Spring Break
Kerry Cronin Entertains, Warns of Dangers of College Hookup Culture
By Mike Perkins
Kerry Cronin charmed the pants off Saint Anselm students, while urging those in attendance to keep their pants on. Traveling here all the way up 93 from Boston College on behalf of Campus Ministry, Professor Cronin came to talk with students about their 'hooking up' lives.
Normally this sort of event, particularly when presented by the Catholic Church, tends to make the youth tune out. However, with a combination of stage presence and a deep understanding of this generation, Prof. Cronin managed to keep the eyes in the crowded Koonz Theater open, a feat that few can claim.
She started it off with an attention grabber, asking a student, "Hey how you doing? You hooking up lately? When was the last time you hooked up?" It was clear from the beginning the event would not be the traditional sex before marriage is a sin lecture. Rather she was looking to give real advice.
She then surprised the crowd by utilizing terms like, 'dry humping' and 'handjobs' repeatedly, terms that somehow made the students feel more comfortable and the adults less so at the same time. Either way, her ability to relate to the students and connect with them in a humorous level allowed her to talk openly and keep attention.
The focus of the conversation was this generation's inability to maintain meaningful relationships with the opposite sex. She discussed the absence of traditional dating and the negative impact that has had on development. Instead of dating, Cronin said people fall into one of four categories; a tiny sliver falls into traditional dating, another larger group is in relationships, who she refers to as pseudo-married couples, while labeling them as the people who do not have fun. The last two groups she said are the largest, consisting of people in the hooking up group, and those that end up opting out, not wanting to be involved in the scene at all.
Her concern is that college aged people opt out because they are frustrated by their lack of options. However, she presents a ray of hope. She explained that this generation is really good at being friends, but that leads into the problem of "stealth dating." Stealth dating is when two people are friends that spend time together, but at least one of the two actually have feelings that range beyond friendship. One student in the past had commented, "I've been dating girls for years, they just don't know." These stealthy relationships are convenient because they remain uncommitted and uncomplicated; which relates to one of Professor Cronin's biggest points, that there are so many rules in this culture.
There is at least one point she may have neglected as Robert Mitchell, '10, noted. He said, "For the most part she was right. But, I think Saint Anselm being a much smaller school than Boston College, she didn't consider the fact that word travels much faster here and does change the dynamics a bit."
Ultimately, her point was that people need to return the dating culture if they are unsatisfied with their current situations. She noted that this generation is incredible when it comes to volunteering and encouraging justice throughout the world, and that now it is vital that people ask for justice between each other.
The event concluded as any lecture in Koonz Theater, with a homework assignment; albeit a slightly unusual one. It is to ask someone on a 60-90 minute date, and if both people have fun, to go out again; a novel concept.
Normally this sort of event, particularly when presented by the Catholic Church, tends to make the youth tune out. However, with a combination of stage presence and a deep understanding of this generation, Prof. Cronin managed to keep the eyes in the crowded Koonz Theater open, a feat that few can claim.
She started it off with an attention grabber, asking a student, "Hey how you doing? You hooking up lately? When was the last time you hooked up?" It was clear from the beginning the event would not be the traditional sex before marriage is a sin lecture. Rather she was looking to give real advice.
She then surprised the crowd by utilizing terms like, 'dry humping' and 'handjobs' repeatedly, terms that somehow made the students feel more comfortable and the adults less so at the same time. Either way, her ability to relate to the students and connect with them in a humorous level allowed her to talk openly and keep attention.
The focus of the conversation was this generation's inability to maintain meaningful relationships with the opposite sex. She discussed the absence of traditional dating and the negative impact that has had on development. Instead of dating, Cronin said people fall into one of four categories; a tiny sliver falls into traditional dating, another larger group is in relationships, who she refers to as pseudo-married couples, while labeling them as the people who do not have fun. The last two groups she said are the largest, consisting of people in the hooking up group, and those that end up opting out, not wanting to be involved in the scene at all.
Her concern is that college aged people opt out because they are frustrated by their lack of options. However, she presents a ray of hope. She explained that this generation is really good at being friends, but that leads into the problem of "stealth dating." Stealth dating is when two people are friends that spend time together, but at least one of the two actually have feelings that range beyond friendship. One student in the past had commented, "I've been dating girls for years, they just don't know." These stealthy relationships are convenient because they remain uncommitted and uncomplicated; which relates to one of Professor Cronin's biggest points, that there are so many rules in this culture.
There is at least one point she may have neglected as Robert Mitchell, '10, noted. He said, "For the most part she was right. But, I think Saint Anselm being a much smaller school than Boston College, she didn't consider the fact that word travels much faster here and does change the dynamics a bit."
Ultimately, her point was that people need to return the dating culture if they are unsatisfied with their current situations. She noted that this generation is incredible when it comes to volunteering and encouraging justice throughout the world, and that now it is vital that people ask for justice between each other.
The event concluded as any lecture in Koonz Theater, with a homework assignment; albeit a slightly unusual one. It is to ask someone on a 60-90 minute date, and if both people have fun, to go out again; a novel concept.
This article was published on 12/11/09 in the Opinion section.
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