by Maria Mantini ’26 on February 12, 2026

---

Opinion - Entertainment & Society

---

What is the true meaning of Valentine’s Day? Depending on your relationship status, your answer will probably be something along the lines of romance or capitalism. However, what is the commonality between both of those responses? Chocolate!

Starting in mid-January, you can’t walk into any CVS without seeing shelves decked out in red and pink. There is box after red heart-shaped box of Valentine’s Day chocolate, benefiting both love and profit margins. Some have big bows on the front while others have little stuffed animals attached, but whether you are buying the chocolates for your significant other or to show yourself a little self-love, skip the displays in the front of the store.

The truth is, when it comes to chocolate, quality matters. We’ve all felt the disappointment of biting into a piece of chocolate that tastes like straight sugar with a dash of cacao. Just as you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, do not judge chocolates by their box. Some chocolate manufacturers are using glitter and pictures of Snoopy to distract you from the fact that their product only vaguely resembles the taste of chocolate.

If you want a quality treat to enjoy, I suggest walking a little deeper into the store. Brands like Lindt and Ghirardelli are famous for a reason. Their boxes may not have any cartoon characters or bonus gifts attached, but why should they? Their products speak for themselves.

I can guarantee your valentine will be far more won over by a high-quality piece of chocolate than one that tastes like a sugar packet with a mini teddy bear taped to the front. Not to mention, better brands usually have assortments of chocolates with different fillings, creating a better flavor experience and further proving to your valentine that you know them.

So, this Valentine’s Day, when you go looking for the right gift to win over your Development of Western Civilization crush or to snack on while watching terrible rom-coms, skip over the boxes with Hello Kitty’s face on them and go straight for the Godiva!

by Kaelynd Brouillette ’29 on February 12, 2026

---

Opinion - Campus

---

I vividly remember being on campus for First Day in Friartown, listening to Dean Sears give an introduction speech. He spoke to us about how Providence College, in general, is a place of love, where many find their forever person. That moment stuck with me more than expected, and it put an expectation into my mind that the same thing would happen to me. I was hopeful, but realistic, and open to the idea of a relationship. It turns out that Dean Sears was not wrong. Not only did I meet my boyfriend here, but I have come to know quite a few people who found their significant others at PC. I had the realization that this experience is far from rare, and, in fact, it is very likely that one finds their future spouse, or has some sort of romantic relationship, during their time at college. 

According to The Knot, about 15 percent of people find their husband or wife in college. This makes sense, as the structure of a college campus creates an environment where you are forced to meet and talk to new people. Factors such as physical proximity, shared routines and classes, and constant interaction act as catalysts for relationships to bud, leading to many long-term relationships and marriages beginning in college or early adulthood. This is especially true at PC. With tight-knit social circles, a small campus, and familiar faces anywhere, it is almost difficult to imagine that you are not going to meet someone with whom you could see a future. At a school like PC, these structural factors are reinforced by something deeper, as research suggests that students at religious institutions are even more likely to form relationships that lead to marriage.

PC is a Catholic institution, meaning that many who choose to attend this school share the same moral framework, with an emphasis on community and values. According to the Institute for Family Studies, almost all 25 of the colleges with the highest marriage rates among fellow students were religious institutions, and in general, those at religious institutions are more likely to find their partner in college. This idea definitely shows up on our campus, as there are so many serious relationships here, as well as people dating with intention, even if it is casually at first. Although PC does not feel rigid or traditional, Catholic values can still shape relationships, as we see on our campus.

Every story has a flip side, too. It is not a complete reality to say that everyone here is looking for a long-term relationship at all times, and it is important to acknowledge that PC has an abundant and established so-called hookup culture, which I believe goes hand-in-hand with going-out culture. With parties and going out every weekend, hookup culture is bound to spread rapidly and take full effect on campus. But, hookup culture can exist alongside long-term relationships, sometimes involving the same people at different times through their four years at college. It can also lead to confusion between casual and serious intentions. There is almost an underlying pressure to participate in hookup culture, even if it does not align with your personal values, which can build a sense of fear of missing out or feeling like you’re not doing college right. Nonetheless, for some, hookups are freeing, but for others, they can feel isolating or emotionally draining. Overall, PC’s dating culture isn’t one thing; it’s more layered and contradictory. 

I now view Dean Sears’ words with more nuance than before, as I have experienced dating culture here for myself. Love at PC is not guaranteed, but connection definitely is. No matter who you are, you will find your people here and find space for experimentation and commitment to exist and help us reflect on who we are. What makes love on this campus unique is not its certainty, but its environment—one that encourages connection while allowing students to define relationships on their own terms.

by Georgina Gamble ’29 on February 12, 2026

---

Opinion - Entertainment & Society

---

For my whole life, the sheer mention of Feb. 14 caused me to eye-roll. I eye-rolled at everything: the edible arrangements, the heartfelt Instagram stories, the capitalism of it all—I even held bitterness towards the heart-shaped Reeses, even though we all know they taste better than the normal ones. 

