Welcome, friends, freshmen and fellow Wildcats. This is college. No more 8:00-3:30 Monday through Friday classes, locked into your school building, herded around like cattle by the bell system. Nay, this is college! Fewer rules, less class time, less parental involvement (woot!) and even less dating. Yes, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you’re looking for someone to meet you at the malt shop for a root beer float while you hold hands and stare into each other eyes across straws – you’ve come to the wrong place. Maybe even the wrong generation. Dating at NU is not “dating” the way your parents know it. Dating at NU revolves around two choices: hooking up or being in a monogamous relationship. (There are some in between areas, mostly when you’re trying to make someone you hooked up with into your boyfriend/girlfriend. Good luck with that.) Going out to dinner and a movie with someone you just met has been replaced by an invitation to Hundo for Trivia Tuesdays. Or, to join them at the next NOWAR group meeting. Or, drunkenly making out at the Deuce and finding a friend request from Facebook a couple of days later. Don’t worry if this all seems new or intimidating to you. There are plenty of attractive upper classmen who’ll be willing to show you the ropes. I would suggest not jumping into the elusive monogamous relationship with someone too quickly. Give yourself time to adjust to this new place and way of life. Go ahead and hook up – there are condoms in the dorm vending machines and at Searle (Honestly, that’s the only time I ever went there) for this very reason. We’re all about safety here. If you’re just not the hooking up type, that’s OK. Just make sure someone is really right for you and that you’re not just trying to pair up because you’re scared. A partner in crime, like your roommate or hall mate is critical. A serious romantic partner can wait.For those of you who are now in long distance relationships, you are another issue altogether. I feel for you – you and your high school squeeze are going to different schools now and that’s rough. My advice to you is to break up immediately. Do it. Tell them I told you to, if you need an excuse. This may seem harsh, and it is, but I’m only trying to save you heartache in the end. First, the obvious – you’ll only see each other every few months. At this point in your life a few months is a lifetime. You’re getting to know a whole new way of life with new people and places. You owe it to yourself to not have one foot in NU and one someplace else. Jump in with both feet! Also, I’ll tell you a secret: nine out of ten people who come in with relationships have broken up by November. Ok, I made that statistic up – but it sure seems that way. I know of like two successful long distance relationships and those people are probably going to get married. Trust me – break up now.My final piece of advice to you is this: you are about to embark on the most exciting moments of your life. This is an entirely unique time in your life – soak it up. Take advantage of it in everyway possible. Put yourself out there – ask that hottie down the hall if they would like to join you in exploring downtown Evanston. Sit next to someone attractive in one of your classes and introduce yourself. There is nothing to lose by being friendly with your fellow Wildcats! Reach Margo Scott at [email protected].