By Elizabeth Van Pilsum, Arts and Culture Editor
Originally Published March 12, 2024
February is Dating Violence Awareness Month, and to raise awareness about this issue that affects approximately 41% of women and 26% of men (Center for Disease Control), the Office of Student Affairs and the Title IX Office have coordinated weekly dinners. Each dinner centers on a different aspect of relationships as well as a different musical artist, with the attendees discussing what it means to be in a relationship based on what different artists represent in their music.
The first dinner discussed healthy versus unhealthy relationships as portrayed in Taylor Swift’s music, the second covered boundaries through AJR’s music, and the third focused on the overall relationship journey through the music of Darius Rucker and Hootie and the Blowfish. The final dinner occurred on Monday, Feb. 26 and discussed stages of love in relationships through Beyoncé.
Dr. Anthony Kane, Assistance Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, lead the dinner discussion on Beyoncé. Dinner was catered by Parkhurst Dining and included some of Beyoncé’s favorite food, including fried catfish, dirty rice, beignets, and popcorn, as well as lemonade to drink. As attendees ate their dinner, seven Beyoncé songs played, and Kane discussed with the students how they represented different stages of relationships.
The first stage of relationships Kane talked about is the initial attraction phase, when people begin to get to know each other; Beyoncé’s song “Check on It,” represented this phase.
The second phase is moving from attraction to attachment, which occurs when both partners begin to put more work into building the relationship and get to know one another deeper. The beginning of this phase was represented with “Crazy in Love,” and “Halo” was used to discuss becoming more vulnerable with one’s partner as things become more serious.
The third phase Kane discussed was getting ready to commit to one another, where individuals clarify what they want in a relationship. “Countdown” helped discuss discerning the commitment. “1+1” and “Dangerously in Love” demonstrated phase four, which is the nurturing love phase that represents mutual commitment.
Finally, the last phase is lasting stability, a knowledge that you will spend the rest of your life with this person. “Love on Top” was the concluding song, used to discuss putting one’s partner and love for them as a priority and knowing that any struggles to get to this point were worth it.
Lindsey Benjamin, junior biology major, attended the dinner and appreciated Kane’s humor and knowledge of Beyoncé.
“It was a fun and relaxed time to listen to music and learn about the nuances of relationships,” Benjamin said.
Erin Brody, junior theology and English double major, also attended the dinner.
“I enjoyed listening to Dr. Kane’s insights and the food was good,” Brody said. “I appreciated going in depth about the complexities of relationships.”
Both Benjamin and Brody hope that the Title IX Office and the Office of Student Affairs will continue this dinner series next year, although that has not been confirmed.
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