To me, Valentine’s Day was a weak attempt at making what is arguably one of the worst, depressing months of the year a little brighter. That attempt only seems (literally) profitable for the roughly 70 percent of the American population who are in a relationship. For the rest of us—the other 30 percent—Cupid forces the seasonal depression a bit deeper into our hearts each year, as we find ourselves in the aisle of CVS buying red and pink bags of Reeses that will be eaten all alone. 

But, I urge caution on those who feel too comfortable hating on Valentine’s Day— Cupid’s arrow can strike hard. And when it does, it is quite the wake-up call. 

I am on the other side of (what feels like) the war now, joining the 70 percent. Feb. 14 feels a bit different from this angle: less of a gut punch, and more of a really exciting obligation.

Going into my first Valentine’s Day as a girlfriend, I can say with sincerity that this holiday isn’t just every candy company’s payday. I reflect on my elementary years, where my valentines were my classmates. We exchanged tiny, flimsy cards and conversation hearts, amongst a plethora of other candies. I remember it feeling like Halloween in the middle of February. I was so excited the night before as I got to fill out each and every card for all 20-something of my friends, signing each one off with a heart or a smiley face—and delivering them to my classmates with a grin and a lollipop picked to their liking. 

I think fondly of the years when I would come home from school to flowers and a box of chocolates from my dad. They were always fancy ones that he picked up on his commute home from the city—and they were always delicious, too. 

I realize now that I never actually had a bad Valentine’s Day in my life, just not the commercialized one that everyone strives for. 

There are so many types of love in the world, and so much of all of it. Valentine’s Day should be harnessed as an excuse to spoil the people you love, or at least hug them a little harder. The chocolates and public professions of love are great, but I think it can easily be considered a much more special holiday than that. No matter how much you think you hate Cupid, I think it’s important to spread joy on the dreaded holiday, for everyone’s sake. Call your grandma if that’s what it takes, or compliment a stranger.

Embrace the sappiness—besides, there’s always discounted candy the next day. 

by Isabelle Camoin ’26 on February 12, 2026

---

A&E - Film & TV

---

In lieu of The Cowl’s Valentine’s Day edition, I think it is appropriate to discuss a show that I believe to be about love: The Wonder Years. The Wonder Years is a fictional TV show set in the late ’60s and early ’70s that romanticizes and shares the tales of the life of Kevin Arnold, a kid living in suburbia. The show produces a love for nostalgia, family, country, and home. 

I was first introduced to The Wonder Years during a sixth-grade tutorial, where my teacher would use our free 40-minute block to expose the class to various forms of media. The recent snow day instilled a feeling of nostalgia in me and a desire to continue experiencing this feeling by returning to viewing The Wonder Years. 

An aspect of the show that’s even more on brand for Valentine’s Day is the developing story of the girl-next-door, Winnie Cooper. Winnie and Kevin are depicted in a strong platonic relationship throughout the show. The show follows Kevin’s coming of age, beginning in the seventh grade at 12 years old. I am sure many of us remember what it was like to be in middle school. The show depicts a self-conscious tween who is navigating what it means to love a friend, a neighbor, and even his own family. Sometimes you really dislike Kevin because he can act like a jerk, but other times you love him because eventually he learns and grows from his mistakes and realizes the true value of meaningful relationships. The beauty of the show is that it is narrated by Kevin’s adult and mature perception and reflection of his memories as he grows up. 

There is something about the past and the slow pace that is presented in the show that makes me long for my childhood and invokes a love for nostalgia. As an audience member of the show, we follow Kevin through his relationships with Winnie, his best friend and neighbor, Paul Pfeiffer, his parents, and his friends from school. At their core, these themes all revolve around love that is playful, friendly, and careful. This stage in his life truly embodies the title of Wonder, and the exploration of ourselves and others that takes place during The Wonder Years.

by John Downey '23 on March 3, 2022
A&E Co-Editor

---

A&E - Theater/Comedy

---

Laughing Their Hearts Out

Six Gents’ Valentine’s Day Show

Grace Whitman ’22

Even though many students stayed up late last Tuesday night for the Providence vs. Villanova Men’s Basketball game, an impressive number of them came to the Smith Center to enjoy the Six Gent’s Valentine’s Day show at 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 16.

