On Tuesday night, more than 2,300 students at Villanova were matched with the person meant to be their one true love – or for some, their one true companion. While walking through the dining hall or the Connelly Center, it was easy to spot clumps of students gathered around emails with the subject line, “Love loading…” If one listened in, though, they would also be able to hear the anxiety that many were feeling.
Similar to most teenagers and young adults today, my friends and I are hoping to find some sort of connection, whether it be casual or long-term. As you can imagine, we were quick to sign up for this magical dating service: the Marriage Pact. We even opened our results together. Some friends were reluctant to reach out to their match, arguing that it was too embarrassing to send a DM or text starting off the conversation. Some, on the other hand, were quick to contact their twin flames, hoping to set up a date.
This contrast between outgoing and timid caused me to raise an interesting question: Is the Marriage Pact truly effective, or is it an old-fashioned take on dating?
We live in the age of online dating, virtual friendships and long-distance relationships. However, the effectiveness of apps like Hinge or Tinder comes into question when put in the hands of Gen Z. I know I’m not alone in saying that I’ve tried my hand at online dating, without success, but I’d also be the first one to admit that this is mostly my fault. When it comes to the Marriage Pact, I think that the same idea holds true. With the exception of some, Gen Z has become too introverted to make the transition from online to in-person dating.
I asked my match (99.95 percent), freshman Josey Wiggins, if she thinks that Marriage Pact could be successful on a large scale.
“I think it’s a fun thing for all the students at Villanova to kind of rally around,” Wiggins said. “I think it makes people more open to the idea of pursuing something with someone they’ve never met.”
As most Villanovans know, the chance of us marrying another alum later in life is reportedly around 70 percent. Could the age of online dating, using platforms such as the Marriage Pact, decrease this number? According to AP News, about 30 percent of matches made through Marriage Pact meet up, and one in nine of those in-person meetings leads to a relationship that lasts for a year or longer. I did the math, and from those numbers, the odds of finding love aren’t great. They are around three percent. But, an important thing to realize is that this statistic is entirely dependent on the choice that university students make when proceeding with their match. Say 100 percent of matches met up in person. If one in nine of those meetings led to a long-term relationship, that makes the Marriage Pact 11.11 percent effective.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of the Marriage Pact lies in the hands of its users. In order for something to work, it must be used in the way that is intended. Say one tries to bake cookies, but never turns the oven on. They can’t blame the oven for the cookies turning out raw. They have to look in the mirror.
“Just because you made the batter doesn’t mean you get cookies,” Wiggins said.
In most aspects of life, this anecdote holds true, but especially for dating. While there’s nothing wrong about trying to expand our horizons by using an app or online dating platform, we can’t expect an app to do all of the work for us.
So, for those wondering whether or not to pursue their match, consider trying it. There’s always next year.
