I have a huge crush on this guy who lives down the hall and I’m not sure if I should make a move. Everyone tells me not to date someone on my floor, but I really like him, and now I don’t know what to do. Please help! – Unlucky in Love

Dear Unlucky in Love,

When you first get to college, it feels like everyone repeats the same pieces of advice to you: go to class, drink responsibly, and don’t date the people on your floor. It’s the essential college handbook. But, every year without fail, people start to fall for their floor mates. The question of whether or not to date people you live with or near has troubled people for generations, but don’t worry. We’re here to give you the answers you crave and the validation you need to go for it. 

Dating someone on your floor, in my humble opinion, is really not that big of a deal.

When asked why they think you shouldn’t date people on your floor, people always cite the same reasons: You’re going to see them all the time, and you don’t want to make things awkward if you break up. To this, I have two things to say.

One, the “Well, what if you break up?” argument is just an excuse for people to not even try. Life cannot be lived by avoiding anything that could potentially lead to negative ramifications, because if you did, you would never do anything at all. Sure, you could break up, but this could also end up being a long term, happy relationship and maybe your partner for life. You’re only in college once, so why not take the risk and go on the date. 

In reality, you also don’t have to see them that often if things do, in fact, go south quickly. There are people on my floor I haven’t even met yet. With the exception of the rare floor meeting or seeing them on occasion leaving their room (a really easily avoidable conversation if you just keep your eyes down and let them walk down the hall in front of you), these are people that, just like any other enemies you make around campus, can be avoided. I know people that have already started and ended situationships with people on their floor and now they just don’t see each other so much. This is a deceptively small school and campus, and if you need to avoid someone, as long as they’re not literally in your suite, it’s possible.

All in all, I think that dating a floor mate is exaggerated to be a much bigger issue than it actually is. Best case scenario, you have a really conveniently located boyfriend. Worst case scenario, you have someone to avoid who you truly aren’t going to see that much anyways. So, if they are cute enough that you think it’s worth it, I say make your move.

Go get your man,

Scene