For each four shows that they have put on so far this academic year, the Gents wrote mini-acts to fill the transition time between different skits, ranging from mad libs that get the audience involved to some “top trending” Google search questions about each Gent. The Valentine’s Day show was no exception, featuring a few rounds of speed-dating, similar to the Celebrity Dating Show, in which a “mystery Gent” was paired with an audience member and both students were asked questions testing their compatibility and whether they would like to go on a second date. For example, the “contestants” were asked questions like, “what’s the most embarrassing text you’ve ever received?” and “would you be open to relocating to the Chicago suburbs for love?”

One of the night’s crowd-favorite sketches was written by Christina Charie ’25. The skit followed Coach Cooley as he lost Huxley somewhere on campus. “Cooley” (Aidan Benjamin ’23) is frantic about finding Huxley before the next game, but then finds out that Friar Dom let Huxley get hit by the Friar Night Life Shuttle out of spite because Cooley allowed Huxley to steal his spotlight as a new mascot five years ago. The most shocking plot twist, however, came at the end of the skit: “Cooley” and the audience learned that Huxley actually had not gotten hit by the Friar Nite Shuttle—he was just drunk at Brad’s.

Another memorable sketch was 50 Shades of Love. Written by Andy Belotte ’25, it starred Benjamin as Ben, a man hoping to win over a girl named Carla (Analisa Pisano ’23). When Ben is too nervous to shoot his shot with Carla, “Nate Watson” (Belotte) is brought in to give Ben his best tips for winning the girl over. “Watson” explains to Ben that he uses his TikTok fame as a selling point to impress the girls he’d previously struck out with. Abbie O’Connell ’22 enters the scene as Doris Burke. She, like “Watson,” tries to help Ben but fails, as Ben finally builds up the nerve to tell Carla his feelings only for her to confess that her true love is Watson.

The Family Restaurant sketch, written by Emma Harrington ’22, was yet another highlight of the show. It followed Benjamin and Sydney Cahill ’22 on a date at a family restaurant that takes a turn for the worse when they realize that they are in the middle of a Kitchen Nightmares episode starring Gordon Ramsay, played by Harrington in a spot-on impression. Over the course of the skit, the restaurant family and their strong personalities come out of the kitchen, yelling at one another. Pisano’s Italian accent, in particular, left the audience in shambles.

This past week, Six Gents had their spring auditions, so be on the lookout for new members at their next show!

by trogers5 on February 10, 2022

---

Portfolio

---

Dear Tiff and Earl,

My boyfriend won’t take me on a Valentine’s Day date because it’s too close to Super Bowl Sunday. Should I ditch him for Joe Burrow?

Sincerely,

Big Bengals Fan

---

Dear Big Bengals Fan,

Don’t give up on your man just yet! With a little creativity, you can have your cake and eat it, too. Combine your Valentine’s Day with his Super Bowl by serving classic game day snacks with a romantic twist—for instance, a seven-layer dip not of beans and cream cheese but of all sorts of aphrodisiacs—and by programming your TV to play slideshows of the two of you as a couple instead of commercials. No doubt you can come up with plenty of other little ways to remind him that he’s your special quarterback. Be ingenious! He sounds like he’s worth it. 

Cheers!

Tiff

---

Dear Big Bengals Fan,

While I am completely in favor of you getting revenge on your football-fanatic boyfriend by ditching him for a man who can actually play the sport, why go for a Bengal when you could have the GOAT? Now that Tom Brady has officially retired, the man is going to have plenty of time on his hands. What better way for him to spend it than a romantic Valentine’s Day date with a college student? Maybe you could even bring a friend for a double date with Gronk.

Your even bigger Pats fan,

Earl

 

by trogers5 on February 10, 2022

---

Portfolio

---

Kathryn Libertini ’23

1. Download Tinder and Hinge for inspiration.
2. Scroll through the apps with your roommates, creating narratives and citing opinions that will most likely never materialize (but, hey, there’s a chance).
3. Delete Tinder and Hinge.
4. Tell your roommates Valentine’s Day is a “Hallmark Holiday” incentivized by capitalism.
5. Watch How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and 27 Dresses.
6. Question what “love” even is.
7. Download Tinder and Hinge for a reality check.
8. Delete Tinder and Hinge for a reality check.
9. Question what “reality” even is.
10. Call your therapist back.

by Elizabeth McGinn on February 11, 2021

---

Portfolio

---

by Marelle Hipolito ’22

Tuck my hair behind my ear, just one more time
Before we leave this October beach behind
Let’s look for one more shooting star
Before you go and break my heart
Take a hundred pictures of me in front of a blue sky
Before you drop another goodbye
Tell me you love me, just one more time
Before we leave this October beach behind 

Skip a few rocks, just one more time
Before we leave this October beach behind
Write me a letter, with a Valentine’s rhyme
Before signing it “this is goodbye”
Call me up in the middle of the night
Confess you miss me, that you’re not alright
Send me a playlist, make it John Mayer
Then text me “listen to it all,” then call me later
Become my world and flood my life
Before we leave this October beach behind

 

by Elizabeth McGinn on February 11, 2021

---

Portfolio

---

by Sam Ward ’21

Love is strange, strangers turn
To best friends and back again
When the feeling is less intense.

