Valentine's day at the campus grill

Julie Zook
Staff Writer

On February 14th, couples celebrate their time together and express how important they are to each other. Valentine’s Day is traditionally spent giving gifts and dining out with that special someone. According to history.com, “The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus.” It wasn’t until the Middle Ages when Valentine became a popular saint that started the holiday. Then, people began the Valentine’s Day traditions.

Valentine’s Day cards did not happen until after the 1400s. According to the Greeting Card Association, “an estimated 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year.” The only time more cards are sent is during the Christmas season. However, this holiday can get expensive, especially for college students who have to pay for school. Luckily, there are other options available where people can still have a good time without worrying about the cost.

This year, students at Millersville have the opportunity to stay on campus and be served dinner in style. On Saturday, the Campus Grill will be hosting a Valentine’s Day dinner. Reservations are already sold out since there is a maximum of thirty people during the meals at 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm. The capacity is usually seventy-two people but it is being reorganized and decorated for this occasion. The staff wants it to look classy so flowers and tables that hold two to three people are used to make it more upscale and ready for Valentine’s Day.

In the past, the Campus Grill has mostly been used by the university faculty and a few students. Nowadays, students have been going there more often. The grill is becoming popular as it is a way to enjoy fine dining without worrying about the transportation. Pat Benson, manager for Dining and Conferences, brought about the idea for the dinner and stated, “I am so excited we are sold out.” The flyers were successful in reaching out to students and having them get to experience something different and special with your favorite person on campus.

Going to the Campus Grill is a great way to get the most out of your money for Valentine’s Day. All it takes is a meal swipe plus two to five extra dollars depending on the meal. Students can choose from an appetizer of stuffed mushrooms or chicken satay, Caesar or garden salad, rolls with butter, their choice of entrée, chocolate dessert buffet and mock champagne toast. The entrées are black sesame crusted salmon, grilled New York strip steak, chicken Florentine or oven roasted vegetable linguine. These even include a side of rice pilaf or a baked potato.

This is the first year the Campus Grill is participating in Valentine’s Day. However, it may not be the last. Because of the large turnout, the grill might be used for other events in the future. This may include a brunch or dinner buffet. If there are ideas that the Campus Grill could do, the staff is interested in any suggestions.

Although Valentine’s Day is only held once a year, we should always treat the special people in our life right with our actions and words. It only takes your time to write a note or letter and tell them how much they mean to you. Just this gesture could brighten up their day and make them feel special. They would have it to cherish forever. Happy Valentine’s Day 2015!