RIT Helps Student Singles Meet in Nationwide "8minuteDating" Event

Who says love has to last forever? How about just eight minutes?

Rochester Institute of Technology is sponsoring the first-ever "8minuteDating" event for college students at 7:08 p.m. on Feb. 11 at the RIT Inn and Conference Center coffeehouse. The Center for Residence Life and the Off Campus Apartment Student Association are organizing the event.

RIT’s alcohol-free event, part of the largest dating event in the nation—a "Cupid Party" in 45 cities—costs $15.88 and is open to RIT students age 18-25.

RIT students will get eight eight-minute dates with other RIT eligible singles. RIT staff will act out advisory "fun-fomercials" between rounds and participants will have a chance to mingle during a 20-minute intermission. They’ll also be served decadent coffee shop appetizers: chocolate fondue, strawberries and cake.

"We want to give our students a safe and fun way to meet other single students," says Cha Ron Sattler, assistant director in residence life. "We chose to partner with 8minuteDating because we were impressed with their organization and use of technology—being Web-based and providing anonymity for participants."

What happens if two lovebirds hit it off? After the event, students log onto the 8minuteDating Web site and indicate their interest. If it’s mutual, each party receives e-mail with the other person’s contact information. For the second date, they’re on their own.

##

For breaking news stories, hot-topic trend pieces and interesting perspectives, visit Rochester Institute of Technology’s news site and online experts database. To connect with RIT subject matter experts, searchable by name and expertise, go to: www.rit.edu/news and click on "RIT Experts."