Still, you left a mark on my heart
Like an indent, and we typed the keys
That codified the sequence. 

“The sun still sets in paradise” 

Even butchered Maroon 5 lines
Reflect memories of moonlit eyes.
Tell me why, tell me why. 

Finally home but feeling withdrawn,
Take my hand, lead me too far.
Where has it gone? Where has it—

They had me living in a pit
I have one lofty wish:
Fix this glitch, fix this glitch. 

One day an eternity,
From two to three, all for just five,
That I wish you’d spend with me. 

Opened like a locked box,
Trifled for my jewels,
I gave it all away, I’d give it all away. 

This heart heals quickly,
The brain feels forever.
Conditioned to take it with me,
Where there’s always never. 

Sabotaged to start with,
Finish line or just quit,
Ego death or panic,
I am losing and I’m in first place.

 

by Elizabeth McGinn on February 11, 2021

---

Portfolio

---

by Ellie Forster ’24

Margaret never liked when people made a fuss about her anniversary. Harold had been gone for almost a year now, and they hadn’t been a festive pair when he was alive. To act like that day was any different now just seemed silly. All she wanted was for Tim and June to come over, to have lunch like they always did, and be alone. It was just a Wednesday. That was all. Old friends would call, and she’d let the phone ring. Didn’t need reminders of a day fifty years ago, a day that no one else even understood. Only the ones who stood up on that altar could understand. Them, and them alone. 

June and Tim rang the bell at 1:15, same as they always did. They let themselves in, and Tim went to the bathroom. June stood in the kitchen, the light surrounding her, touching her figure so gently it was like it was afraid of her. She wore a blue button-down tucked into an old pair of jeans. Her hair curled softly, and she had a yellow bandana holding it back. She turned to see Margaret standing there, a dish towel in her hand. The old friends smiled at each other, and when Margaret walked over, June took her hand and squeezed it.  

The two couples had been best friends for 60 years, since middle school. They were each other’s best men and maids of honor. They bought houses on the same street, and the houses were one another’s. So much of the furniture in Margaret’s house had been picked out by Tim, they had just given him his own room to decorate. That parlor was the best room in the house, everyone agreed. Neither couple had ever had children, and nothing else could’ve possibly severed the bond they shared. They were inseparable. 

June and Margaret sat in the parlor when Tim came in. He sank into a chair and smiled. 

“I miss him.” 

The women smiled and each took one of Tim’s hands.  

“So do I,” said Margaret quietly. 

Tim’s eyes shone, and his chest rose. “He’d be so embarrassed of me right now. He’d hate this.” 

“Well, he’d definitely have some remark, I’m sure we can all agree about that,” June said with a laugh. Margaret looked at her, and her face flushed still, the same it had when they were kids. That laugh shattered her chest into a million pieces and offered her heart up, praying it would be taken. 

Tim wiped his face and smiled. “That he would.” Then the old man took an envelope out of his jacket pocket and slid it across the table.  

The women looked at it and saw the letter M written in elegant script.  

Margaret looked up at Tim. “No.” 

“It’s from him.” 

Her heart sank. “For me?” 

“Yes.” 

She sighed. She lightly took the letter and a knife from the table. She took out the small piece of paper and saw seven words in a familiar, soft handwriting. 

Margaret, 

I can’t thank you enough. 

   H 

Margaret felt the tears come, and she felt her friends come to her side, Tim’s hand on her back as he, too, wept, and June pulling Margaret’s head to her chest, running her hands through her hair. 

Fifty years earlier, four people stood on an altar as Harold and Margaret held hands. They said the words the priest told them to, and they were pronounced man and wife. Behind her new husband, Margaret saw Tim smile, and Harold turned to him as the crowd cheered. The men met eyes and grinned. Harold grabbed Tim’s hand and turned to face his wife. A hand squeezed Margaret’s shoulder from behind her, and Margaret turned to see June standing there, the sun intimidated by her glow. She hugged her, and as June laughed, she felt her chest burst. As they left one another’s embrace, Margaret kept June’s hand in hers. Then the happy couple shared a kiss.