By the time they were my age (a ripe old 20-and-a-half), my parents were married. But now, so much as a mention of the m-word would send me — and my boyfriend — into a cold sweat. For some students, though, marriage is not a scary word to be avoided, but a reality. Undergraduates, graduates — many students at Cornell are married, and as we all learned on our campus tours, many more get married after graduation. This week, just in time for Valentine’s Day, Daze looks at marriage on campus.

For those looking for fun ideas this Valentine’s Day, check out our favorite easy cheesecake recipe or our favorite seasonal drinks on page six. If you need a last-minute gift idea for your sweetheart, Kevin Boyd gives lots of great chocolate ideas in his first column, and we give you the lowdown on flowers in and around Ithaca and some movies that match the upcoming holiday.

If Valentine’s Day just isn’t your thing, Daze takes a look at Depression chic on page seven, and Chris Barnes is back with Optimized Queries on page three. Or, bake festive red velvet cupcakes for your favorite friends — Shameless Commerce reviews the best cake mixes on page four.

Have a happy and safe (you know what that means!) Valentine’s Day, and give us your favorite holiday suggestions at redletterdaze@cornellsun.com.

Hugs and kisses,

Leigha Kemmett