The Nu Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. started off Delta Week Tuesday with its Real Talk part II: Relationships 101. The discussion focused on the separate roles of men and women in relationships and was centered on the bestselling book turned movie, “He’s Just Not That Into You.”
At the start of the discussion, participants were handed pieces of paper with a title on it, such as Ms. Demanding or Mr. I-just-want-to-be-friends. People came up to the front, acted out their roles and the audience had to guess what kind of relationship was being portrayed. As each role was acted out, debate arose between the sexes on what is right and wrong in each relationship.
Students discussed relationship topics such as respect, communication and appropriate boundaries with your significant other. One controversial topic, cheating, had varied responses. Some men in the audience voiced their opinion that sometimes they want variety, so they cheat. Some women did not feel the same.
“If you cheat, that means you don’t respect me and you never will respect me,” said SMU graduate Veleisa Patton.
The question of what is going too far with flirting and what is cheating got the same reply. Both sexes agreed that the motive for flirting determines whether or not the person is cheating on their mate.
In the book “He’s Just Not That Into You” by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, there are three major signs that a man is just not into you: if he’s not calling you, if he’s not sleeping with you and if he’s not marrying you.
The movie follows a desperate woman who is looking for a guy, but seems to scare all of them away with her forceful dating methods.
In the Real Talk, both sexes were asked if it was right for a girl to play the role of the aggressor in dating and if it is alright for women to pursue men. Some women didn’t see a problem with asking out a man, but a few guys said that it ruined the chase.
SMU junior, Scott Beckendorf, expressed that he had no problem with a girl taking the lead.
“If a girl approaches a guy, then why not.”
Both sides agreed that control issues are a big part of relationship problems and that neither side should have to be submissive to the other. There shouldn’t be a power struggle, and wanting to control your partner is not healthy. Both parties should be on the same page when it comes to respecting each other’s boundaries.
SMU Delta Natalie Smith said the idea of Real Talk came to her when she and some friends were in the car discussing religion and how it affects relationships. The conversation led to last year’s Real Talk: Equally Yoked, and the Deltas continued the talks so that students could better understand the opposite sex.
“We want to foster healthy relationships on campus,” Smith said.
