Miami Activities And Planning Hosts "I Love You Bear-y Much"

By Elise St. Esprit

Miami University journalism student

Miami University has a long history of romance. With 14 percent of alumni marrying other alumni, more than double the numbers seen at other universities, they've earned their own name: Miami Mergers. So, it should come as no surprise that Miami loves to celebrate Valentine's Day.

This year Miami Activities and Planning, or MAP, held their annual "I Love You Bear-y Much" event at Armstrong Student Center's Fritz Pavilion. MAP invited to students to come, free of charge, and stuff their own teddy bears. Students could make traditional brown or gray bears, as well as a pink Valentine's themed bear.

Those who didn't feel like a bear was their speed could choose to make a penguin instead.

Building The Bears

After their new friends were stuffed, students were then provided with a mini Miami Activities and Planning t-shirt for the bear, similar to the ones that MAP gives to students at their other events. Students then had the opportunity to use markers to decorate their bear's shirt and make it unique.

"I really like coming to MAP events," says Miami sophomore Rachel Thieman. "I have attended other events such as the ones they have around exam time to destress and one of the movie nights. I really like that the diversity of the events held. There is always something different going on. They take a lot of things into account and puts a lot of time and effort into planning their events, so they’re always enjoyable and well put together."

Thieman says the event was a good way to spend time with a friend.

"I went to this event because I tried to go last year and they had run out of bears fairly early on. I wanted to take the chance to see what the event was about and hang out with my roommate there," Thieman says.

Students Enjoy A Break

MAP President Elsa Clenney says that "I Love You Bear-y Much" was such a hit with students that they ran out of bears in about an hour and a half. The event was scheduled to last three hours.

This is the second year MAP has put on the Valentine's event, with 436 students attending, up from last year's 360.

"We want to give students an opportunity to take a break from classes and de-stress a little bit, try to forget about the exam they have tomorrow," Clenney says. "These events also give people opportunities to connect with other students, which is great."

Miami Mergers

Miami doesn't just show the love to their current students on Valentine's Day, the Alumni Center sends Valentine's cards to all of their mergers. More than 14-thousand cards are sent out each year.

"Historically, one of the main contributing factors is that Miami is located in a small town," Alumni Center Executive Director Ray Mock says of Miami's reputation for romance. "Up until the mid-80'd we were a no car campus, you literally couldn't bring a car here. So given the issues that that creates, if you were going to date someone, you were going to date someone on campus."

When asked if he has seen the number of mergers decline over the years, or if he thinks it will in the future with the introduction of cars to campus and with social media and smart phones making off campus relationships more feasible, Mock said he didn't see that happening too dramatically.

"We haven't seen that yet, but it's going to be interesting to watch," Mock says. "I think it's going to decline slightly over the years, but the tradition I think will remain strong for those who are mergers and come from merger families."

Photo: A bear built at Miami's "I Love You Bear-y Much" event. -- Photo by Elise St. Esprit