On Friday Feb. 13, Student Video Productions ran one of their few events of the year; “Speed Dating” which consisted of much more than that.

Participants were given the option to select different name tag stickers indicating what they were looking for. It could have been friendship, a relationship or simply prizes, creating a pretty low-pressure social experience.

“I think people actually came for the speed dating aspect,” said Ivaramoix Del Rosario (Moe), president of Student Video Productions. “We had different name tags, and a lot of people chose the relationship name tag. But some just came to make friends.”

The event also featured raffle prizes, which added another layer of excitement. While some students admitted they were motivated by the chance to win, Del Rosario said the connection was still the main draw.

“We did have more of the relationship ones than just the ‘here for prizes’ or friendship ones,” she said.

Prizes like a Nintendo switch lite, or Sony headphones added excitement to the night, the structure of the event kept the focus on conversation. Students rotated through timed conversations and played games to ease into introductions and break some ice. 

Del Rosario said that although some participants arrived unsure of what to expect, many grew more comfortable as the evening went on.

“Just people not knowing the games,” she said when asked about challenges. “But that’s entirely fine. We were happy to teach them.”

For attendees like freshman Jenna Gomez, the event was less about a romantic gesture and more about meeting new faces.

“It was good,” Gomez said. “I came here with my friend Isabella and we wanted to get to know some folks, so we ended up making new friends!  like my friend Nick and T’challa.”

Beyond speed dating, Del Rosario noted that events like this reflect Student Video Productions’ broader role on campus.

“We’re not just a film club,” she said. “We’re here for students. We put on movie nights, we host events and we try to create spaces where people can come together.”

As the raffle winners were announced and conversations lingered past the final rotations, the room one could say happened to carry a certain sense. Not everyone walked away with a prize or a new relationship, but many left having stepped outside their comfort zone and that, organizers said, was the real success of the night, and that is one of the things that really matters in college.