They met at ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½, they fell in love at ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½, they proposed at ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½, they got married at ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ β and in the week leading up to Valentineβs Day they have been telling their love stories β dozens of them β on the .
Roommate brought them together
Videography by Joe Proudman/ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
βMy fiancΓ© and I were chem 2a lab partners first quarter freshman year (2008),β reads a posting from Facebook user Eric Hauck, who attached a photo of his proposal in the same lab where they were partners. βWe are going to get married in August 2014!β
Many of the stories, like this one, are tied to specific places, and weβve marked them on this map. Click on the hearts to read the associated Facebook stories, like this one:
βIt was 1972,β Facebook user Larry Tom begins. βI was the president of the University Chorus and Kathy was a new soprano. She decided that she wanted to meet me but was unsure how. Her opportunity came about a week later when she rode up to Mrak Hall and saw me walking on the sidewalk.
βHow did she make me notice her? SHE RODE HER BIKE RIGHT INTO ME!β
Tom added: βThis year we will celebrate our FORTIETH anniversary!"
Other love stories begin before the first day of classes, at orientation and in the residence halls. Others involve campus and Greek activities, and Aggie athletic events.
Some couples met as drivers or passengers on Unitrans β perhaps it was the red buses that sparked the passion! Other couples kept the beat in the Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh! and found their hearts beating in sync, as well. For more about hearts beating in sync, .
The arboretum pops up frequently, as a place where couples have gotten engaged, married and renewed their vows.
University Communications told the first love story on video, featuring Scott Judson β09, Law β12, and Kristen Judson β09. A new video features Dan and Mary Egan, Class of 1985, who met via the landline phone in Danβs room in Ryerson Hall.
Today, the phones are different (although every room in Ryerson and other residence halls has a jack for a landline), but ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ remains the same inviting place for love.
Stories still welcome on the .
β’βΆΔ’βΆΔ’
Three University Communications interns developed this project and helped in its production:
- Elaine Ip, social media intern, a senior, is majoring in communication and minoring in computer science.
- Gheed Saeed, ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Magazine intern, a sophomore, is a communication major.
- Melanie Sarti, social media intern, a junior, is majoring in managerial economics, and minoring in textiles and clothing.
Project leaders: Evelyn Padilla, social media specialist, and Joe Proudman, multimedia specialist, both of University Communications.
Media Resources
Dave Jones, Dateline, 530-752-6556, dljones@ucdavis.edu