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Eugene’s Flower
The University Florist
610 East 13th Ave. at Patterson
485-3655
www.eugenesflowerhome.com
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WINNER ANNOUNCED FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH AT 5 P.M.
Love is in the air at the UO Bookstore.
Cards, gifts, chocolate and more!
UOBookstore.com
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
BOOKSTORE
Valentine's Day can exclude
nontraditional relationships
The holiday of love tends
to cater to heterosexual
and “traditional” couples
Athanasios Fkiaras
Freelance Reporter
A Valentine's Day card depicts a
dinosaur picking up a tiny caveman
from a heart-shaped candy box as
the dinosaur's lover tosses another
man in its mouth.
"I love the little scream-filled
ones," it snarls.
Relative to the human species, a
union between dinosaurs could
safely be labeled as nontraditional.
However, a casual stroll down a card
aisle at Safeway reveals little repre
sentation for nontraditional cou
ples. Categories such as "Grandma
and Grandpa" or "Mom and Dad"
are predominant examples of what
one may find. "Dad and Dad" or
"Grandma and Grandma," on the
other hand, are mostly nonexistent.
That society addresses dinosaur
unions before non-mainstream hu
man relationships is somewhat irri
tating to those in such relationships.
"It bothers me," said ASUO Presi
dent Maddy Melton, who explained
what she deemed a "heterocentric
focus" in most Valentine's Day ad
vertising. "The term 'heterocentric' is
the assumption that everyone is het
erosexual, and it's not even a blatant
assumption. The way our language
is structured leads folks to talk about
couples in a very heterosexual dy
namic. Heterocentrism really works
subconsciously. (It is) the way we're
conditioned to think."
Melton pointed to some positive
Lauren Wimer Photographer
Susan Harrison, codirector of the Nontraditional Student Union, said she and her partner,
Jesse Dobson, have dealt with some difficulties because of their l&year age difference. ’
changes within the media, adding
that college campuses and local
newspapers are beginning to be
more inclusive of homosexuals.
"The fact that I can excel in my
leadership as far as I have shows that
society has changed," she said.
This is perhaps the lower cusp of
the wave Melton said she often finds
herself in. She said many homosexu
als like herself "go in waves* —
sometimes very angry at the
exclusion, and at other times too oc
cupied to think much of it.
Former University student Ryan
Minor is also on the lower cusp of
the wave for the time being.
"It doesn't bother me," Minor
said, referring to the lack of homo
sexual representation in Valentine's
Day advertising. "I view it the same
as I always did. I don't feel left out."
Turn to COUPLES, page 12B
Underwear, Gimp toys on list
of alternative Valentine’s gifts
Love can be expressed
many ways, thanks to local
and online gift retailers
By Reese Lee
Freelance Reporter
Feather boas, scented wooden
fruits and origami penguins are just
some of the gifts available this
Valentine's Day. These and many
more make for alternatives to the
usual flowers, candies and stuffed
animals that are often given as to
kens of affection.
"You could bum them a CD with
all their favorite songs that shows
the evolution of your relationship or
make a bouquet of their favorite
movies to watch together," freshman
Amber Aikwij said. "Or you could
make little origami penguins, if they
really liked penguins."
Lacy underwear come in a selec
tion of colors and styles, and are
available at West Moon Trading Co.,
located at 840 E. 13th Ave., at prices
more affordable than Victoria's Se
cret. Besides lingerie, the boutique
also has a wide variety of quirky
lampshades and decorative Oriental
umbrellas. The lampshades come in
modern as well as vintage designs,
and the Oriental umbrellas come
with different patterns.
Vintage lunchboxes make a nice
unisex gift and are available at Hi
ron's Drug Store, located at 1950
Franklin Blvd. Scented wooden
fruits and nuts, available at Hiron's
in different scents, can add a touch
of fragrance to any not-so-clean
, Turn to GIFTS, page 12B
Danielle Hickey Photo Editor
West Moon Trading Co., located at 840 E. 13th Ave., has gifts including lampshades and
patterned umbrellas for couples looking fo express their feelings creatively. , „ -