhibit, Valentine-making table and photo booth, the event provided students with ample materials to celebrate the day to their hearts' content.
Cookie decoration was by far the most popular activity of the afternoon, with platters of heart-shaped sugar cookies provided by the Painted Parrot, a downtown restaurant renowned for its fantastic desserts. Frosting and candy were generously provided to top the cookies.
Lovefest was co-sponsored by the Social Planning and Events Committee and Tangible Change, in accordance with their agenda of hosting fun, alcohol-free social events for students.
"I've had so much sugar I'm jittering," SPEC President Kevin Meyer said.
Students also ate their hearts out at the fondu station, where a large pot of melted chocolate was the object of much affection.
"I'm making quite a mess," said first-year medical student Mike Mullen as he dripped chocolate off of a cookie and onto the floor. "I enjoy the free food."
"You don't think of college students wanting to decorate cookies and make crafts," said Meyers, a Wharton senior. "But [the holiday] brings it out in people."
After a hearty snack, many students also made Valentine cards from pink and red construction paper, using doilies, glitter and other festive materials.
Making a valentine "is lots of fun, even if you have no one to make it for," College sophomore Smruti Shah said.
However, the Sophomore Class Board contributed to Lovefest in such a way as to ensure that no valentines would go to waste.
Amid the traditional commercial atmosphere of the day, the Board asked students to have a heart and decorate valentine cards to send to the Veterans Hospital at the corner of University and Woodland streets.
"We thought it would be a nice way to have fun and give back to the veterans," said Wharton sophomore Lauren Titus, who hatched the idea.
Students embraced the opportunity to do a good deed.
"These events are always really positive," said SPEC Special Events Co-Chairwoman Lauren Lefkowitz, a College junior and one of the event's two organizers. Lovefest "is something people have come to expect and really enjoy."
"It's pretty much just a lot of free food," added College sophomore Nina Kleaveland, the group's other co-chairwoman.
Aside from the food, students also enjoyed performances by several of Penn's a capella groups singing from their diverse repertories with a few love songs tossed in. The groups included Dischord, The Inspiration and Penn Six-5000.
According to Meyers, "the focus of Lovefest is to give people the chance to enjoy the day in a fun, relaxed atmosphere."
"We try to have activities for both couples and single people," he added.
College senior Dan Diamond, co-chairman of Tangible Change, said he was extremely satisfied with the outcome of the event -- both from an objective and personal standpoint.
"If it brings a smile to my girlfriend's face, it's enough for me," he said.
