EMU’s Student Government Association (SGA) and Royals Rise collaborated three days prior to Valentine’s Day to teach students how to flirt. With a panel made up of nine students and staff, audience members sat in Common Grounds ready to receive the advice.

Students rushed to Common Grounds counters to grab their free drinks and a close up seat. Chatter floated through the crowd as they waited for the event to start, everyone eager to learn how to draw a lover in. The event kicked off with the panelists introducing themselves. Then, they were given their first question: “What is flirting?”

Tyler Goss, director for student engagement and leadership development, spoke up: “Flirting is like all of a sudden being so funny.” Jonathan Swartz, dean of students, followed his colleague’s statement with his own understanding. “It’s like the thing you use verbally or nonverbally to explore romantic interest without diving too deep,” he said. Interim EMU President Shannon Dycus brought her own interpretation of what flirting is meant to do. “I flirt with everybody as a way to remind other people they are seen,” Dycus said.

But flirting wasn’t the only topic; the organizers were sure to include questions about navigating a current relationship, too. One question posed was: “In a relationship, how do you communicate needs and wants without seeming too demanding or too much?”  One panelist suggested a compliment sandwich, which was described as saying something you appreciate about the person, but then noting a behavior that could be worked on. You end the conversation with another compliment for the person. 

There was even a portion of the event where audience members could scan a QR code to ask the panelist anonymous questions. This portion made the event more interactive and the crowd all the more lively. One audience member asked, “How do I get my partner’s ex out of the picture?” and sophomore Rin Akinotcho, a panelist, said, “If your partner is allowing their ex in the picture, sit them down and explain they need to go.” Akinotcho elaborated on this, saying that the partner would have to be given an ultimatum between the two people, and that if they were dating, then they should leave their ex in the past rather than having them intrude on the current relationship.

Audience members appreciated the event and found the advice helpful. First-year Mickayla Clay said, “I learned a lot. I learned how to be more comfortable flirting.” She followed up the statement by saying that she had a lot of fun. First-year Mara Carlson shared a similar sentiment. “The event was really good. I learned that humor is helpful,” she said. “They should do this again. This was very fun.”