Dating at Brandeis is, generally speaking, underrated. Let me clarify: Dates are not hookups, dancing at a party, dinner at Sherman or, for those of you in relationships, something other than a special event celebrating an anniversary. I'm talking about casual (every weekend or so) days and nights out shared by you and a partner, preferably not with a group. Dating, as I've defined it, is a lost art that I feel needs to be reclaimed by both the men and women of our campus. Remember, ladies, we can't expect the guys to do all the work. It's equally our job to keep relationships new and interesting with evenings out on the town.

One pertinent concern-a common one for college students-is money, but a great date doesn't have to be expensive, even in and near a city like Boston. There's always something to do in Boston; you can find restaurants and museums that are all reasonably priced. The Freedom Trail, the Boston Public Gardens and Harvard Square are all examples of spots where you and a special someone can enjoy yourselves offcampus cheaply or for free.

As Brandeis students, we can get into the Museum of Fine Arts and many of its special exhibitions for free; after taking the free shuttle in on weekends, it costs a mere $1.25 on the T to enjoy an entire afternoon at the MFA. When it comes to dining, there are restaurants both in Waltham and in Boston that cater to students and their budgets. You can find almost any cuisine within any budget-the Internet is a brilliant research tool. Shino Express on Newbury Street (one of my personal favorites) may lack ambiance, but you can get great-quality sushi at a super-reasonable rate-$1 a piece. If it's a pricier meal out, splitting the bill is a common and easy alternative to having one person have to swallow a whole check.

Another concern is transportation. While the commuter rail runs fairly regularly on the weekends, the Harvard/Boston shuttle is one of the greatest services Brandeis provides to its students. For no cost at all, you can be in Harvard Square or Boston in almost no time at all. It's worth the little extra work of planning your schedule in advance to enjoy an afternoon in the city, rather than on campus.

So now that you have cost and transportation covered, you might be wondering what qualifies as a "date." As far as I'm concerned, anything goes. Bowling, ice skating, grabbing hot cups of coffee and walking around a park, a movie, a dinner or even a picnic (if the weather permits, of course) are all excellent ideas. If you and your significant other are not Boston locals, a tourist trip like the Duck Tours is guaranteed to make for a memorable, if cheesy, date. Concerts, speakers and screenings at other schools are also potentially affordable, enjoyable outings.

Never underestimate the power a little planning and work can have in making the person (or prospective person) you care about happy. For me, a great date or experience is always favored over flowers or candy. Taking the initiative, guy or girl, is always a surefire way to show how much you care.

When planning your next weekend, maybe throw in an evening or afternoon off campus. While Brandeis does a good job of filling the weekends with events, dances and parties, sometimes a change is nice, even if it's small. An adventure in the city is far more exciting than the typical ordering in, DVD, pregame and party. Break out of the Brandeis bubble and take your sweetie on a date that he or she will never forget.