Students share laughs and dating stories during Her Campus’ “Fishy Affairs” event in Kelly Commons last week. GRACE CARDINAL / THE QUADRANGLE
Zeke Jazwinski, Staff Writer
Manhattan University’s chapter of Her Campus, the national women-centered media organization and gen-z magazine, hosted an event on Nov. 5 in Kelly Commons where attendees were able to share “fishy” dating stories, while also enjoying tuna snacks provided by Starkist.
Her Campus is not only a club, but a space for students to have a voice and let their creativity shine, allowing for individuals to express themselves and share some of their craziest dating stories in a non-judgemental environment.
The Quadrangle spoke with Allyson Haskins, junior communication and marketing double-major, as well as the campus coordinator for Her Campus, about the fishiest dating story she heard throughout the event.
“The fishiest dating story that we read today was about a girl getting asked out by a guy, and then later that same day, his wife reached out to her and let her know he has two kids,” Haskins said. “He was also texting eight girls at the same time.”
Fishy stories such as this one were found to be more common than one may think. Her Campus wanted this event to serve as a safe space, allowing people to feel free to share their stories and realize they are not alone – a goal that the group carries through the many events they host each semester. Beyond the laughs and gasps, these events help build a sense of community and openness on campus. They give students a chance to connect through shared experiences, empower one another and turn what might have once been an awkward or painful event into a moments of humor, solidarity and self-expression.
Camila Frias, junior English major and the assistant editor of Her Campus, spoke about how light-hearted events such as this one create safe environments, and can help people share their stories.
“I feel like these events give people an outlet to share their stories and to see that other people may have gone through the same thing,” Frias said.
Anna Macicolek, senior marketing and management major as well as senior editor for Her Campus spoke about what inspired the club to host an event such as this one.
“Her Campus was inspired to organize this event because we enjoy connecting with our community,” Maciolek said. “It was truly fun to hear other students and staff’s dating stories. It creates a sense of community through a relatable yet taboo topic.”
Beyond hosting light-hearted and relatable events, the club does most of its work through its online magazine publication, where articles are published daily on topics ranging from pop culture and lifestyle, to campus news and even personal stories.
For the fishy dating event, the club’s E-board plans to take the stories that were anonymously shared and turn them into a TikTok for their social media account, as well as an article that will go live on the Her Campus at Manhattan website. As for the leftover fish, the group plans to make a donation to the local Friendly Fridge.
For those interested in staying up to date with Her Campus’ future events and their students’ work, the group updates their Instagram @hercampusmu_ daily.